Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess review
Author's Note: Be warned there will be massive spoilers here. You've been warned.
Also, all pictures used in this are legal under the terms of the fair use agreement of 1976.
Greetings and salutations one and all. Welcome to the first of my new review and commentary series Animeman73 on Anime. Where I look at anime movies and series alike.
I figured I was overdue to get round to something like this. Because well…Animeman73 the name should say it all. As someone who has been an anime fan for many years, I figured I should start upping my anime fan credibility.
So, what better way to get round to that than by reviewing a movie from one of my favorite series Fairy Tail. Ever since I bought the first set of DVDs in Season 1, I’ve been in love with this series. The characters, the storytelling, and some great voice acting do this series justice.
Yes, it is true I prefer my anime dubbed. But you know what that’s me. But that’s a subject I’ll save for another commentary.
Now I’ll be looking at the movie Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess.
It’s a standalone adventure in the Fairy Tail canon. But that doesn’t make it any less worthwhile and I’ll explain why. With that said on with the review and commentary.
The movie starts out with a young priestess dancing for her village in a ceremony. During it the village gets attacked by armored men. The elder takes the girl and teleports away.
And in the process gives her half of a stone amulet for an unknown purpose. The yet unnamed priestess flees for her life with half of the mysterious amulet. And soon enough she passes out.
The significance of this will become clear in time.
The scene shifts to a port town in the kingdom of Fiore. A group of Fairy Tail guild members are on the hunt. The party consists of the following members.
Natsu Dragneel as voiced by Todd Haberkorn. Lucy Heartfilia as voiced by Cherami Leigh. Erza Scarlett as voiced by Coleen Clinkenbeard.
Grey Fullbuster as voiced by Newton Pittman. Happy Natsu's humanoid cat companion as voiced by Tia Ballard. Wendy Marvell as voiced by Brittney Karbowski.
And Carla Wendy’s humanoid cat companion as voiced by Jad Saxton.
In fact, the entire voice cast of the Fairy Tail series is in this movie. But I digress.
The guild members are there in response to a job offer they took. The port town they’re in is getting terrorized by a gang of bandits. Led by a man named Geese.
The Fairy Tail guild members head for the fort on the hill where the gang's located.
Along the way Wendy notices that the streets are too quiet. Uh-oh that doesn’t sound good! As if on cue a whole bunch of bandits pop out ready for a fight.
Imagine my shock that the bandits prepared an ambush. Hilarity ensues in the battle that follows. First Happy is following Carla and Wendy.
It seems he’s still infatuated with Carla who is a member of his species. But things take a funny turn when he gets blasted by accident by Wendy’s Sky Dragon Roar attack. Oops awkward!
The comedy gold continues as Happy lands on the roof of a building. Right in time to get cooked along with several bandits by Natsu’s Fire Dragon Roar attack. Now that’s what I call literal friendly fire.
Erza Scarlett dispatches her opponents a little too well incapacitating them. Grey uses his ice magic to cause the bandits to lose their foothold and crash to the ground. Even as he asks where Geese is.
Lucy summons some of her Celestial beings to dish out some damage. And they proceed to do so a little too well. Though Loke/Leo as portrayed by voice actor Eric Vale saves one for questioning.
Well, what do you know that worked out after all.
Natsu ends up falling on to Grey’s ice slide and goes for a little trip. Payback for his friendly fire bit with Happy earlier. Ooh karma can be a brutal mistress.
Finally, the group spots Geese as voiced by David Matranga. He’s kind of not hard to find because of his name tattooed on his back. Lucy goes after him for the reward the mayor promised.
But that proves to be an issue. There’s a reason that Geese has proven so hard to catch. And he shows how because of his magic power.
It gives him the ability to become so thin he can slip through the tiniest of cracks. B.S. magic I know but still useful. And poor Lucy gets a face full of wall as Geese slips through and gets away free as a bird.
The mayor of the town is not happy with what happened and tears into Fairy Tail with a severe dressing down. To make a long story short they get no reward. All that work for nothing?
