Strong World
BRIEF STORY (contains spoilers):
The story takes place right after Brook joins the crew (making it his first film debut) and before Luffy goes to rescue Ace. The crew encounters a pirate named Shiki who had known Roger, the late Pirate King. When Nami warns Shiki about the upcoming storm, he is amazed by her skills and shows great interest in her. He manifests his devil fruit abilities for the crew to see; in the process, he manages to kidnap Nami and the rest of the crew is blown to the islands Shiki rules over with his power. Eventually, Shiki reveals his plans to Nami about destroying East Blue and he needs her navigating skills for it. Nami later escapes from him and reunites with Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Chopper and Usopp. Meanwhile, Franky, Robin and Brook were able to get some information about Shiki's plan and they try to reach the rest of their friends.
Before all of them could get back together, Shiki was able to track Nami down and he defeats her friends she had been reunited with. In the end, she has no other choice but to go with him. Nami doesn't give up and later tries to defeat him herself. She doesn't succeed and instead, she is trapped under many iron bars and gets infected by a virus. When the rest of the crew finally wakes up, they meet Franky, Robin and Brook and together, they storm in Shiki's castle to commence a battle with him and save Nami...
BRIEF STORY (contains spoilers):
The story takes place right after Brook joins the crew (making it his first film debut) and before Luffy goes to rescue Ace. The crew encounters a pirate named Shiki who had known Roger, the late Pirate King. When Nami warns Shiki about the upcoming storm, he is amazed by her skills and shows great interest in her. He manifests his devil fruit abilities for the crew to see; in the process, he manages to kidnap Nami and the rest of the crew is blown to the islands Shiki rules over with his power. Eventually, Shiki reveals his plans to Nami about destroying East Blue and he needs her navigating skills for it. Nami later escapes from him and reunites with Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Chopper and Usopp. Meanwhile, Franky, Robin and Brook were able to get some information about Shiki's plan and they try to reach the rest of their friends.
Before all of them could get back together, Shiki was able to track Nami down and he defeats her friends she had been reunited with. In the end, she has no other choice but to go with him. Nami doesn't give up and later tries to defeat him herself. She doesn't succeed and instead, she is trapped under many iron bars and gets infected by a virus. When the rest of the crew finally wakes up, they meet Franky, Robin and Brook and together, they storm in Shiki's castle to commence a battle with him and save Nami...
HINTS:
Zoro wears a bandana with a sunflower pattern-something that is very similar to the one Nami wore in a colorspread before. I think it's not just a regular hint, because in a way, the bandana Nami wore is from East Blue at the beginning of the story. In the Strong World, Shiki wants to destroy East Blue and Zoro wears this bandana, right before the timeskip. I don't know why, but to me, it somehow symbolizes the beginning and the end of the first part of One Piece, before the timeskip ^^
HINTS:
Zoro wears a bandana with a sunflower pattern-something that is very similar to the one Nami wore in a colorspread before. I think it's not just a regular hint, because in a way, the bandana Nami wore is from East Blue at the beginning of the story. In the Strong World, Shiki wants to destroy East Blue and Zoro wears this bandana, right before the timeskip. I don't know why, but to me, it somehow symbolizes the beginning and the end of the first part of One Piece, before the timeskip ^^
Nami's outfit some time in the middle of the movie has three colours: red, yellow, green. These colour Zoro has on him, too - he has red bandana, yellow earrings and green hair ^^ (not to mention they are also close to each other on this colorspread XD.... sorry.)
Ahah, this isn't something Oda made or something, it just made me somehow happy, seeing Zoro and Nami together ^^
MOMENTS:
0:20:56
No reasons. Just liked this gif xD
No reasons. Just liked this gif xD
0:22:23
There is a small and interesting insight into Zoro's behaviour while Shiki is onboard of Sunny. While Luffy, Usopp and Chopper are amazed by Shiki's power, other crewmembers are more in caution or even disbelief... and surprisingly, we also get Zoro as the only member's close up of a face. It might be going in too much depths, but Zoro, unlike Sanji who is showing only disbelief, is also more frowning. He looks rather more tense than others, as if he expected something bad to happen. And guess what happened moments later to his girlfr-err.... I mean his friend Nami...
