Review: Appleseed Ex Machina
Cyborgs and CG Reunite in Action-Packed Sequel to Appleseed Anime
An in depth review of Shinji Aramaki's Appleseed Ex Machina, an anime film that is equally gorgeous, engaging and action packed.
Appleseed Ex Machina is one of those films that the audience will never forget. Memorable characters, high octane action and a worthwhile story help to create a cohesive anime film that is not only leaps and bounds above its predecessor, but most anime films and TV series’ in the last decade.
Director Aramaki Wows With Slow Motion Kung-Fu
Director Shinji Aramaki manages to blow the previous film’s combat scenes out of the water with the addition of more robot suits, silky-smooth and improved 3D animation, and an incredible use of slow motion kung-fu kicks that’ll have the audience pumping fists and slapping hands in adrenaline fuelled high-fives. While the action keeps the pace of the flick going at a comfortable rate, it’s nice to take a breather with some dramatic storytelling, which is more fleshed out this time around. Unfortunately, any remnant of narrative is ultimately forgettable in the face of everything else Appleseed Ex Machina has to offer.
“Forgettable” does not mean “worthless”, though. The inclusion of a new character and potential love interest drives a lot of the conflict in series heroine Deunan Knute and her robo-boyfriend, Briareos. On top of being romantically distraught, Deunan (and the rest of her “E S.W.A.T” unit) will deal with a terrorist attack executed through exploitation of mainstream consumerism – an incredibly lame political statement on the writers’ part – and make the odd sacrifice to protect the lives of others.
Imagining clever ways to improve on the martial art/gun play antics of the first Appleseed paid off in spades for Ex Machina. The negative effects of a surgery often send Briareos on violent rampages (complete with pulsing steel veins), an assault on a bad-guy polluted cathedral and a ‘zombie movie’-esque twist – to name a few – make up for some of the most cool and memorable moments in anime history.
The English voice cast does an excellent job of portraying proper emotions and creating convincing dialogue, making this an easy watch for anyone who is too lazy to read subtitles. As excellent as it is, though, hearing Deunan shout Briareos’ name every five minutes is infuriatingly annoying, and a few specific characters are overwrought to the point of boredom.
Appleseed Ex Machina Makes You Care
Appleseed Ex Machina isn’t going to go down in history as a classic, but the overall intensity of the action makes for a fun time, and viewers will begin to care about the characters of the story, something the previous film lacked. It is pure sensory overload, with wiz-bang glitz lathered over its entirety, making it one of the coolest anime flicks since, well, the last Appleseed. The fresh coat of paint and writing are a great addition that wasn’t required, but is greatly appreciated.
The English voice cast does an excellent job of portraying proper emotions and creating convincing dialogue, making this an easy watch for anyone too lazy to read subtitles. As excellent as it is, though, hearing Deunan shout Briareos’ name every five minutes is infuriatingly annoying, and a few specific characters are overwrought to the point of boredom.
Deus Ex Machina
Appleseed Ex Machina isn’t going to go down in history as a classic, but the overall intensity of the action makes for a fun time, and viewers will begin to care about the characters of the story, something the previous film lacked. It is pure sensory overload, with wiz-bang glitz lathered over its entirety, making it one of the coolest anime flicks since, well, the last Appleseed. The fresh coat of paint and writing are a great addition that wasn’t required, but is greatly appreciated.
