Today’s quick review: Appleseed Ex Machina. The high-tech city of Olympus floats above a world still recovering from global war. On the verge of peace talks that will unite the world’s security satellites, an unknown enemy attacks the proceedings by hijacking the bodies of nearby cyborgs. Deunan Knute, a member of ESWAT, and Briareos, her cyborg partner, must locate the source of the attacks before more damage can be done.
Appleseed Ex Machina is a Japanese science fiction action movie based on the manga by Shirow Masamune. The sequel to the original Appleseed, Appleseed Ex Machina follows in its predecessor’s footsteps, offering plentiful action, anime-influenced CGI graphics, and a gorgeous world packed with advanced technology. The movie also adds a new member to the main cast: Tereus, a Bioroid clone of Briareos assigned to be Deunan’s new partner.
Appleseed Ex Machina has two main strengths: its action and its setting. The action consists of futuristic military combat that shows off all the power robotic armor and cybernetic enhancements might bring. The combat style trends a bit flashy, with excessive flips and improbable tactics, but it is fast-paced, varied, and makes good use of the setting’s military technology.
The setting reflects Shirow Masamune’s unique vision of the future. Ex Machina does not delve as deeply as the first film into the nature of Olympus, but the same themes of technological utopianism, cybernetic alteration, and social engineering are present. Although not a masterpiece, the plot unfolds well and includes a broad cross-section of the world of Appleseed.
Give Appleseed Ex Machina a shot if you are a fan of the action side of the sci-fi genre. The movie is a clean, satisfying execution of the genre that hits all the notes it needs to. Skip it if you prefer more grounded sci-fi. For a movie with similar ideas and the same creator, check out Ghost in the Shell. For another Japanese sci-fi action movie with a similar visual style, check out Vexille.
7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid sci-fi action and an interesting setting.