The art direction and color balance in this film are strangely dark, which may not be to everyone's cup of tea. Some reviews have mentioned that the modern setting aligns with the beginning of Saint Seiya, but the inclusion of futuristic aircraft, which the main character jokingly refers to as a spaceship, pushes the envelope. The main plot relies heavily on armor-derived technology, which could have made an interesting premise for a movie. However, he neglects the magitech battle, treating it as a mere backdrop for character motivation.
This approach is problematic because the events of the film lack weight and meaning on their own. Although we are presented with an incredibly futuristic world powered by a combination of magic and technology, it feels disconnected from the plot of the upcoming film and lacks relevance to the series as a whole. Consequently, we are immersed in a gloomy world that deviates from the essence of anime and does not take itself seriously.
Director: Tomasz Baginski
Writers: Josh Campbell, Matt Stuecken, Kiel Murray
Stars: Mackenyu, Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman
Tomasz Baginski directs the film, with Josh Campbell, Matt Stuecken and Kiel Murray serving as writers. The cast includes Mackenyu, Famke Janssen, and Madison Iseman. Unfortunately, the artistic decisions made in this adaptation resemble those found in lazy anime movie/game adaptations, where the main concern is creating a serious atmosphere. The entire film is characterized by a gray, boring and joyless aesthetic. Some scenes resemble stills from Blade Runner or Dark City, but lack a cohesive plot and fade as soon as they appear.
Surprisingly, the movie lacks a notable soundtrack, despite being an anime adaptation that could have benefited from an amazing soundtrack. Sometimes the original Pegasus theme plays, but beyond that, the absence of music feels eerie. Given the Knights of the Zodiac's attempt to combine martial arts with a grubby underworld setting, the film's lack of music lessens its impact. It seems as if the filmmakers intentionally avoided creating attractive scenes. Some moments feature peculiar slow-motion effects that could have been enhanced by a surreal soundtrack like Dredd or Kaleida's song "Think" in John Wick. However, such additions are prohibited in this film.
The film's portrayal of the villain is cartoonish, complete with a black cape and a rich, ruthless psycho character, which ironically contradicts his belief in doing the right thing. His character arc concludes weakly and doesn't leave a lasting impression.
Despite cutting back on the original plot in several ways, the film falls short in terms of substantial content. The emotional beats that should have resonated with the audience are conspicuously absent. It almost seems as if the filmmakers were afraid of accidentally creating compelling scenes.
Sadly, this film represents yet another failed manga adaptation and raises questions as to why previous attempts have not followed a simple rule: faithfully reproduce the source material. The original series was a success, which should have served as a guide for the adaptation. The argument that this film is targeting a new demographic doesn't hold up, as Saint Seiya continues to appeal to younger audiences, and fans in Latin America, who grew up with the series, eagerly await authentic representation. The film lacks a specific target demographic other than existing fans who will watch it solely due to their devotion, and when viewed as a standalone film, it is mediocre at best.
The cast fails to capture the essence of the original characters, and the film spends time on superfluous subplots, including one that is poorly executed and leads nowhere. While the closed helm armor design is visually appealing, it's an inexplicably odd choice. The story tries to fit into three parts of the manga, focusing on the motivation of the protagonist, Athena, and the creation of the villain of the first arc. While this approach might have worked if the movie wasn't about Saint Seiya, it ultimately falls short.
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