I find it necessary to watch the trailers before seeing any Fantasia movies because they can go a long way towards indicating the production value, style and concept of any given film. But sometimes, as we are all aware, a trailer does nothing except spoil a movie-going experience. “Robo Rock” is a case in point. The trailer was hilarious so I was looking forward to the whole thing and it’s not that all the best parts were revealed in the trailer but all the “big” moments, all the plot twists and turns were revealed. Well, not all, but the big payoff was. I mean, the trailer completely revealed the climax of the film. A climax that would have been much funnier and more enjoyable had I not been waiting for it the whole way through.

“Robo Rock” is a typicall quirky and amusing Japanese movie but I can’t help wondering how much more enjoyable it would have been if I hadn’t been so spoiled. This makes it difficult for me to review it because yes, I did enjoy it, but I was also disappointed because the ending was so totally ruined for me.

So whatever you do don’t watch the trailer! Otherwise, fun times. Fun, Japanese times.

3 1/2 niqueheads [rating:35]