Rating: Not Rated
Starring:
Yusuke Iseya as Tetsuya Azuma / Casshern
Kumiko Aso as Luna Kozuki
Akira Terao as Dr. Kotaro Azuma
Kanako Higuchi as Midori Azuma
Fumiyo Kohinata as Dr. Kozuki
Hiroyuki Miyasako as Akubon
Mayumi Sada as Sagurê
Jun Kaname as Barashin
Hidetoshi Nishijima as Lieutenant Colonel Kamijo
Mitsuhiro Oikawa as Kaoru Naito
Susumu Terajima as Sakamoto
Mayu Tsuruta as Burai’s wife
Ryô as San Ikegami
Tetsuji Tamayama as Sekiguchi
Youko Moriguchi as Luna’s mother
Special Features:
None
Other Info:
Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Japanese Language
English Subtitles
Running Time: 117 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the DVD cover:
“After 50 years of bitter warfare in the late 21st century, a new crisis looms. A threat to the future and the overall existence of mankind. But, there is hope a savior will emerge Casshern. ‘Casshern’ is an action-packed, sci-fi thriller that blends Japanamation and manga-inspired live action to create a new hybrid form of filmmaking that is both visually stunning and thought provoking.”
“Casshern” is not rated.
Mini Review:
“Casshern” starts out promising enough. It opens with an epic battle in the future between giant robots and soldiers wearing gas masks. It looks like someone mashed up “The Matrix” with “Sky Captain” and it is incredibly cool. The brief battle scenes alone are enough to hook you. The scenes then transition into a futuristic city filled with amazing flying vehicles and impressive architecture. It doesn’t take long to realize that you’re watching live action anime. I was hooked.
However, the movie’s story kicks in and it starts making the nonsensical twists and turns typical of Asian cinema. It’s the kind of stuff that baffles Western audiences and enthralls Asian audiences. You’re either into it or not. When Casshern finally appears on the screen, he seems more like a type of Power Ranger than anything. He does impossible stunts, hops around crazily, and strikes poses. Again, it’s very anime-like.
But just as the story gets to its most confusing and unbearable, we are treated to another amazing battle between the robot armies and the humans. The effects are imaginative and cool and when a robot hundreds of stories tall takes the battlefield, “Casshern” is at its best. I’ve rarely seen anything like it. Unfortunately, it concludes on a weird and surreal note that again will baffle Western audiences.
If you like anime, manga, “The Matrix,” or “Sky Captain,” I think you’ll find “Casshern” well worth checking out. Well, the action scenes at least. The rest of it I could personally do without. But it’s an interesting taste of what you can do on the big screen with amazing production design and imaginative action scenes.
Unfortunately, there are no bonus features on this DVD.
