REVIEW: GANTZ [Live-action] (Japanese Movie: 2010)

[You can also read this on UnitedJPop here!]

As soon  as I saw the promotional photos for this film, I knew I wanted to watch it...SEE HOW COOL IT LOOKS?!

Add to that, the fact that it has one of my favourite actors in it (Ken'ichi Matsuyama - still love him after his portrayal of L in Death Note)...as well as Nino from Arashi...and I am well and truly SOLD!

GANTZ is a film adaptation of the manga of the same name by Hiroya Oku.

The film adaptation of the story centres around University student Kei Kurono (Kazuranari Ninomiya) who is struggling to find a job and living constantly under the shadow of his older brother. He is rather shy and timid by nature and not very proud of where he is in life, so when he spots an old middle school friend Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) whilst waiting for a train one day - he decides to remain quiet.

However, a drunk man falls flat on the train tracks and shows no signs of moving on his own...so Kato takes it upon himself to save the man and Kei (reluctantly and eventually) offers his hand to help his old school-friend out of dangers way.

That didn't exactly go to plan and Kei falls onto the tracks with Kato...and it's far too late to move...

So...they die. Only to be transported to a bare Tokyo apartment, with a large black sphere in front of them and a few other confused individuals behind them.

It transpires that this sphere is known as GANTZ.
It proceeds to supply the people present with tight-fitting black suits that will provide them with all the power and weaponry the may need.
For what? For fighting aliens that are hiding on earth of course...
Why? To get enough points to be able to come back to full life.
Oh..

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GOOD POINTS

•  When I saw a pretty female character in the mix (played by Natsuna Wantanabe), I immediately assumed that she would be simply used to cater to perverted male viewers' pleasures. However, she became a character of quite a lot of substance and I found her quite endearing. She is naked at a point, but this is nothing compared to the pictures of her character from the manga (that I have seen).
• Of course, I love that casting of the two main characters here, but I also liked the casting of everyone else. I don't have a lot of authority in that statement because I haven't read the manga or watched the anime adaptation of GANTZ, but I am saying it anyway!!

BAD POINTS

• One thing that annoys me about this film, and a lot of others actually, is that not enough light is used in filming during the night time. Of course it is dark and you need to portray that, but at points you can hardly see a thing!! And night-time is when the GANTZ players are sent out to fight!! The fact that they are covered in pitch black suits really does not help matters and I think it is really sad that it is such a stupid thing that brings this film down. SO ANNOYING!!
• In a film that lasts just over 2 hours, 4 aliens are fought. This is acceptable as this is the beginning of the story and everything needs to be introduced and established. However, I feel that too much time was spent on fighting these statue aliens, when more time could have been spent on fighting more interesting aliens. (Like the hilarious robotic one! :P)

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OVERALL

GANTZ is an extremely surreal and crazy sci-fi story, which makes it quintessentially Japanese. It balances serious stories with amazing action sequences and a strange humour (you really are not sure if you are meant to be laughing in some parts).
I adore the overall style involved in this franchise, it is so sleek and cool that it makes you think that it would be good to play such a horrific game.

I definitely recommend this film to anyone who loves great action (and some gore) along with a story that is so far detached from reality,  that it serves as a great source of escapism..

I cannot WAIT for the sequel GANTZ II: Perfect Answer to come out on DVD...

In the meantime, I'm saving up the $330 for a replica of the GANTZ body suit!! :)