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Casshern (2004)
Synopsis: An action-packed sci-fi thriller, "Casshern" blends Japanimation and manga-inspired live action resulting a new kind of hybrid filmmaking that is both visually stunning and thought-provoking. The human cast propels the action against a backdrop of CGI, special effects, and a wide range... An action-packed sci-fi thriller, "Casshern" blends Japanimation and manga-inspired live action resulting a new kind of hybrid filmmaking that is both visually stunning and thought-provoking. The human cast propels the action against a backdrop of CGI, special effects, and a wide range of animation techniques, from state of the art to simple stop-motion animation. It is late in the 21st century. After 50 years of devastating war between Europa and the Eastern Federation, the latter has emerged victorious, and the new federation of Eurasia is formed. There can be no glorious peace, however, as the planet has been ravaged by chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons and the entire human race is dispirited and exhausted by half a century of war. A geneticist named Azuma brings hope in the form of a "neo-cell," which can rejuvenate human parts with no risk of rejection. But nature interferes with science to create a new kind of menace that forces the entire human race to fight an ultimate war against its own extinction. --© DreamWorks [More]
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Starring: Kumiko Aso, Akira Terao, Fumiyo Kohinata
Reviews
Like the similarly stylized Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and, to a certain extent, 300, Casshern is more about visuals than story. It's a CG playground where cartoon and live action collide.
Its pessimistic view of the future is as old hat as the superhero premise, but the way it looks most certainly is not. Style over substance? Certainly. But what style!
Overlong, heavy-handed and thoroughly humourless it may be, but it is also a spectacularly stylised mutation of the way we look at the world of war.
The semiotic noise of this juiced-up virtual exhibit doesn’t exactly ask to be discerned.


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