Watch 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End For Free

People are voting emotionally.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This story drifts backwards and forwards through time. Its the story of Kenji and his childhood friends who in 1969 and 1970 formed a club, created a flag and something called the Book of Prophecy, the tale of a foul villain who seeks to destroy mankind. Jump ahead to the dawn of the 21st century where at a grammar school reunion they discuss an new cult with a symbol that mimics almost exactly their old club symbol. Additionally strange deaths are being reported around the globe and it looks like the Apocalypse is upon us. Things turn darker as members of their childhood group begin to die and it looks like the cult is very interested in Kenji's niece as the chosen one...as events begin to slide toward the end, events based exactly on the "Book of Prophecy" Kenji and his friends realize that some one they know is "Friend" the head of the cult, and its up to them to stop the mad plans which look to wipe out mankind.Covering a large chunk of the first two volumes of the tale (I know I recently read them) this movie moves like the wind and still feels rushed. So much characterization has been left along the way in the name of telling this truly epic story which covers over 40 years of time. To be honest there were times that I felt lost, more so once the film moves away from the material I'm familiar with and on to the events surround 12/31/2000 date that is suppose to be the end. Plot holes develop and one is left to wonder why somethings happen (why and how did the near infant Kanna come back to the city alone?) To be honest while the film has great performances and great special effects, the script is very messy as is jumps all around and tries to compress the events into a bite size morsel, they've cut out a great deal of exposition from the books and you can feel it.(I was hoping that somethings might have been explained in Chapter 2, the second film, but they're not and thats another kettle of fish entirely). The one thing that bothered me the most is that this is the film of a thousand endings. Knowing that the film is going to end and be picked up by two later parts one is aware that the story is going to stop, and it does repeatedly only to pick up again and again and again. Its like watching half the cliff hangers for a TV series entire season, including fade out, in rapid succession, you keep getting up to leave but the story keeps going. This needed to be a miniseries.Over all its a good movie, but under no circumstances should you watch it figuring you'll get an ending, you don't and as the post credits teaser shows there is a great deal more to come.

I saw this movie last year. I have read comic because I like this comic. Writer is Naoki Urasawa. This writer's other works is very nice, YAWARA,PLUTO, and Monster. '20th century boys' is exists to Chapter3. This movie is Chapter1. I felt that it was very interesting because I saw this movie. Hero is Kenji Endo. Story to which story of imagination spoken with friend when Kenji is child actually occurs.Book of prophecy is very terrible book. This book was written Kenji and friends. Kenji fight to Tomodati with Kenji's friends.Kenji brings up the child of the elder sister of Tomodati and Kenji.Tomodati attacks Kenji aiming at the child.The child's name is a Kannna. Kannna is a girl who has the curious power. Tomodati is very scary existence. The true colors of Tomodati is not turn out, but it is possible to expect it. I will saw next movie. I am looking forward to the next movie.

This show is about a group of young boys and a girl who while playing together, created their own sci-fi fantasy cartoon about the world in the future being destroyed slowly beginning with an unknown virus that destroys major cities and ending with giant robots and laser beams that would kill millions.Many many years later, 1 of the group decides to act out the child play fantasy and make it become reality. The story takes the viewpoint of Kenji and shows how he reunites with his childhood friends to discover who is the one behind the cult whose leader is known as friend.Overall i found the show to be completely ridiculous, full of plot holes and a comedy of errors. It is very obvious that the director or the script writer must have lacked a whole lot of common sense to have created a film like this.What made it worst was that the movie was 3 hour long. Above the 2 1/2hour mark you'd feel so infuriated at yourself for wasting money and time on such a crab lousy show.My word of advise... avoid at all costs! It'd be more entertaining watching my toe dance than to watch this show. Least watching my toe dance doesn't make me feel stupid!I rated this show 2/10, 1 for the chick in the movie so that the show wouldn't become a sausage feast and another for the creativity behind the really cool name they called their cartoon - The book of prophecies.

First of all-I have not read the manga but I have heard the title before. I will base my review with nothing to do with my knowledge of the manga. Making live-action movies based on manga and comics seems to be a trend in japan. Blockbuster live-action movies like Death Note are good. So hopefully, there will be more good adaptation of manga. I say that 20th Century Boys shall be one of the good adaptation and Japanese movie. This live-action movie broke death note box office in japan. That made me more interested of how this movie will fare. I must say it is worth the hype. It is pretty intense and epic to my sayings.The story: It revolves around Kenji and his pals. They built a hideout and shared stories and stuffs. They made a story. When they grow up, the story they made up becomes true. A mysterious cult-leader called friend enters the world and wants to destroy the world. Kenji and his pal save the world. Not so easy. From there, dark secrets are spilled and they search their brains of what had happened when they were kids-their childhood. The plot is quite intense. I do not know whether it is a good apdataion but as a view of a Japanese movie, it is good.Overall: As the plot is interesting and intense, it makes me want to read the manga which I will sooner. If it interest you, do go and watch it. Stay for the cast and credit to finish and there will be the preview of the second part. I will wait for the second part with anticipation.