0:24:12
Yep. She is caught off-guard by Shiki and he kidnaps her. Luffy, Zoro and Sanji are the ones who try to reach her the fastest. I know this isn't any kind of exclusive ZoNa moment only, but it still shows that Zoro doesn't hesitate any second to come help her. I think it is pretty obvious already, but some people still forget that Nami is also Zoro's friend and therefore, he won't ever hesitate to save her.
0:45:28
Nami and Luffy later meet up with Chopper, Sanji and Zoro. Sanji (not surprisingly) is send into a "happy-wiggling-mood" after seeing Nami, which kind of annoyes Zoro the most. Usopp and Chopper just look more flabbergasted than annoyed (I mean, seriously, their mouths are open in that surprised-manner..unlike Zoro's... which is explained as you will see below).
A close up before Usopp explains Sanji's behaviour... I don't know about you, but Zoro's face seems to me like the most annoyed one. I mean, all three of them are frowning, but Zoro also has his mouth shifted to one side, which often indicates something like utter annoyance or even disgust (it is more emphasized above than down here. But well, I will let you guys decide yourself what you see.
0:47:57
Later on, the red-haired girl Xiao runs to her house; apparently, she has some "good news" she wants to share with her mom and granny. The crewmembers are seen waiting outside all sleeping soundly, except for Zoro who gets up (or just opens his eyes?) after hearing the girl running (despite the infamous fact he is a heavy sleeper, capable of even sleeping during a winter storm). What's more, he sits right opposite the door to the house and facing it, as if he was the one keeping watch even if that wasn't something they established as a duty.
0:48:04
Here, a close up of Zoro opening his eye and even looking after Xiao's backs.
And in the next moment, the close up of Zoro's face is even bigger. His eyes also shifted to one side almost in a way he was checking the surroundings a little, making sure nothing is happening.
Now, why am I making such a big fuss about this? It's because Zoro is the only awake and/or even paying attention while Nami, who just returned from Shiki's capture, is inside the house. You can even fight with me on this, but in a way, I think he is still worried about Nami and anxious with this situation. He is often a very heavy sleeper, which is why this moment of him being the only one awake nicely surprised me. It sure shows he cares about Nami's well-being... and I wouldn't be surprised if he was also the first one to notice Shiki when he came there to fight them.
Now, why am I making such a big fuss about this? It's because Zoro is the only awake and/or even paying attention while Nami, who just returned from Shiki's capture, is inside the house. You can even fight with me on this, but in a way, I think he is still worried about Nami and anxious with this situation. He is often a very heavy sleeper, which is why this moment of him being the only one awake nicely surprised me. It sure shows he cares about Nami's well-being... and I wouldn't be surprised if he was also the first one to notice Shiki when he came there to fight them.
0:55:45
So, well.... the crew battles it out with Shiki, but they are unfortunately defeated by him. He also traps all of them (aside from Nami and the other three who aren't with them) in a huge mass of clay. The first person Nami notices in it is... Zoro. A simple view on him in there is enough to strike her in fear. The second person she notices is Usopp, then Sanji, Chopper and finally Luffy.
"Why so much fuss?" again, I know it ain't something big, but seeing him in there was something shocking for her. She probably didn't expect someone as strong as Zoro to be there, looking so defeated. Looking at this huge pile of shi-...I mean clay later on, we see where the crewmembers landed (it took some zooming and such but it should be right). An interesting thing is, the first person she "should've seen" is Usopp, considering the rotating of that mass of clay... but maybe, showing Zoro first was for that huge "someone this strong was also easily defeated" effect...in which case they really succeeded because Nami was really overwhelmed after seeing Zoro.
