'One Piece' - When pirates have kind hearts

The live action version of "One Piece" tells the story of the Straw Hat pirates' difficult journey, winning over audiences because it sticks to the original work of Oda Eiichiro.

The series is currently the top-rated Netflix show in 84 countries and territories in its first weekend of release, breaking the record of ranking number one in 83 countries held by Stranger Things 4 (2022) and Wednesday (2022).

The content is based on the first 100 chapters, revolving around Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) with the dream of becoming the Pirate King. On the journey to find One Piece - the world's greatest treasure, Luffy recruits Roronoa Zoro (Arata Mackenyu), Nami (Emily Rudd), Sanji (Taz Skylar) and Usopp (Jacob Gibson) to join the Straw Hat pirate crew of which he is the captain.

The One Piece live-action film was successful because it followed the original work closely, maintaining the spirit of the series. Most films adapted from manga or anime such as Attack on Titan, Dragon Ball: Evolution received negative reviews because many details were different from the original work. One Piece exploited the same story from the appearance to the character's personality, only changing and omitting a few details to make the content suitable for the eight-episode length. The series' author Oda Eiichiro directly selected the cast and censored the entire production process.

The Straw Hat Pirates in "One Piece", from left to right: Sanji (Taz Skylar), Zoro (Arata Mackenyu), Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), Usopp (Jacob Gibson). Photo: Netflix

Producer Steven Maeda said the team tried to create a world that was accessible to people who have read the manga or not. The script skillfully exploited the dramatic element by depicting the difficulties the Straw Hats encountered on their way to the Grand Line. With each episode, the danger increased as the enemies became more vicious and powerful. The group also had to overcome the pursuit of the navy. The songs were used appropriately to describe the atmosphere of each situation: happy, heroic to tense, tragic.

The film cost around $17 million per episode, making One Piece one of the most expensive series ever made. Filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, it used mostly real locations and limited CGI, making the world feel more real.

The action and VFX elements are well-crafted. In the first half, the fighting scenes are a bit slow, and some viewers say the fighting scenes are not eye-catching. In the second half, the film's pace is accelerated, the characters have the opportunity to show off their abilities and have beautiful confrontations, such as when Sanji and Zoro join forces to kill enemies in Arlong Park.

Behind the scenes of Zoro (Arata Mackenyu) in episode one of "One Piece". Photo: Netflix

One Piece tells a touching story about friendship. Before joining the Straw Hats, the characters lived a life they did not want. It was only when they met Luffy - who was always positive and willing to do anything for his crew members that they gradually changed and pursued their dreams. From strangers, they all eventually loved each other and smiled brightly - something many members could not do before.

Luffy's relationships with Mr. Garp (Vincent Regan) and Shanks (Peter Gadiot), Sanji and Zeff (Craig Fairbrass) are also warmly portrayed, reflecting the beauty of family affection.

The work adds depth by depicting the inner details of the characters combined with close-up shots, thereby clearly depicting the emotions of each person. Each member of the Straw Hat crew has a painful past and a passion since childhood: Zoro wants to be the greatest swordsman, Sanji finds the All Blue sea, Nami draws a map of the world, Usopp becomes a brave warrior of the sea. Despite their different personalities, they are united by their sense of chivalry and kind hearts - the opposite of most other pirates.

Supporting characters such as Vice Admiral Garp (Vincent Regan), Koby (Morgan Davies), Shanks (Peter Gadiot), Zeff (Craig Fairbrass) also received many compliments in "One Piece". Photo: Netflix

The appearance and demeanor of the cast have many similarities with the characters in the original work. According to Oda Eiichiro, they are "the perfect choice". When casting, Oda was afraid that he would not be able to find the right person to play the main character Luffy. When watching Iñaki Godoy's casting video , he immediately thought that Godoy was the character he drew in the story. The actors showed dynamism and playfulness, creating a joyful atmosphere.

As Zoro, Arata Mackenyu is loved by the audience for his handsome and cold appearance. Emily Rudd has an introspective performance when transforming into Nami - a girl with a strong appearance but sensitive inside, exploding with emotions in the scene where she stabs herself in the arm at the end of episode seven. Taz Skylar shows the wit and charm of Sanji. As Usopp, Jacob Gibson brings a lot of laughter every time he appears.

One Piece received a "shower" of praise from critics and audiences, with an 8.5 on IMDb and 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most manga fans were satisfied with the adaptation, while those who had not read the manga said the film was easy to watch and enjoyable. On film forums, many viewers said the work was the best live action film to date. Some said the film sometimes had CGI errors.

Hoang Ha (According to vnexpress.net, September 6, 2023)

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