ATTACK ON TITAN PART 1 (2015) Review
“Be careful when you fight the monsters, least you become one.”
For a non-fan of the manga or the animated series, the first part of Attack on Titan is too crowded. Setting up the world wherein Titans are told in tales and are about to rule again is hard to present and the film surely feels like it was. Director Shinju Higuchi has to fit the rich story of the manga into a two-hour film and is troubled to find better transition from the film’s history and present.
Though the cast isn’t hard to like with the usual Japanese acting and actually great stunts that goes well with its pacing, the film shows what it advertises. What’s bothering here is its VFX or visual effects. Japan has done too many films that requires CGI or VFX but its nearly as bad as Attack on Titan. The film looked liked it jumped to the ‘Ultraman’ days of VFX where real people acts in small structures to be giants.
Attack on Titan is hard not to like for its entertainment. You’ve got action sequences that are at some point suspenseful, you’ve got a weird love triangle that is awkward at times and there’s the story of friendship, one that exhibits sacrifice. Fans of the manga and the animated series may find it disappointing for not being faithful to its source material while non fans may find it hard for its convoluted plot lines but Attack on Titan is fine as it is. And you can bet the anticipation for the second part later this year is already felt as they’ve got a teaser in the middle of the film’s end credits.
Our rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Attack on Titan is now showing in Philippine cinemas nationwide. Rated R-16 by the MTRCB.