CASSHERN LIVE ACTION FILM REVIEW

[Mothra]

First off, I have never seen the actual Cashan Anime. Just got this film, and I do have a few things to say about it.

I want it known that this film is really well made, and everything is top notch! The writing, the characters, the actors, the spfx, the choreography, etc. Look as good as anything the U.S. has done! Where the film lost me is with it's VERY dark tones, and the heavy handedness of several key issues written into the script. I thought the whole dark anti hero thing went out a few years back?? Don't get me wrong, the film is good, but with all the dark stuff going on in the real world, I was hoping for more escapist fare.....

On another note, there really was too little action sequences...3 battles in all, but they were well executed, and I really loved them, and it left me wanting much more of the same! More Fights w/ Casshern vs. the Robot army would have been fantastic!

Lastly, the ending was a real downer. I won't tell what happens, but if you see the film, you'll know what I mean!

Over all, I must give the film a solid 9 out of 10, because of how well made this film really was. You can tell they took alot of time, and had put alot of effort into it. But when doing updates of old characters, it seems the norm that they often take out what made the character cool, just so he's more "Hip" or up to date, and he loses something. At least the Haikaida movie stayed more or less true to Hakaida's nature, IMO

On a side note, this film has my interest sparked in the original Cashan series, which I just ordered on DVD!!! So it's not as bad as I make it sound!

What about any of you? Seen it? Like it? Lemme know!

[Xenorama ™]

i'm looking forward to at least seeing it. thanks for the review, Jim!

[Shonokin]

I agree with what Jim is saying. The action scenes are great but there are too few of them for such a long movie. In fact the first major fight between Casshern and the robots reminded me a lot of the type of fights you'd see in Samurai Jack.

I liked this movie a lot but as Jim said, it's very dark for escapist fantasy in a time when I want to escape from such harsh realities as allegorically implied at in Casshern. I would have thought this movie was the best thing since sliced bread about 10 years ago. But right now it's just a little too much.

I don't know if the film is shot in the "T-Visual" style like Devilman is being touted as, but it definately is a very processed and layered movie. The CGI/real life overlays are intertwined throughout the whole movie much in the same way as Sky Captain and is well done to boot.

[Mothra]

IMO, all the spfx work is just as good as anything George Lucas and ILM has done!

[Xenorama ™]

i know the English title says "Casshern" but it sounds like CasshAN to me, so take that for what it's worth. i like the AN sound more, so that's what i'm using.

i can't say i really liked this movie, but it did keep my attention until the end of the movie. it was well made, but too long, and rather pretentious at times. i'd have preferred a more straightforward sci-fi action movie with a little of the themes thrown in.

the fights were not very good, although he may have been going for style. but they were full of the same style of chop-edit that most US fight scenes have. some interesting effects didn't make up for the confusting shooting style.

like i said, it's really too long and could be edited down to about 2 hours to make it easier to watch. i'm no huge fan of the color style that lots of cg effects (the yellow and red or greys and blues) but it was interesting.

the ending made no real sense to me either.

but it's definately worth a look AND the subs are decent. i hear it's going to get some kind of release in the States, it will be interesting to see what is done with it.