I saw the live action movie Gantz a few weeks ago. Ever since then I’ve really wanted to discuss it, but since I have very few friends familiar with the series, I thought it best to openly blog about it, and share this really likeable film with as many people that I can.
Well, for those of you not well acquainted with the story, I’ll give you a description in brief from what I sourced from Wikipedia.
“Gantz tells the story of Kei Kurono and his friend Masaru Kato who die in a train accident (saving someone else that fell onto the tracks) and become part of a semi-posthumous "game" in which they and several other recently deceased people are forced to hunt down and kill aliens armed with a handful of futuristic items of equipment and weaponry.”
Following their deaths, Kurono and Kato find themselves transported to the interior of an unfurnished Tokyo apartment. The pair soon realize others are present and find that they are not able to leave the apartment. At one end of the room there is a featureless black sphere known as "Gantz". After some time in the room, the Gantz sphere opens up, revealing a bald naked man with a breathing mask and wires attached to his head, and three racks protruding from it, that offer various items for them to use. These include the custom fitting black suits Gantz makes for each of them, giving them super-human abilities, a controller which acts as a radar and stealth unit, and three types of guns. When the Gantz sphere opens, green text appears on its surface, informing those present that their "lives have ended and now belong" to him.”
Confused yet? Well you have every right to be, but for as much as this series is shrouded with mystery and rather loosely abstract concepts, I find it very addictive to watch, and mostly because of those same reasons. There are so many unusual aspects to this series, that it somehow seems so appropriately balanced by the straight forward action and violence of it all. I must point however that I am mostly familiar with the Anime series and not the Manga. There may be some more explanation involved in the series that I’m unaware of, that reveals who the man is inside Gantz. I do, however, like to think of the series as a bit of mindless fun, just taking certain things for granted. All of life’s mysteries are in fact not explained, so there doesn’t really seem like there needs to be one for this concept either I suppose.
I’m still pretty amazed in how they were able wrap up the entire first 13 episodes of the anime series into one live action movie. Of course there were some sacrifices made in doing so. By removing aspects of some minor characters, or not having them in there at all, some of which I really wish they could have shown in the movie, I feel they did strip a bit of humanity out of the story. There was always a really good diversity in the characters that were brought into the context of the story, bringing with them a broad range of reactions, emotions and decisions. But overall, I think they did a really excellent job with this movie and I’m absolutely looking forward to the next installment. It was great to see Ken'ichi Matsuyama (most recognized as “L” in the live action Death Note Series) as Masaru Kato, a role that he really gives heart to.
I wonder though, how viewing this movie, without seeing the Manga or Anime will it truly diminish the series aspects, or rather, if someone else will enjoy it as much as I did. Let me know
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