01:09:30
Moving on, we have a scene where the crew listens to the tape from Nami. They have stopped listening at one point, because Nami didn't talk about anything positive... and Luffy actually believed she had that little trust in them so he stopped listening completely. After that, he went on destroying some stones around.
However, Zoro and the rest listen to the tape again, not minding their captain. By listening to it again, they get the real message Nami wanted to deliver - and that is, she is asking them for help and had to purposely act as if she was degrading them (this is explained at the end of the movie but well, gonna tell you now). I am not sure how to say this, but I feel like the crewmembers (aside from the captain) had more trust in Nami than the captain himself in this matter.
We also see their expressions after they heard it... not only is Zoro the first to react, he also frowns at this rather than look surprised or sad, almost like he expected something like this. This is just possibility speaking, but perhaps he felt the real heaviness of the matter and how hard it must have been for Nami? We have seen multiple times Zoro called on Nami's *ehm* bullshit and was never fine with it - like when he saw through her face in Arlong Park or later on confronted her about Usopp... or many times when she gets into money-loving mood, or even when she would feel kind of scared, he would always be like "cut it off" or "cut off the it's-fine-act". This one is similar to that one in Arlong Park (we are in East Blue again, nice...), especially the time Zoro had enough of Nami faking up and (possibly) lying about Usopp being dead. She was acting all tough back then, but he knew she really wasn't and got angry at her (and in the process, did many unbelievable stuff...).
Considering the fact Oda wrote the script to Strong World, I wouldn't be surprised if this moment was the case, too. Zoro was probably kind of ... I don't want to say angry, but he wasn't particularly happy about Nami trying to act tough and didn't just ask for help in the first place. And when she eventually did, it was a very nice change of hers ... which he probably didn't expect. I am pretty sure if this is the case, if he should feel any kind of anger, then only towards Shiki who (indirectly) made her say something like this, almost leading her friends to believe she didn't trust them much.
01:16:23
Nothing big again, but it is a bit curious that Zoro is the second in line while they are trying to reach Shiki and mainly save Nami. I would have expected Sanji to be second, as he is often "eager" to save a woman. But Zoro being the second here is kind of intriguing... combined with what happened afterwards...
01:16:23
Nothing big again, but it is a bit curious that Zoro is the second in line while they are trying to reach Shiki and mainly save Nami. I would have expected Sanji to be second, as he is often "eager" to save a woman. But Zoro being the second here is kind of intriguing... combined with what happened afterwards...
01:16:46
Zoro is also the first one to break the door to a room Shiki is in ... yup, (again) nothing big, but I loved that part, because it kind of gave away a feeling as if he was impatient... (to save Nami? pffft xD yep. Being a shipper is scary. I gotta stop now). Of course I know there could have been many more "acceptable reasons", but I still feel he was at least a bit impatient and/or worried about Nami (considering he was the second in the line and the first one to break the door). We know that Zoro would still sometimes worry about Nami even when he was in bigger pinch himself or when others were supposed to save her already; it wouldn't surprise me if this was also the case. And if it isn't... then oh well. Have a gif with Zoro cutting down the door? xD
01:28:22
Nami was poisoned after she was caught by Shiki the second time. Fortunately, Chopper and Usopp find her, but they realize she needs to get an antidote as soon as possible. They go into a laboratory, where they run into an enemy doctor who (oh so casually and suitably) has the said antidote with him. This is also exactly the moment our favourite Zoro turns up....
It is interesting that after those two moments mentioned just above, Zoro appears right here when Nami needs an antidote. Well yes, Luffy also ran in Chopper, Usopp and Nami before and although the captain was able to fend of the danger named Shiki, he couldn't still save Nami. And this is the time our wandering (forever lost) Zoro comes in.
