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[Project A-ko 3 box art]
AKA: N/A
Genre: Sci-fi romance parody
Length: Movie, 50 minutes
Distributor: Currently licensed by Discotek Media.
Content Rating: 13+ (some violence, adult themes and situations)
Related Series: Project A-ko, Project A-ko 2, Project A-ko 4, Project A-ko: Versus
Also Recommended: Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01, Project A-ko
Notes:
Rating:

Project A-ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody

Synopsis

If Graviton hadn't had enough of the antics of the A-ko cast in the first two movies, it will by the end of this one. Cinderella Rhapsody introduces K(ei), the handsome motorcyclist who aims to stand between A-ko, B-ko, and C-ko, AND their teacher Ayumi, in a cracked love polygon that could wreck their friendship forever.

Or not.


Review

Just when you thought the parody well had run dry by the end of the second Project A-ko movie, the third one decides to take its turn with the romance genre. Thankfully, jokes that should be tired and boring get a lift from the fact that at least it's not another mecha-show joke that's the center of this sequel.

Cinderella Rhapsody isn't great, but it is watchable. It's nice to see the A-ko team deal with something other than mecha and actually act like real characters for a change. Granted, a lot of fans of the first two movies are going to be disappointed, as this movie is played significantly straighter and more slower-paced than its predecessors.

Of course, playing it straight means that the real reason Kei is hanging around is going to knock you for a loop with a punchline that's a million shades of wrong. I appreciated it, though, again, there are plenty of others who may not.

Animation and music are pretty much the same as the other movies. If you don't mind 80s visuals and J-pop, then this movie is fine. If you *DO* mind them, then stay well away ... but then again, you shouldn't be watching the Project A-ko franchise if you want anything state-of-the-art.

Instead of relying on sight gag after sight gag, Cinderella Rhapsody mostly relies on one long-winded joke. The entire success of this movie, therefore, relies on whether or not you get (or like) the punchline, and while I got a couple of good laughs out of it, it's not going to please people looking for laugh-your-guts-out zaniness.

For what it's worth, though, Cinderella Rhapsody is funny, and a better movie than the second, despite the terminally scary title ... and ultimately scarier male lead. *smirk*

Fans expecting non-stop humor aren't going to like this, but patient viewers may find it somewhat worthwhile. If you didn't like the first two movies, though, you probably won't even care enough to get through this one.Carlos/Giancarla Ross

Recommended Audience: Similar to the rest of the series - teens and up. There is one extremely off-color joke, though, that harkens back to the hentai-anthology origin of the series, but overall most people are going to overlook it.



Version(s) Viewed: VHS, English dub
Review Status: Full (1/1)
Project A-ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody © 1988 Soeishinsha / Final-Nishijima / Pony
 
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