Let me tell you, I was prejudice toward this movie from the start. I do like Sailor Moon, well I did. The new Sailor Moon episodes are kinda lame and redundant. I mean, every episode is about fighting a stupid villain and it tends to get really boring after a while. However, I remember watching the Sailor Moon series. I would just suffer through the redundant episodes to see the final battle for that season. The high energy, heart stopping, flashy, exciting battles at the end of the season kept me watching Sailor Moon, for fear that I would miss the last battle. For example, the battles with Queen Beryl or the battle against the wiseman are awesome. (Look at the pretty flashing light) Anyway, what is my point you ask? Well, I expected this movie to be like an extended episode, (It only clocks in at around 60 minutes.) but I was wrong, this movie feels like one of those exciting season ending final battles. Anyway, the story starts off with Darien giving Fiore a rose, because Fiore has to leave Darien forever. (Boys don't give each other flowers, they give each other bruises.) Little Darien is saddened by his best friend's departure, but Fiore says he will bring back lots of flowers for Darien in return for his rose one day. Now, years later, Sailor Moon is going out with Darien now and when visiting a botanical garden with all the Sailor Scouts, a man appears out of thin air, claiming to fufill a promise that he made to Darien years ago. Apparently, Sailor Moon is getting in the way of Darien and Fiore's relationship, according to Fiore, which leads to some serious animosity between Sailor Moon and Fiore. Of course, Fiore does fufill his promise by bringing many energy sucking flowers to destroy the earth. And to make matters worse, the meteor filled with plant energy has been sent to destroy the earth, by someone even more sinister than Fiore.

The story seems a bit random, but trust me, it's pulled together well in the movie. Everything works so well in this movie, the structure and the pacing is nice. You never really get bored as there is a good amount of action, drama and comedy. The scene at the end, where the Sailor Scouts have to help Sailor Moon destroy the meteor before it hits earth is both exciting and even brings out a few tears. The music at the end is probably the most memorable of the songs from any Sailor Moon battle. It is called "The Power of Love" and really fits the battle. (It's just as catchy as "Carry On" from the battle with Beryl.) The art is just about the same as the show, but it really should have been better, since this is a movie and not a t.v. episode. The dubbing is the same dubbing as the characters from the the Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon R T.V. series seasons. (and is much better than the voices in the Cartoon Network episodes, in my opinion.) However, Tuxedo Mask is VERY unconvincing and Sailor Moon sometimes overdid some of the voice acting or underdid it.

The battle scenes are cool, but there should've been more. Although, there is quite a bit of fighting against the Flower lady and Fiore, they aren't as exciting as they could've been. (Sure you see the Sailor Scout's attacks from a different angle but they are still the same attacks.) Really, I wanted to see Sailor Moon whip out her awesome laser beams or something. The end, where Sailor Moon has to destroy the meteor isn't really a battle but is still really exciting, especially with the transformation to Serenity, unforgetable music and unforgetable scenes and imagery. Also, I do like the villian. He has 20 times more depth than the weekly Sailor Moon T.V. villain and his human reasons for what he is doing, makes him seem more realistic than a steriotyped villian. (In fact, Fiore is a much deeper villian than the ice witch or Badianyu from the other Sailor Moon movies.)

Anyway, the only problems I have with this movie is that it is a little too short for what it is trying to accomplish. Although, everything does feel wraped up at the end of the movie and I was left satisfied, I felt that the movie just should've been 30 minutes longer, to put in some extra battles or something else. The movie can also get a little corny and a bit overdramatic at times, but that's to be expected from Sailor Moon. (Are they whining AGAIN? Sailor Moon you'll die if you use the crystal!) If the length was a bit longer, the drama was tuned down a bit and the battles were a bit better (the last part with Sailor Moon destroying the meteor does make up for the lacking battles, though. It's that good.), I think I could've given this movie five stars. I mean it. It's a great movie and really entertaining plus very exciting. Oh well, I reccomend you buy it. I haven't bought it yet, I'm too embarrassed to buy a Sailor Moon tape. Maybe I should just suck it up, go into Toys R Us, pay the 10 bucks, pretend it's a birthday present for my fake little sister and just get it overwith. Anyway, buy it. It's worth more than the 10 dollars you would spend on it. Everyone will enjoy this. It's one of my faves and should be one of yours.