Movie Review: Casshern

Okay, it has been several months since I last posted. Been busy and didn't really have the drive to post anything. Anyways enough complaining, how about we go right to the movie review.

What is it you may be wondering. What nugget of goodness have I to offer onto you the reader. Well I was once again at my local video store and saw a DVD in the foreign section that caught my eye. I have found that with past experiences a foreign film with someone wearing cool armor or mask, are pretty good; an example being Silverhawk starring Michelle Yeoh; but that is another review.

DVD Info:
Released on April 24th, 2004 in Japan and finally made it to the United States on October 27th, 2007.
It was directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, who also directed Goemon which will be out this year (2009).
The film movie runs 117 minutes and was released by Paramount Home Entertainment; this is the release company for the United States. I don't actually know the release company for Japan.

The Review and Summary:
Based on the 1973 Japanese animé, this is a great movie about a world where a great war that raged on for years has finally come to an end. But left in it's wake is disease and pollution. A geneticist, Dr. Azuma (Akira Terao) developes a medical technique called "neo-cell". Azuma claims that "neo-cell" can rejuvenate the body and regenerate mankind. Turned down by the government, Azuma accepts funding by a shadow organization within the military.

At the same time this is happening the doctor's son Tetsuya, (Yuzuke Iseya: played Minamoto no Yoshitsunein in 2007's "Sukiyaki Western Django"), is killed at the end of the war and his body is being brought to the facility where is father's lab is located.

Enter in the plot device. A strange, alien metal "lightning bolt" crashes through the ceiling and lands in the large pool of "neo-cell". Electricity travels through the "neo-cell"; which by the way has arms and legs floating in it; spawning the "Shinzo Ningen" or "Neo-Humans".

The "Neo-Humans" escape and Dr. Azuma places the body of his son into the electrified "neo-cell" bringing him back to life. Yet there is a price. The "neo-cell" has enhanced his muscles so much that he can't survive without wearing this special battle suit, created by Dr. Kozuki, to keep his body in check. Taking the name Casshern, he fights the "Neo-Humans".

Overall I was very pleased with this movie. Most of it was filmed with the same technique as Sin City. With actors filmed in front of a blue/green screen and the backgrounds added in later. Now many people don't like this technique but I like it. The action scenes were very nicely done, great fight scenes. The cinematography was greatly inspired by anime, with lines indicating movement, camera angles, acting styles and plot elements. I would and have watched this movie again.

The Verdict:
I am going to give Casshern what I believe to be a well deserved, 5 out of 5 Neo-humans. And suggest my readers go out and at least rent it. I personally bought a copy after I rented it.