Casshern (2004)

Although "Casshern" is a sci-fi movie, it's based on an anime from the 1970s and plays much more like a live action anime than a sci-fi story. The graphics are VERY splashy and look like a Japanese graphic novel come to life. In this sense, I can really respect the film though I didn't enjoy it in the least--and I normally love sci-fi.This story is set in a dystopic future. The world has been at war for 50 years and the planet has been destroyed. Dr. Azuma, who is from the losing side, has been given funds by his new masters to try to create a new form of cell life that can replace diseased and mutated organs and renew life. But, something goes wrong and a race of twisted genetic freaks result and they are intent on wiping out humans and dominating the world. Can Cassern, an odd reincarnated hero, save humanity? To say the story is confusing is an understatement. I think if you have read the original anime, it won't be confusing and might even be a wonderful film. But, for me, it was a loud mess of a film that I just didn't enjoy.

The storyline of this film is essentially that of a superhero movie. Set in some dystopian future in the fading stages of a great world war a scientist develops a cell culture system for creating new body parts. Only his experiments go wrong and create - the villains (sort of) - a group of superhuman mutants (called the Neuroids) that after being persecuted by the human race set out to destroy it. After the scientist son is killed in the war he uses his cell culture system to resurrect him and he becomes the films super hero. As the film progresses our hero develops a purpose and identity becoming Casshern.As a superhero movie this film matches if not exceeds many western films of the same genre. However I would not necessarily recommend this film to marvel film fans. Although this film follows a super hero trajectory it is set in a dark sci fi world and explores issues such as fascism, the nature of humanity, and the fallacy of war. The films aesthetic and visual effects are more akin to films such as Brazil.The quality of this film in terms of its dialogue, action sequences, acting and visuals fluctuates from gripping through to B movie. There are some scenes where you connect with the characters and feel immersed in the CG scapes and violence, and others when things seem less imaginative and you realise everything is made out of plastic.I give this film 7/10 but i'd say it isn't for everyone. Some people will see a B movie, others something out of this world.

This is bad.Really bad.The film is totally nonsensical, and worst of all it thinks it's a deep message movie of the 'War is bad, mmmmkay?' variety.The one redeeming feature is that the visuals are fantastic. But even that gets hard to watch after about an hour.Any attempt to make sense of the plot, or pay attention to the bad dialog (yes, I know it was translated from the Japanese, but it's so moronic it can't all be poor translation) will only make you want your life back.My recommendation is to turn the volume all the way down, and put on some music you really like, and watch it like the 2+ hour music video it is.

I/ve just watched this film on SBS at 2am. This film will go down as a Japanese classic simply because it covers so many aspects of life outside the film than in. The ending left me speechless and i cannot wait to see this film on a surround sound set up. Truly one of the best modern sci fi classics i have seen in a long time. Brilliant. 10 out of 10. I loved how they used the theme that humans were the ones to blame for the existence of the human race. Kinda calling the kettle black. Plus blaming ancestors for the way the world is today is a bit harsh. Evolution is evolution. But the old us versus them debate once again became the center of the movie were simple existence between the two is the simple answer!