Blazblue: Continuum Shift (2019)

Blazblue: Continuum Shift is a 2019 animated film based on the video game of the same name. The film is distributed by Disney and Pixar Animation Studios along with Arc System Works.

## Plot

Noel and Ragna are good friends as of 2198. One day, when Hazama gets a job as a magician, he plans to try and take over the world by turning all humans on Earth to random animals. In order to prevent this, Noel and Ragna along with their friends Taokaka and Jin must save the world together.

## Why It Rocks

1. Beautiful animation that tends to be faithful to the Blazblue video game series. It's also impressive for late 2010's standards.
2. Throughout the first 15 minutes of the film, it stays faithful to the original Continuum Shift story,
3. Impressive direction from Andrew Stanton. He was able to make the design of the characters right.
4. The concept of Noel Vermillion and Ragna The Bloodedge becoming friends to save the world is a very interesting concept.
5. The way Hazama is turned into a somewhat more serious villain is nicely played and not taken seriously.
6. Even though Arc System Works didn't help out that much, they did at least get credited for helping Andrew Stanton.
7. Awesome dialogue such as, "I'm Noel, who the heck are you?"
8. The score by Paul Thomson and David Newman is beautiful.
9. A cast of likable characters, such as the protagonist, Noel Vermillion, voiced by Linda Cardellini, and Ragna The Bloodedge, voiced by Jason Sudeikis.
10. Some funny moments, as well as plenty of emotional moments too.
11. Most of the dialogue can be enjoyable.
12. Similar to Fantastic Mr Fox, It manages to be smart and mature, even with just a PG rating.
13. While it's not completely faithful to the original storyline of the game, it still has many of the same elements as the game had, as well as a nice nostalgic tone.

## Bad Qualities

1. Regarding WIR #12, it's a bit unfaithful to the game of the same name.
2. A few of the characters are a bit unlikable, such as Taokaka.
3. It has a scene where Jin does the best mates dance from Fortnite in attempt to be hip with younger audiences.
4. Unfortunately, despite the positive reception, some Blazblue fans found it to be rather a poor grasp to the source material as Ragna was originally a person wanted by the Librarium. Another example is how Hazama learned magic which never happened in any of the Blazblue games.

## Box Office

Blazblue: Continuum Shift grossed $439.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $312.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $752.1 million.

In the United States and Canada, the film was released alongside Hustlers and The Goldfinch and was projected to gross $50-75 million from 4,632 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $39.4 million on its first day, including $18.8 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to gross $95 million, finishing in first place, dethroning It: Chapter Two. In its second weekend, it stayed in first place with a gross of $75.2 million. It made $45.6 million in it's third weekend, remaining in first place. Eventually, the film would be dethroned by Joker in it's fourth weekend while finishing in second place and grossing $33 million.

(More to come)