Today’s quick review: Blame!. In the distant future, the remnants of humanity live in an enormous, self-replicating city ruled by a hostile machine intelligence. While out scavenging for food, Zuru, a girl from a small village of survivors, encounters Killy, a strange man on a mission to free the city from machine control. Pressured by dwindling resources, the hunters from Zuru’s village embark on a risky mission to help Killy acquire the device he needs.
Blame! is a Japanese animated science fiction film set in a distant future where humanity has all but died out. Information about the past is scarce, and the few survivors have barely enough resources to get by. The only hope of taking back the city lies in the Net Terminal Gene, which humanity once possessed, and Killy, the stranger who seeks it. Blame! is a tense, atmospheric movie that tells one tale from humanity’s long decline.
Blame! is noteworthy for its excellent setting, intriguing science fiction concepts, and strong character designs. The city is a boundless expanse of abandoned buildings, technological superstructures, and defunct machinery that mankind lacks the knowledge to operate. It is patrolled by fearsome mechanical beasts, while enormous Builders gradually reshape and extend the city for some unknown purpose. The sense of scale and mystery is impressive.
However, Blame! has shortcomings that keep it from making the most of its good ideas. The characters are not fleshed out all that well, with flat personalities and little depth. The visual style of CGI done up to look like traditional anime works well for the machines and environments, but it comes across as stiff and bland for the characters themselves. The plot also fails to follow up on the setting’s most potent mysteries, with only a mediocre payoff.
Watch Blame! if you are interested in dystopian science fiction with a great sense of mystery. The concepts alone make Blame! worth a watch for fans of the genre, but those looking for a full package will be let down by the writing and characters. For a more violent movie with a similar element of mystery, check out Gantz: O.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for great ideas and decent execution.