Ouch not a good look for the guild. The group decide to return to Magnolia city. To face whatever punishment their guild master has in store for them.
Meanwhile in the nearby mountains we find the priestess from the first scene. She’s sitting beneath a tree when a strange yellow humanoid bird shows up. It’s then that the girl gets some dialogue.
As they return Lucy heads off to “freshen up.” Also, to lick her wounds from the fact they didn’t get any reward. Overconfidence will get you if you’re not careful Lucy-girl.
The rest head back to the guildhall which is as loud and boisterous as ever. They also learn Makarov Dreyar as voiced by R. Bruce Elliott is at a meeting of the Magic Council.
On her way home Lucy comes across the very priestess seen earlier. She passes by her only to collapse. The bird-like creature asks for Lucy’s help.
Being a kind and generous soul, Lucy lends a hand. She brings the girl to the guildhall. There she gets a meal but proves to not be the friendliest of people.
The bird introduces the girl as Éclair. Éclair got voiced by Jessica Cavello. And the bird creature Momon got voiced by legendary voice actress Tiffany Grant.
Natsu introduces himself being his cheerful and goofy self. But Éclair seems withdrawn and is suffering some deep heartfelt pain. She mentions that she needs to get to a place called Boundary Forest.
Unfortunately said forest happens to be a monster filled death trap. Unless someone has powerful wizards with them. But before Éclair can leave Carla has one of her visions.
She warns Éclair that if she goes to Boundary Forest, she will suffer great sorrow there. Gee that’s not ominous at all!
Éclair leaves the guild not wanting to bother them. But Lucy follows and insists that she and the others on her team come with Éclair. She is reluctant as she believes magic only causes pain.
Now what's that all about?
On the train ride to the town near the Boundary Forest two things become clear. Éclair has amnesia and has a bad attitude towards magic. Though why she doesn’t know.
Her attitude towards magic puts Lucy off a bit.
And in a humorous twist Natsu’s legendary motion sickness kicks in. Wendy doesn’t want to use her healing power. Due to the fact the more she uses it the less effective it becomes.
This I thought made a great limiter for Wendy’s abilities. It keeps her healing powers from getting too strong.
Meanwhile they learn they’re seeking a wizard named Kallard who holds the key to Éclair’s past. Well at least there’s a goal so that says something.
In said city hilarity ensues as Natsu eats his way to a bill he can’t pay. Once again Natsu’s stomach gets him into a world of trouble. Wendy takes in the local theater.
Erza buys a bride outfit while looking at weapons and armor. And Grey gets in trouble with the law for indecent exposure on a bridge for stripping down to his shorts. After which they finally check in to their hotel for the night.
In a surprise twist Lucy and Éclair start to bond. The brunette girl recognizes that Lucy carries some pain of her own. But before they can bond anymore plot decides to kick in.
Lucy and Éclair get attacked in their hotel room by a blade throwing robed man. The two ladies almost get skewered by the robed wizard until Natsu and Grey intervene. They chase the robed man but he disappears.
They get back to Éclair and Lucy. Right as the blonde girl realizes she dropped her bath towel. And people can see her in the buff.
Happy points this out to hilarious results.
“Quit looking at me you perverts!” Lucy shouts.
Well played Cherami Leigh, well played.
The next day they go through Boundary Forest and proceed to tear through the monsters. Even Lucy gets to chip in with Aquarius. Who in usual fashion is not happy about getting summoned.
But considering the fact she’s a diva and a grump that’s not a surprise.
Meanwhile the movie shifts to the person who sent the bladed wizard. Duke Cream of the small country of Veronica. It seems the vein child has dreams of world domination.
And he means to use the two halves of the Phoenix Stone to achieve it. Said item being the stone amulet Éclair has the other half of. And he’s hired a dark guild of mercenaries to do his bidding of getting the stones.
This guild's leader is a man named Dist. The character voiced by actor Talliesin Jaffe.
Later we learn why the guild took the money of the duke. It seems they have their own plans. It’s very much evident that Dyst and the power he possesses are going to be trouble.