01:28:27
Arguably, it's interesting Zoro is in the laboratory in the first place. While it's true Zoro had been fending off Dr. Indigo in the castle, but 1) it's a nice coincidence the doctor is also someone who got the medicine with him and 2) most importantly, Zoro didn't get lost at all when he followed his enemy from the castle xD
For someone who is directionally challenged like Zoro, he came in an awfully right time to defeat the enemy and get the antidote for Nami. He even heard the small conversation going on and looking at his face, he looks frigging pissed if you ask me. Maybe he knew Usopp and Chopper don't stand a chance against the doctor, or maybe he knew it was a race of time in getting the antidote and saving Nami... either way, he wants to take the enemy all by himself.
01:30:08
Zoro then defeats Dr. Indigo using Asura and obtains the medicine which can cure Nami's illness. It's a pity she wasn't conscious at that moment though.
01:30:23
After that, Zoro throws the medicine to Chopper. He couldn't do it any other way than throwing it, considering the bridge was heavily damaged...
01:30:29
And right after that, he asks both Usopp and Chopper to take care of Nami. This sentence kind of holds a sentimental value, it shows Zoro clearly cares for Nami's well-being, not just in the "as long as her life is secured" way, but overall, to make sure she will also be safe and sound. If Zoro's only objective was just to secure the antidote, then I don't think he would have said "take care of Nami".
Before, Luffy also said the similar (if not the same) thing, so it's kind of interesting Luffy and Zoro were the only ones who got to say this... eh, whatever.
01:30:33
Zoro decides to go back and runs off...but then (fortunately), Usopp notices him going the wrong way and warns him about it. Yep. It sure is amazing Zoro managed to follow the enemy with the antidote in the first place... but now that the danger is over and Nami's life is safe, Zoro is about to get lost (again?) xD I don't know about you guys, but I sure feel Zoro has some kind of Eternal Pose pointing to Nami when she is in danger (and works only when she is in danger) XD maybe his worry over Nami won over his always directionally challenged mind and he didn't get lost before? xD who knows....
01:33:31
Nami wakes up shortly after Zoro departs. Unfortunately, she isn't aware he was the one who delivered the medicine for her... and neither Chopper nor Usopp will ever tell it later on.
Anyway, she notices Usopp and Chopper and asks them whether they are here to save her. Usopp retorts back, saying it wasn't just the two of them, but that the others also came. Interestingly, Zoro's name came up first... I am not sure if it was in any way intended, but maybe hearing Zoro's name first as someone who came to save her could soothe her somehow? We all know Luffy is not very reliable, always going on rampage, but who still cares for his friends deeply... just not the stable type. Zoro on the other hand has almost always been someone who managed to save her without doubts.
01:43:36
Finally, all crewmembers are back together on Sunny...aside from Luffy who has just defeated Shiki. He turns into a small child due to using 3rd Gear and Zoro is the first one to comment that... Sanji and also Nami both agree with him.
Not a big ZoNami moment, but I am glad to see Nami awake and agreeing with Zoro.
01:44:45
Yep, another small ZoNami moment. Zoro with others run to Nami in order to make sure she is alright, because she has collapsed just a moment ago.
Another small note; at the beginning, Zoro helped Xiao, the young red-haired girl, when he was lost in the mountains. Near the end of the movie, Nami is the first one who thought about her and other residents' well-being. I know it isn't anything big, because the girl also adored Luffy, but I found it nice Zoro was the one to find her and Nami the first one to think about her later on.
Well, this is all for Strong World ^^ for some weird reasons, I have written more about the moments here than those in Film Z, although Film Z had more direct ZoNami moments. *shrugs*
Moments I enjoyed the most must have been when Zoro showed up to get the medicine for Nami and saying "take care of Nami" ^^ otherwise, most of other moments are "general" and/or speculations only, so don't take them too seriously.
As for the story... it was good and interesting, but the lack of Nami x anyone else moments was kinda killing me. I enjoyed some Luffy and Nami moments, but would have appreciated her interacting with others a lot more.
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