hmm. . .I don't know how much ms naoko takeuchi influenced the live action series but it seems she played quite a large role on the recreation and changes made by the anime version. She even commented alot about it in the manga, author's side notes, how she changed the characters and storyline for the anime.
Anywho. . .after finishing the live action movie this morning without sleeping. . .XD I have quite a few things to say about it, mostly about the characters. ^^
First of all, must commend the 4 kings (general. . .but kunzite called them kings) of the dark kingdom, especially kunzite and zoicite. I did not like zoicite in the anime but in this he was magnificently portrayed. I love the parallelism between zoicite and venus. They are both ill, love music, and extremely extremely dedicated to their masters. I wished that there would have been some kind of relationship forming between them. It is hard to do that, I'm sure. . .but it would have been extremely cute.
Nephrite and Sailor Mercury: I hated their portrayal of these characters in the beginning. I loved Nephrite in the anime. . .he was by far my favorite general next to kunzite in the anime version. In this version, he was utterly useless even to the end. I had wish he would show up and fought with them somehow. . .but it never happened. The only redeeming factor was his relationship with Ami. At the moment he was sulking in the cave and she gave him the cape, I concluded that there's something between them. Then he saved her life and I was sooo happy. I was so sure there would be more. . .but apparently the writers didn't really want any of the generals to have their own life. T_T Ami also was annoying until she became evil. After that, I actually liked her character a lot more because she wasn't as hesitant to show emotions anymore. The actress looks very cute when she smiles. . .but since ami is a character that is suppose to only show moderate emotions, it didn't suit her at all. After she became evil and good again, her expressions were a lot more natural and cute. ^^
Mars: I hated her character in the Anime. . .Hated with a passion! She was my least favorite sailor soldier in the Anime. She was okay in the manga though. This movie made me love her!! I have to agree that Keiko is a very beautiful actress. . .her looks were well suited for the role and she actually did a wonderful job portraying the characters. . .giving Mars both a great mix of emotion and coldness at the same time. I can't say I wasn't shock to see this, because usually really pretty actresses chosen for roles are just pretty. . .they seem to can't act what-so-ever.. .just pretty. But Keiko was both pretty and good at portraying the role. I really like that about her.
Jupiter: I like her. . .in all versions. . .I like her. The actress wasn't superb, I have to say. She can't portray certain emotions very well. . .out of all the sailor soldiers, I think the one that played jupiter was honestly not the best. But she still did a wonderful job and fitted the character very well. . .so I enjoyed watching her. I think she is the prettiest one of them all too. XD
Venus: . . . . . .okay. I know some of you will be against what I'm about to say, but I think this version of Venus is extremely annoying. I don't like anything about the character except for the fact that she may have looked cute with Zoicite. Other than that. . .I tried my best to go past this character at every chance, trying not to miss any important dialogue and adorable characters and scenes.
Usagi and Mamoru: I really like the portrayal of their relationship in this version. Somehow, it feels less shallow. They actually like each other because they like each other. . .not because they were fated to. The anime made it seem like the only reason they love each other was because they were in love in the past life. I know there were some hints like how mamoru/darien is really nice to everyone except usagi/serena. One episode. . .Motoki/Andrew asks mamoru why he's so cruel to usagi. . .mamoru replied. . ."I don't know." I thought that was adorable because it showed that she was special to him. XD In this version. . .Mamoru was basically mean and cold to everyone except his friends, which was interesting but very different. Anywho, I like Usagi in this version. She was cute and less of a crybaby. you get all her good point and few of her bad points. . .she's still too gullible (love how mamoru uses that to make fun of her XD ) but in a cute way.
There was some very very creepy annoying characters in this, like the mio girl (she makes my skin craw. . .and she thinks she's cute. . .creepy). DX I was so glad mamoru killed her. then she returned in the special. . .and they killed her a second time!!!!!! XD somehow seeing her die over and over and over and over again was not boring. Though her resurection was.
Still a lot more I can/would like to say. . .but this is already too novel-like. ^^