Hmmmmmmmm... I'm not really sure if this would go in 'other music' or this forum. Even though it's considered a movie, I just like to say it's a compilation of Daft Punk's music videos.
But, yeah! I just loveeeeee this movie thing. It has no dialogue whatsoever, but the music is awesome. I'm a big fan of Daft Punk.
Anyway... here's the info from wikipedia:
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem is a feature-length Japanese animated film originally released in December 1, 2003. The film is the visual realization of Discovery, an album by Daft Punk. Each track from the album has been animated as an episode in the story of the abduction and rescue of an interstellar pop band. The film was produced by the creators of the Discovery album, along with Toei Animation, under the supervision of Leiji Matsumoto. The film has no dialogue and minimal sound effects.
The story begins in a distant galaxy where four blue-skinned music stars on an alien planet are performing the song "One More Time" to a similarly blue-skinned audience. A team of elite humanoids appear and subdue everyone with gas, including the band on stage. The four musicians are kidnapped and beamed aboard a large space vessel.
A distress signal is sent out to a nearby ship piloted by Shep. When we first meet Shep he is daydreaming of Stella (lead performer of the kidnapped band). He dozes off and is visited by an apparition of Stella. Just as the couple are about to kiss, the alert finally reaches him and brings Shep out of his dream.
After receiving the call, Shep is determined to save the band (including his love) and rockets off in pursuit of the kidnappers. During a chase sequence, Shep and the kidnapping vessel travel through a wormhole and eventually land on Earth. The kidnappers quickly bring the band off as an unidentified leader watches. Shep and his ship crash into a dense forest.
The Crescendolls (from left to right) Octave, Baryl, Arpegius, and Stella)
Within a large underground facility, the band is treated to an entirely automated process. Each member of the group is stripped of their alien garb and have their memories replaced. The old memories are archived and stored in disks. The band is then skin-painted and hair-dyed to resemble humans. They are redressed and implanted with mind-control devices. The band's captor (Earl de Darkwood), dressed in formal attire and presenting himself as their elderly manager, takes them to a recording studio where a record deal is made. The band (now named The Crescendolls) star in a photo shoot and produce their hit single "One More Time". We learn the names of our protagonists: Stella (Bass Guitarist), Arpegius (Guitarist), Baryl (Drummer), and Octave (Keyboardist / Vocalist). In no time, the Crescendolls are a worldwide phenomenon.
The band later appear in concert at a crowded arena. Earl de Darkwood appears on the stage and directs an orchestra. Shep appears and fires a device at Arpegius, Baryl and Octave, freeing them from the effects of their mind-control devices. Aiming at Stella, he hesitates before pulling the trigger; this allows Darkwood to block the beam with his arm and draw out his pistol. Leaving Stella behind, Shep and the others hijack a van and attempt an escape. In the process, two bodyguards catch up to the vehicle and mortally wound Shep.
Still under the control of the Earl, Stella is later taken to a "Gold Record Award" awards ceremony, for which the Crescendolls have received a nomination. When the Golden Record is awarded to the Crescendolls, Baryl uses the anti-mind control device on Stella and beckons her to follow. The two enter a waiting taxicab and escape.
The reunited band gathers around a dying Shep. Even as his life slips away, he manages to raise his injured arm out to Stella. She takes it and experiences a dream sequence similar to the one Shep experienced earlier. Shep then reveals the Crecendolls' true identity. The band expresses their gratitude as Shep draws his final breath.
The Crescendolls find a giant tree and lay their savior to rest. At night, the band watches Shep's spiritual essence emerging from the ground and rocketing into the stars. While driving away, the band screeches to a halt in front of a road sign to Darkwood Manor. This is the same place which appeared on a card Stella found earlier. The foursome agrees to check it and drive off.
The four band members eventually reach a great castle-like mansion. They happen upon a journal entitled "Veridis Quo" that describes in great detail exactly what Earl de Darkwood's origins and plans are. In brief the book reveals that the Earl will unleash a tremendous power when 5,555 Gold Records have been claimed, which will allow him to rule the entire globe. The Crescendolls themselves were awarded Gold Record number 5555.
The band find themselves surrounded by the Earl's guards, who escort them to the chamber of an underground chasm. Earl grabs Stella and thrusts her into a massive device lined with his Gold Records. The remaining members free themselves from the guards. In a rage, the Earl rushes Arpegius, but he misses and plunges into the boiling chasm. Arpegius rescues Stella from the device and the band flees from the castle, which collapses on itself.
After learning the technology that the Earl of Darkwood had used on them, the band travels back to the Record company. Octave breaks in and finds the master recording of "One More Time", under which the band's archived memory disks are found. Octave attempts to leave with the disks but is surrounded by guards. He reaches into his jacket, but one of the guards uses a stun gun on him. Due to the electric shock, Octave falls to the ground and turns into his original blue skin color, much to the surprise of the witnesses. A note is retrieved from Octave's hand that reveals what the disks are.
Construction crews unearth Shep's ship and the police investigate the Record company. Police also search every part of Darkwood Manor. A news report is later shown and depicts scenes of an operation to send the Crescendolls back home. The report also explains the situation and even shows that the Crescendolls were not the only group to have this happen to them. Octave wakes up and is greeted by the band, who are back to normal. As the band prepares to leave, people wave goodbye to the band from all over the world.
When the band's ship is heading to the wormhole, the Earl's essence engulfs and attacks the ship. Shep's essence flies up to the Earl and defeats him, which frees the band. They successfully return to their home planet and are welcomed by its inhabitants. The band is again on the stage and the audience is dancing to their song. Everyone on Earth is also seen dancing to the performance shown on television screens.
Outside the stadium, a heroic statue of Shep is unveiled. The camera pans out of the celebration. The viewer experiences a zoom out from the alien planet, to the Milky Way, and then stops with a record player. This reveals a vinyl record playing Daft Punk's album Discovery. A sleeping little boy is shown surrounded by Crescendolls and Daft Punk memorabilia. The needle is moved off the record and the music stops.
A rather interesting movie. I was just wondering if anyone else from Soompi were fans.