Meanwhile the Fairy Tail group arrives at the location of Kallard. Only to find the place deserted and has been for some time. In fact, Kallard has been dead for many years due to an ailment.
Through a hologram Éclair learns that Kallard was her father.
And so, Carla’s prediction came to pass. Eclair is distraught by this. But Lucy tells her about how she lost her own father.
At a sense of shared loss, the two start to bond more. Friendship is a powerful thing. This friendship forming, I thought was very organic and well done.
Éclair then asks for Fairy Tail’s help in figuring out her past. And stopping whatever cataclysm involves the pendant part she carries. Erza being the honorable warrior she is speaks on behalf of the guild in accepting the request.
The group return to Magnolia and the Fairy Tail Guild. Natsu tries to destroy Éclair’s part of the stone. Thinking that will help end this.
But as always proves a bonehead with this move. The humorous moment gets broken up when the guild gets attacked. And that’s where Dyst introduces his dark Guild of Carbuncle.
They proceed to lay the smack down on the Fairy Tail guild before they take Éclair and leave.
Natsu is of course enraged at this. At which point Makarov, Panther Lily, and Gajeel arrive. It seems the Iron Dragon Slayer and his feline companion have been on a mission for the head of Fairy Tail.
And what they've learned is not good.
Pather Lily and Gajeel explain the situation. Duke Cream means to combine the two parts of the Phoenix Stone. Believing it will give him immortality.
On hearing that I got the sense that somehow it wasn't going to be that easy.
Lucy insists on going as she feels she failed to keep Éclair safe. And wants to make up for it. Erza, Natsu, Grey, and Wendy also volunteer.
Gajeel accompanies them too as does Juvia Locksar.
Éclair sees a Phoenix statue in the town square and realizes that she’s come full circle. What that means becomes clear later. Cream tries to burn Éclair at the stake as a sacrifice as Veronica celebrates 400 years.
Meanwhile Fairy Tail bursts through the front gates. Intent on rescuing their friend from the prince and stopping the ritual. The Carbuncle mercenary guild go to deal with Fairy Tail.
Dist has it out with Natsu and shows he’s a master of gravity magic. B.S. magic yes but still useful.
The blade wielding wizard known as Chase has it out with Gajeel. A gun toting Carbuncle member named Cannon fights Grey and Juvia. No surprise his magic is the ability to create cannons out of anything.
There is some humor to this fight. As Juvia is still smitten with Grey and sees anyone as a potential rival to her for his affections. Good grief poor girl.
Erza faces off against a woman named Coordinator. She can nullify Requip abilities and reshape them to her own will. Another B.S. power which proves Erza’s in for a hard fight.
Natsu ends up getting defeated for the moment by Dysts’s gravity powers. Chase stabs Gajeel and thinks that’s the end of him. But the Iron Dragon Slayer is not so easy to dispatch.
Even Gajeel's innards are tough as iron, so the blades have no effect on him. And he proceeds to take the shadowy Carbuncle assassin down!
Erza and Coordinator end up having it out interrupting a play at a local Veronica theater. Erza transforms into the bride’s gown she bought and takes down the other woman.
Grey and Juvia take down Canon by combining their efforts. This is a move that makes sense since water and Ice magic complement each other. And proves why Juvia is so enamored with Grey.
Dist returns to the duke’s side. Panther Lily and Wendy blast some guards. And provide a distraction for Lucy to head off.
Meanwhile Natsu may be down but not out! He breaks out of the Veronica prison wagon and Happy carries him towards the celebration. Meanwhile the Duke is about to combine the two stone pieces.
But at that moment Dyst proves he’s got his own agenda. He stabs Duke Cream in the back by taking the pieces from the boy and declaring himself ruler of Veronica. So, the head of the dark guild and mercenary reveals his true colors.
Isn’t that the way it always goes with bad guys? Give them an opportunity and they will take power at the first chance they get. And Dist proves no exception summoning the Phoenix.
Momon flies into the fire and saves Éclair. But gets immolated in the process.
