“Your old lives have ended. I will decide how to use your new lives. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” —Gantz
Today’s quick review: Gantz: O. When Masaru Kato dies, he finds himself trapped in a survival game where a being named Gantz sends a crew of recently-deceased strangers from Tokyo to kill monsters and earn their freedom. His first mission turns into a nightmare when the hordes of twisted abominations prove too strong for his team, but his heroic tendencies draw him back into the fray to save the lives of those around him.
Gantz: O is a Japanese CGI action horror movie based on the Gantz manga. The movie follows a particularly grueling mission of the Tokyo Gantz team, still reeling from the death of their leader, as the city of Osaka is attacked by a multitude of horrific monsters. Their video game-esque challenge is all too real, and the players must find a way to clear the stage before the timer runs out and they all die.
Gantz: O delivers violence in spades, from its nightmarish monster designs to its high body count to its weapons designed specifically to gore. Its hyper-realistic CGI provides a cohesive, gorgeous backdrop to the carnage and a hefty impact to the combat. The Gantz players fight back with an array of sci-fi weaponry, from suits that grant enhanced strength, durability, and reflexes to delayed-action guns capable of vaporizing a monster in one shot.
Gantz: O is faithful to the tone and detail of its source material, if not the exact continuity. The movie does a credible job of condensing a long, complicated plot into an intense, representative snippet. The movie actually tones down the horror compared to the manga, with less gore, a more heroic tone, and fewer character deaths. The tidy plot, fidelity to its source, and solid execution make Gantz: O an excellent adaptation of the manga.
Gantz: O has a few flaws that keep it from being a total hit. The nature of the premise and short time allotted mean that the story contains few answers, only a mysterious setup and a desperate struggle in the streets of Osaka. The action is marred by stilted pacing and unclear rules, making the outcomes of the battles feel arbitrary, while the protracted final battle, although exciting, does not feel coherent.
Still, its unique concept, high production values, and newcomer-friendly presentation make Gantz: O an excellent watch for action fans interested in the darker side of the genre. The heavy gore, open-ended mystery, and surreal premise restrict Gantz: O’s appeal to only a small fraction of the action, science fiction, or anime audiences, but that subset will enjoy the film for its sheer spectacle.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for good action, impressive visuals, and a uniquely twisted premise.