Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
Overview
Attack On Titan loses quite a bit of what made the anime good, but even with the creative license took, a handful of the action scenes sort of balance it out.
Characters & Story
As teenagers, Eren (Haruma Miura), Mikasa (Kiko Mizuhara), and Armin (Kanata Hongô) only had to worry about finding a stable job and just living their life in peace. That is until one giant titan kicked a hole in a protective wall and thus allowed dozens, upon possible hundreds, of titans into what may very well be the last human civilization.
Thus leading to massive casualties, and after nearly 100 years of the human race thinking they may have peace, once again they are on the defensive and nearing extinction. For with the area the titans invaded being where their food was grown, now, within the 2nd of 3 walls, everyone is starving. Thus leading to our heroes, alongside Sasha (Nanami Sakuraba), Hans (Satomi Ishihara), Shikishima (Hiroki Hasegawa), Souda (Pierre Taki), and others, trying to face the titan invasion head on. With hopes that they can seal the wall, exterminate the titans within the agricultural area known as Mozen, and slowly venture outward so increase the possibility for human survival.
Praise
Perhaps the one true thing which is a highlight when it comes to the live action adaption of Attack on Titan is the comedic moments. For whether it is Hans botching her introduction with pulling down a flag; Souda being told “We don’t have permission to use gunpowder” and then punching that person in the face; or the occasional low-key comedic moments of Sasha, you will get a few giggles in here and there. Outside of that, well then things become a matter of taste.
Which isn’t to say I’m going to praise how the live action warps the story, for that isn’t worth praise at all really, but more so how the action is handled. Now, when it comes to human vs. human, the action is cool and quite exciting. Also, when it is Titan vs. Titan, you get that awesome feeling which almost matches when Eren, in the animated version, turns into a Titan and pretty much decimates everything around him.
Criticism
However, when it comes to Titan vs. Human fights, what you’ll get is what looks like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers with a bigger budget. For while the titans look freaky, and definitely more terrifying than the animated version, there isn’t much in the way of visual awe. Since whatever technology is used on the actors playing the Titans, it just doesn’t mesh well with everything else. Especially when we are watching the heroes use their Omni-directional mobility gear (ODMG) to fly through the air and kill them. In those moments, honestly, I feel like everything I’m watching is green screen, with just enough editing done so we don’t see whatever is making it capable for these actors to go flying through the air.
Though the real problem with this feature is the changes made. Of which, adding romantic subplots is one of the major changes which feel so unnecessary that it truly leads you to question whether this was a Uwe Boll film. Since the film honestly seems like someone read, or more so glanced over, a Wikipedia summary of what is supposed to happen, and who the main characters are, then did as they pleased so that ultimately this film would end up being an hour and a half.
Overall: TV Viewing
While I have only watched the anime series once, all the way through, and never touched the manga, I do feel a film like this makes the whole franchise look bad. Mostly, mind you, from a storytelling point of view. For this adaptation of Attack on Titan is written almost like a generic action movie. One in which its more so about the action, and characters seeming bad ass, rather than well-developed choreography and character development to make it seem like they wanted to do the few things a live action version could improve on. For while I’m mostly working on memory here, there is so much they could have done with the actors. Such as giving us that emotional gut punch when Eren losing his mom, which was cut; showing the exodus to the 2nd inner wall and showing Eren and Armin train, which was cut; or just livening up these throwaway characters that end up dying. I mean, I’m just scratching the surface here, but if just as a casual fan I’m upset and disappointed, I can guarantee you that if you absolutely love this series, you’ll be pissed. To the point, you may, like I certainly do, feel like this film probably was more about cashing in on the franchise while it is still hot than giving fans something to hold them over until season two of the anime eventually comes around.
Hence the TV Viewing label for, while this certainly is tempting to mark as something to skip, I must admit that when the action is good, I’m glued to the screen, and the little comedic moments here and there did help me get through some rather aggravating times of wondering why did they make such stupid creative decisions.
Images used for editorial and commentary purposes. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.