The Phoenix gets called forth but it’s nothing like the fiery bird of legend. In fact, it seems more like a demon than anything else. The thing goes on a rampage destroying the city and terrifying the people.
At which point the Fairy Tail guild members step in. They begin fighting the creature while Natsu and Dyst have their rematch. Lucy rescues Éclair who has remembered her past.
The fact is Eclair’s over 400 years old thanks to the Phoenix tears. She drank the phoenix tears ages ago at the desperate wish of her village's elder. It’s also shown that immortality is not as glorious as some claim it to be.
In fact, it's often a curse more than anything else. Hence why Éclair has had such disdain for magic.
Not only that but Veronica got built on the very spot where Fire Village used to be. A village destroyed because they were foolish enough to worship the Phoenix. Wow that’s a tragic story if ever there was one.
Natsu and Dyst continue their epic showdown. Éclair and Lucy flee for their lives. Only to fall into a deep trench that opened with no warning.
But this isn’t the end of Lucy. She and Éclair get saved at the last minute by Geese of all people. It seems he came to Veronica thinking the stones would be a quick and easy score.
But things are getting too hot so he’s heading for greener pastures. He leaves and Eclair notes Lucy’s influence on all she meets.
The other members of Fairy Tail join the fight against the Phoenix. Laxus, Makarov’s kin convinces Natsu to go all out with Dist.
The fire Dragon Slayer takes his fighting skills up several notches. And ends up knocking Dyst off the Phoenix. But the creature begins draining power from the other magic users.
Intending to use it to destroy the world and remake it in its own image.
Makarov arrives an explains he has an artifact that can turn the tide of things. The artifact entrusted to the Magic Council by the wizard Kallard. The Arrow of Evil dispelling.
The thing is he makes it clear he's tired of the council's debating when the world is in danger. "The Magic council be damned," he says.
In a crisis there comes a time when debate stops and it’s time to get things done. And that's what makes Makarov a great guild leader. Because he knows when it's time to get things done.
Erza will fire the arrow, but there's a price tag. Anyone who has drank the Phoenix’s tears which are its blood will vanish as soon as the creature gets destroyed. Lucy is distraught by this and tries to stop it.
But Eclair gives permission as after 400 years of life she’s had more than enough. Erza fires the arrow, and it hits. But the monster is still planning to go through with its task.
Natsu finishes the creature off. He plunges the arrow into the stones breaking them and the Phoenix. The creature falls apart and Éclair turns into her spirit form.
Before saying goodbye to Lucy and Natsu.
Reunited with the spirit of Momon Éclair heads off to her final rest. Lucy is in tears, but Natsu is there for her. And once again he makes it clear, "We're in this together."
Proving he's a true friend when times get rough. Good on you Natsu.
A bittersweet ending to an excellent movie. And a solid ending so I say well done!
Now what is it about Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess that makes it so great? Well first off, we get a consistent storyline that stays true to the canon of Fairy Tail. The story never strays too far from the direction it’s going in and keeps things on track which is good.
Another thing I liked about this was the dub performances in it. Some people have said sub is better. But I like dub because I can understand what’s said.
And there's the fact that with my bad vision reading subtitles is an issue for me.
Cherami Leigh as Lucy Heartfilia gives us a range of emotions. And shows why she plays the character of Lucy very well.
Todd Haberkorn as Natsu Dragneel proves something in this movie. He shows why Natsu is another jewel in his superb resume of legendary characters. And the way he can yell shows he’s a real trooper in voice acting.
Brittany Karbowski as Wendy proves enchanting as the young Air Dragon Slayer. Yet she shows growth because she’s not afraid to face down danger when friends’ lives are on the line. A change from the unsure girl who tripped over her shoes when she first appeared.
Bravo Miss Karbowski, bravo I say!
This is a good solid movie for the Fairy Tail canon. I give this movie a solid B and recommend it to any anime fan.
Well, I hope everyone enjoyed this review of Fairy Tail: Phoenix priestess. More content coming soon.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this review and commentary of this anime movie. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Did I do good or does my work need improvement?
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