Ajin: Demi-Human

As I haven't watched the anime or read the manga, Ajin live action was my first experiance with the story. The plot introduces the Ajin universe quite well and it explains it decently. However, the movie did what most of the live action movies based on manga-anime do: try to fit in too many elements in a few hours length movie and, in the end, the story feels flat. There wasn't time for the characters to develop or be presented in depth. Their motives were unclear at some points. However, the performances were really good and the action scenes entertaining. So, 6.5 out of 10.

This film essentially revolves around a special type of human known as "Ajin" who have the ability to regenerate back to life after being killed. So in that context they are basically indestructible super-humans. Although this is a relatively new discovery the news of their existence has become known throughout the world but the fact that they are so few in number doesn't especially alarm anyone in particular. It does, however, fascinate some scientists in Japan who then covertly capture one by the name of "Kei Nagai" (Takeru Satoh) and proceed to brutally experiment on him in a most sadistic manner. However, when news of this is leaked to a leading member of the Ajin species named "Sato" (Go Ayano) he immediately takes matters into his own hands and frees Kei through extremely violent methods. Upon doing so, however, he becomes very displeased to learn that Kei doesn't share his psychotic feelings towards other human beings and the two of them become locked in a fight to the death-if that is even possible-from that point on. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I was extremely disappointed in this film in that it was nothing more than a series of almost identical actions scenes repeated over and over and over again. There was no real plot, no substantive character development, a superficial script and the acting was rather poor as well. In short, it was all action and CGI. That being said, while this movie might satisfy some viewers who put a high premium on films of this type, I found it to be almost excruciating to watch and I have rated it accordingly.

The live action nailed it! Sure there are some cut scenes from the anime but the important details were not left out. The whole movie can stand alone and even those who haven't seen the anime yet could surely understand the whole plot. The characters' acting are spot on. Takeru Satoh's (Nagai) portrayal is effortless. It is so natural and convincing. Sure, there are times when I wished he'd say "amakakeru ryu no hirameki" but that is only because I was so affected by Gou Ayano's (Sato) acting as a villain I wanted him to be dead for sure but this is Ajin; Die and be alive. Gou wcompleted the ambiance of the movie. To sum it up, everything, from characters to the plot were all stitched perfectly I could not ask for a better adaptation.

I haven't read the comics or seen the cartoons, so I went into this clueless - no idea what it was about whatsoever.

The lead, Nagai, is in hell: he is experimented on, he has limbs amputated, he is killed and... he comes back to life again, fully healed. This torment goes on and on - and this being the film's opening, we don't know how long he's suffered this cruelty.

Sato is another Ajin - which is what Nagai also is, hence the never-ending cycle of death and life; he busts Nagai free, gleefully slaughtering everyone involved in the experiment and asks Nagai to join his crusade of bringing down such evil facilities, so their kind will never again endure these ordeals. The catch? Sato wants Nagai to kill a few scientists to prove his loyalty.

Okay, so after going through hell, why not get some payback? Nagai refuses and illogically fights Sato to save those who had butchered him relentlessly... seemingly for chuckles. This is the first head-scratching moment in a streamlined film which skips the majority of character development to concentrate on the action. And why not?

The problem is that, by condensing - good only knows how many - comics into something like 80 minutes (which is actually 109, but it goes so fast!), Nagai's character and his bizarre choices don't make a great deal of sense - a massive pity, because the action's great and there are a lot of cool ideas to more than make up for a lack of Hollywood production money.

Ultimately, the decision to cut 10 or 20 minutes by omitting the reasoning behind Nagai's stupidity/irrationality (take your pick), along with that of a certain female, hurt the film much more than slowing the tempo slightly or pushing it over 2 hours ever could. This film easily could've been a 9/10 but as it is, a 6 is fair and a 7 generous - and since I liked the concept so much, I'm being generous.

Who's a good demon? And while that does sound like a ridiculous question, this movie has someone for us to root for. Now I haven't yet seen the TV show this is based on (imdb says it's a "remake" of it), so I can't say what got cut out or added (I reckon the TV show has a much longer running time). Whatever the case, the movie is really good.

Stunts are great, the story makes sense for a Fantasy/Science Fiction movie of this caliber. The story and characters do develop the way most will expect, but it's still quite nice to watch. Sometimes it is not so much about the destination, but about how much you'll have along the way. And there is plenty to be entertained with this movie. Sit back or lay back and enjoy this for what it is