Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc

Crazy epic battle. The film's combination of spectacular action and strong character development ensures it is more than just a visual spectacle-it is a story that resonates long after the credits roll. For anyone seeking an epic filled with heroic battles, cinematic grandeur, and a female protagonist who redefines the genre, this movie delivers on every front.

The long-awaited "Chainsaw Man" movie has been released.

After almost three years, MAPPA gave us another glimpse of Denji and company's adventures, and I couldn't be happier with the result.

While comparing isn't ideal, we recently had the KNY movie, which was very good but didn't feel like a complete experience due to being the first of three parts.

The opposite is true of this movie, which is well-rounded from beginning to end and shows us the entire Reze the Bombshell arc. While it starts slowly, it gradually becomes more dynamic until we reach a point where we don't stop until the very end.

We have very good character development for Denji, a wonderful Reze with Aki performing perfectly. We also have the addition of supporting characters like the Angel Demon and the Shark Demon, who give us memorable scenes. There are also a couple of incredible Makima moments. Unfortunately, this movie loses its power due to her limited presence.

The film has everything: excellent animation, risqué scenes that serve the plot, and plenty of action and gore.

The budget allocated to it is clearly noticeable, and it's used to its full potential.

All of this is crowned with a bittersweet ending, revealing the outcome of Reze's story and a preview of what Makima will do next with other characters... A truly great experience, the best animated film I've seen this year.

MAPPA continues to exceed expectations with breathtaking animation. Visually, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is cinematic in every sense. The contrast between soft, romantic lighting in the café scenes and the harsh, kinetic energy of the action sequences is striking. This visual juxtaposition mirrors the narrative duality-love and violence, tenderness and terror.

The transformation sequences, especially Reze's bomb form, are a stunning blend of body horror and elegance. The choreography during the fights-particularly the battle at the school and the waterlogged cityscape finale-are fluid, chaotic, and emotionally charged.

Background art deserves special mention. The everyday settings-dimly lit streets, empty classrooms, rainy alleys-evoke an eerie, melancholic mood. They ground the story in a familiar reality, making the supernatural elements even more jarring when they arrive.

At first, I wasn't into Chainsaw Man. I thought it was just another raunchy manga for teenage boys. But... after being moved by the movie "Look Back," I decided to rewatch the first anime season since it was by the same creator. That's when I learned about Himeno and Aki's backstory and Makima's conspiracy, and I got hooked.

Then, just one week later, I watched the movie "REZEarc" and ended up bawling my eyes out. That's when I truly understood: "This author is definitely the same one who made 'Look Back!'"

Chainsaw Man might seem like a typical action hero story, like Superman or Batman, at first glance. But it's actually the coming-of-age story of the protagonist, Denji. It's a human drama depicting the bonds, trust, betrayal, and disappointment within the various relationships that form during his growth. I think it's an emotionally stirring masterpiece.

I truly believe people who avoid watching this work just because it's labeled an action hero story are missing out.

I hope you'll ride this wave and connect with it, not just dismiss it as some raunchy anime for boys.

This movie is phenomenal and is a total must watch for any fan of anime/animation. I give it an 8, and not higher, due to certain decisions that I'll explore below.

Plot/Pacing: I love this movie's plot so much. The buildup is absolutely masterful, and the development of Reze and Denji's relationship is done so well. I am so glad that MAPPA didn't race through the first part of the movie. I saw some people complain about the first half of the movie being too slow, and I just don't think those people understand how important buildup is to establish a connection with the characters. If you just want to watch flashy animation, then sure maybe its too slow, but if you're here to actually get invested in the world and the characters, then you'll love the first part of the movie.

Characters: Most of the characters are very well adapted to what I'd expect from the manga. Aki, Denji, Power, Beam, Angel are all done perfectly in my opinion. However, I feel like something is missing from both Reze and Makima. I feel like Makima is lacking that lurking creepy vibe that she gives off in the manga, and I feel like Reze was a bit too mellow for the events of the second half of the move. I personally wanted a bit more emotional range in her vocals during the fights and the beach scene. She felt too "light" in scenes where I remember reading her to be much more emotional.

Animation & Art: Amazing; The artstyle is a clear upgrade from season 1, and the animation is consistently jaw dropping. There were very few sequences that I thought could have been better.

Comedy: CSM is a manga that really aligns with my style of humor, and I think the movie does a much better job portraying it than what we had in season 1. However, there were some moments in the movie that seemed to gloss over really funny dialogue in a non-emphasized/passive way. Still though, this movie is very funny and its much better than 90% of typical anime humor.

Ending: Sadly this is the most disappointing part of the movie for me. It's my favorite scene in the entirety of part 1 of the manga, and I cant help but feel like they misdirected it. The tone of the scene is way less creepy/horrifying than it was in the manga. Makima's voice, the shots, the expressions, and the music are way too serene. I believe they made this decision to establish a sense of dissonance, but I dont think it worked. It just kind of loses the edge/impact that it could have had if they played more into the tone of horror that the manga had. Nonetheless, it is still a great ending despite this.

Overall, despite a few fumbles, this movie is downright amazing. It is definitely one of the best anime movies that I've ever seen, and it has me extremely excited for season 2 (which will cover the best arcs of the entire series).