Today’s quick review: Expelled from Paradise. After the ruin of the Earth, most of humanity uploaded their consciousnesses to Deva, a massive satellite that houses an extensive virtual reality network. When a hacker known as Frontier Setter breaks into Deva, system security officer Angela Balzac is granted a physical body and sent to the surface to investigate. Her partner for the mission is Dingo, an opportunistic but effective surface dweller who challenges her on the merits of virtual life.
Expelled from Paradise is an anime science fiction film with reasonably good production values, fast-paced action, and some interesting themes. The story takes place in a postapocalyptic future, where humanity has adapted to a digital existence that may have robbed it of something essential. Angela’s physical form, temporary for the mission, exposes her to a whole side of life she never suspected existed.
First and foremost, Expelled from Paradise is an anime. Angela’s character design and personality only make sense as part of the genre, from her impractical outfit to her love-hate relationship with Dingo. The movie has a distracting amount of fanservice, with gratuitous nudity and revealing outfits that serve no story purpose. Anime veterans will consider these elements par for the course, but they pose a significant barrier to entry for newbies to the genre.
The themes of Expelled from Paradise are surprisingly varied. The movie touches on everything from the nature of consciousness to the drawbacks of cloud computing, all worked in organically and backed by subtle, insightful writing. While none of these issues are explored in depth, Expelled from Paradise offers a science fiction grab bag that balances daring speculation with meaningful philosophical inquiry.
Expelled from Paradise has a limited amount of action, but the action it has is impressive. The handful of battles involve agile mechs with advanced targeting and flight capabilities, while the interevening time is spent constructively on the plot. Mechs are not the main focus of the movie, but they serve to round it out with some explosive action, as well as contributing to its broad take on the sci-fi genre.
Watch Expelled from Paradise if you are a fan of anime-style science fiction. Expelled from Paradise does not excel in any one area, but its interesting themes, well-constructed plot, and enjoyable combat make it a solid hit for the right audience. Viewers who are put off by skimpy clothing or other anime conventions should steer clear, as should anyone looking for a sci-fi film that goes for depth rather than breadth.
6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for quality science fiction wrapped in a polished anime shell.