review: CASSHERN

Paramount  //  Buy from Amazon.com 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. I think I first heard of "Casshern" a couple years back on the mighty Ain't It Cool News web site, and ended up picking an import DVD to check out. I was very, very impressed by the striking, rich, lush, insert-strong-adjective-here cinematography and production values of the film (while at the same time a bit wore out by the excessively long running length of the film.) Well, for this release, Paramount/Dreamworks have selected the Director's Cut (approx. 2 hours) and delivered an eye-popping transfer that makes my previous import version look like it was taped off of antenna cable. The sweeping storyline is still a bit grandious for my taste, but at its core its an intelligent, engaging story - however, you're not going to want to watch this one for the story, or even the acting. It is absolutely, unequivocally the visuals - the cinematography, the special effects, the choice of color palettes and mixing real life w/ special effects - that you will want to experience. And once you do, this movie is bound to leave a lasting impression on your synapses (as it did mine.) Amazing-looking film, well worth checking out. Video Unbelievable - every frame of the 2.40:1 anamorphic widesscreen image literally looks like it has been painted -- this film has some of the most gorgeous cinematography I have ever seen. It is absolutely mesmerizing. Audio Dolby 5.1 surround mix sounds great (at least for the special effects & soundtrack), as I was reading the subtitles and not listening to the Japanese dialogue. Extras trailers Closing Thoughts Unbelievably gorgeous film + no real extras = memorable viewing, even if only for the visuals