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Yusuke Iseya, Kumiko Aso, Toshiaki Karasawa, Akira Terao, Kanako Higuchi ... see more see more... , Fumiyo Kohinata , Hiroyuki Miyasako , Mayumi Sada , Jun Kaname , Hidetoshi Nishijima , Mitsuhiro Oikawa , Susumu Terajima , Hideji Otaki , Tatsuya Mihashi

A genetic discovery that could prove mankind's saving grace is instead used to create the very beings who threaten their existence in director Kazuaki Kirya's visionary sci-fi epic. The time is the la... read more read more...te 21st Century; fifty years of war between Europa and the Eastern Federation have left the planet devastated and the human race completely dispirited. In the aftermath of the Eastern Federation "victory," a new federation known as Eurasia is born. But the planet has been ravaged beyond the point of repair by nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and a half-century of warfare has taken a devastating toll on all mankind. At first, it appears that salvation is imminent when a highly respected geneticist named Azuma announces the discovery of a so-called "neo cell" that can rejuvenate the human body without risk of rejection. Mankind's last hope threatens to become its ultimate downfall, however, when nature and science combine to create a menace that could very well extinguish the human race forever. Now, as the human race prepares to make its last stand against the ultimate enemy, a powerful warrior will emerge to fight for mankind and provide hope for future generations. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

69% liked it

19,402 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Kazuaki Kiriya

Release Date: May 15, 2004

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DVD Release Date: October 16, 2007

Stats: 1,856 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,856)

  • jmanard52
    March 2, 2008
    jmanard52
    Nice effects.
  • garyX
    October 24, 2011
    garyX
    A medical researcher inadvertently creates a race of humanoids who faced with extermination by the military promptly rebel and declare war on mankind in a flashy live action anime that's frankly all over the place. The plot, such as it is, is erratic and occasionally incomprehens... read moreible and during the extended periods when there was no dialogue at all it felt like an interminably long music video. And then when the characters started spouting long winded and pretentious nonsense about the nature of war, I wished they'd kept their mouths shut. But like most Anime based stories the confused and confusing story is salvaged by the glorious visuals which are a stunning hotch potch of manga, Jeunet-esque steam punk and even expressionist imagery presented as a combination of live action and animation that is very reminiscent of Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow. And I also have to say I really like the closing scene that has a genuinely sincere and heart warming message. Unfortunately it's not enough to make up for the tediously long-winded and pretentious guff that makes up the dialogue and considering the surprising lack of action, it's waaaaaay too long. Flashy but dull.
  • WrenchLT
    June 9, 2011
    WrenchLT
    Futuristic sci-fi epic from Japan. Quite disappointed to be honest. Has some style and visual flair, but there wasn't enough action and things just got too over-dramatic and sentimental. It's so CGI drenched that the film could pass as animation, it was like watching a computer g... read moreame. But it has some cool moments to enjoy, they're just too few and far between.
  • EightThirty
    December 25, 2010
    EightThirty
    13/11/2010 (DVD)

    I loved the way this movie looks and I was amazed with the fighting sequences. I never saw the anime that this was adapted from but I might check it out now because it was difficult to understand and weirdly strange, perhaps the anime may help me unders... read moretand it a little better.

    My interest was slow but gradual, slow though... very slow. I was about to sleep but then it starts taking off, however I was still lost and didn't quite get what was happening, but it looked amazing and this could do well in 3D.

    I think checking out the anime first before viewing this may enhance your experience because it is quite a hard one to follow, but the fights are cool though.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 17, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    Reincarnated with an invincible body to fight an iron devil.
  • kenstachnik
    April 26, 2009
    kenstachnik
    Memo to the director. Maybe spend some time on the script BEFORE locking yourself in the art department. Very pretty and very hollow.

    ....this advice is also applicable to Tim Burton.
  • newvogueravyn
    September 1, 2008
    newvogueravyn
    Very stylistically beautiful in a cyberpunk manga way. Every shot is a work of art, scenes have strict colour schemes that put Hero to shame. The score is also rather magnificent. In terms of the plot, it is either philosophically profound or pointless pretentious waffle. Take yo... read moreur pick.
  • skactopus
    August 14, 2008
    skactopus
    Casshern is Kazuaki Kiriya's debut film as a director, producer, and writer. Let me say that this is one h*** of a start.

    This film is based off an anime and there is no question that there will be a cult following. There is a strong science fiction story to drive this

    ... read more film, but it drives it just a bit too far. The 2 hour 20 minute run time actually feels like 2 hours and 20 minutes because the pace is fairly slow with only a moderate amount of action.

    Director Kiriya is not afraid to take huge steps with the visual aspect for this picture. If you take the looks of Sin City, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and a little bit of Ultraviolet, you get Casshern. It does sound overwhelming and at times it is. Certain portions look wonderful, while others are visually excessive. In the end, the benefits outweigh the negatives and it helps make the connection to the anime more meaningful, although there are other ways to accomplish this.

    The action sequences are all about CG and effects. Sometimes, this doesn't work out so well, but they turn out pretty good in this film. Throughout the film there is an orchestrated soundtrack in the background, but the rock music kicks in when the hits start coming. The sound effects also pick up during these too few segments.

    The acting is pretty good. A lot of the characters seem a little bland, but that is more the result of the film style rather than bad acting.

    Casshern isn't a perfect film, but once you realize it is the director's first big budget one, you will come to appreciate it a little more.
  • thefog1331
    June 23, 2008
    thefog1331
    Wild visual orgy of SFX, cinematography and set design. Dreamwork's hack job on the editing however is unforgivable removing nearly 30 minutes of footage which causes alot of confusion in places, especially the ending.

    The hunt for an import version is currently under way.
  • Beefy
    October 23, 2007
    Beefy
    Omega level eye candy, with a wicked slick stew of plot rip offs that just seem to work well together.

View All Casshern Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Dequina
December 23, 2008
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Surprisingly bittersweet and contemplative, and hence registers more strongly than a mere sensory spectacle. Full Review

Jean-François Vandeuren
August 20, 2008
Jean-François Vandeuren, Panorama

Une expérience technique enlevante beaucoup plus qu'un film à part entière. Full Review

Ryan Cracknell
October 22, 2007
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

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. Full Review

Brian Webster
October 20, 2007
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide

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! Full Review

Anton Bitel
February 19, 2005
Anton Bitel, Movie Gazette

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. Full Review

Ed Gonzalez
November 13, 2004
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

The semiotic noise of this juiced-up virtual exhibit doesn't exactly ask to be discerned. Full Review

Derek Elley
April 26, 2011
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Joe Lozito
December 27, 2007
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound

Click to read the article Full Review

April 1, 2006
Empire Magazine

Click to read the article Full Review

Christopher Null
January 15, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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