Went to watch this Japanese sci-fi movie called "Casshern" with Nekoweenie today. I must say that I was very entertained. We both were. We were giggling almost throughout the whole movie. Not because the movie sucked or anything but more because the direction of the movie was just one big anime cliche. Seriously it was like watching an anime with live people instead of 2D characters.
Some typical sci-fi/fantasy anime characteristics:
- alternate future where the world's atmosphere is severely damaged and mutants/aliens/cyborgs/robots are taking over the world and humans have courageously managed to overcome all odds to fight and survive.
- Wars and battles all over the place between humans and mutants/aliens/cyborgs
- Enigmatic scientist who comes up with some wonderful new way of saving the human race.
- He usually later turns out to be slightly mad as well.
- Poor estranged son of the enigmatic mad scientist who also happens to be the hero of the story.
- Heroine that everyone will fall in love with and who believes deeply in the good of everyone and will eventually be the deciding factor in the battle of good vs evil.
- Enigmatic bad guy who only wants the end of humanity as we know it. In most cases we find out later that he's not all that bad, just pushed to the edge due to heart-wrenching circumstances.
- Bumbling/dense henchman of Enigmatic Bad Guy who is actually very kind-hearted, just on the wrong side due to unfortunate circumstances. Sometimes turns out to be the most insightful character despite having fewer brain cells.
- Hot sexy dominatrix who kicks ass, especially if the ass is male. Usually has little to say and absolutely loyal to Enigmatic Bad Guy. Doesn't question his motives.
- Hot sexy bad guy who kicks ass, any ass. Also doesn't say much. Second-in-command to Enigmatic Bad Guy and also very loyal. Also tends to tread the line between good and evil.
Heh. Ok. Must stop. If I say anymore then this post would be just one big spoiler and I might as well just tell you the whole story. Not that I haven't already nearly done so. When I said the movie was just one big anime cliche, i mean it is one big anime cliche. But I suppose if you consider that it is based on a very old anime that ran during the 1970s, you could say the director is actually staying true to the story.
That's not to say that the movie was a terrible one. After you finish sniggering at the cliches you realize that it's actually quite good when you put it all into context. Very entertaining and actually very very thought provoking. The title of this post is actually a line that the heroine says somewhere in the middle of the show. Although it may have been unintended (and since the original story was thought of so long ago, I believe it is so), there are numerous parallels that you can draw to the state of the world that we live in today. Stem cell issues, mindless wars, racism, religious discrimination and religious fanatism, environmental issues, our growing dependency on technology... The list goes on my friends. It's also a cinematographic achievement. Like "Sky Captain", this film was made almost entirely on a CGI background with a live action cast. Only certain sets and props were real. Apparently there's some debate going on about who did it first but I don't really know the details. Right now I am currently quite in love with the Hot Sexy Second-in-Command, Barashin (the actor's name is Kaname Jun 要潤). So hot. I seem to have this bad habit of falling in love with characters that are standing on the edge. Hehehe... I want to go and buy the soundtrack. The songs inside quite quite cool.
So do I recommend this movie? Yes, actually, I do. I thought it was quite worth it. Although my only advice would be not to watch this movie with live-action movie expectations. Go watch it as an anime, and it will blast you away.
Cool trailer: http://www.apple.com/jp/quicktime/trailers/casshern_large.html
Trailer translation:
Some typical sci-fi/fantasy anime characteristics:
- alternate future where the world's atmosphere is severely damaged and mutants/aliens/cyborgs/robots are taking over the world and humans have courageously managed to overcome all odds to fight and survive.
- Wars and battles all over the place between humans and mutants/aliens/cyborgs
- Enigmatic scientist who comes up with some wonderful new way of saving the human race.
- He usually later turns out to be slightly mad as well.
- Poor estranged son of the enigmatic mad scientist who also happens to be the hero of the story.
- Heroine that everyone will fall in love with and who believes deeply in the good of everyone and will eventually be the deciding factor in the battle of good vs evil.
- Enigmatic bad guy who only wants the end of humanity as we know it. In most cases we find out later that he's not all that bad, just pushed to the edge due to heart-wrenching circumstances.
- Bumbling/dense henchman of Enigmatic Bad Guy who is actually very kind-hearted, just on the wrong side due to unfortunate circumstances. Sometimes turns out to be the most insightful character despite having fewer brain cells.
- Hot sexy dominatrix who kicks ass, especially if the ass is male. Usually has little to say and absolutely loyal to Enigmatic Bad Guy. Doesn't question his motives.
- Hot sexy bad guy who kicks ass, any ass. Also doesn't say much. Second-in-command to Enigmatic Bad Guy and also very loyal. Also tends to tread the line between good and evil.
Heh. Ok. Must stop. If I say anymore then this post would be just one big spoiler and I might as well just tell you the whole story. Not that I haven't already nearly done so. When I said the movie was just one big anime cliche, i mean it is one big anime cliche. But I suppose if you consider that it is based on a very old anime that ran during the 1970s, you could say the director is actually staying true to the story.
That's not to say that the movie was a terrible one. After you finish sniggering at the cliches you realize that it's actually quite good when you put it all into context. Very entertaining and actually very very thought provoking. The title of this post is actually a line that the heroine says somewhere in the middle of the show. Although it may have been unintended (and since the original story was thought of so long ago, I believe it is so), there are numerous parallels that you can draw to the state of the world that we live in today. Stem cell issues, mindless wars, racism, religious discrimination and religious fanatism, environmental issues, our growing dependency on technology... The list goes on my friends. It's also a cinematographic achievement. Like "Sky Captain", this film was made almost entirely on a CGI background with a live action cast. Only certain sets and props were real. Apparently there's some debate going on about who did it first but I don't really know the details. Right now I am currently quite in love with the Hot Sexy Second-in-Command, Barashin (the actor's name is Kaname Jun 要潤). So hot. I seem to have this bad habit of falling in love with characters that are standing on the edge. Hehehe... I want to go and buy the soundtrack. The songs inside quite quite cool.
So do I recommend this movie? Yes, actually, I do. I thought it was quite worth it. Although my only advice would be not to watch this movie with live-action movie expectations. Go watch it as an anime, and it will blast you away.
Cool trailer: http://www.apple.com/jp/quicktime/trailers/casshern_large.html
Trailer translation:
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