The Chainsaw Man movie, despite only being out for a week in the USA, has already become a ridiculously hot topic. It has topped box office charts by a landslide, already having made over $18 million since last Thursday and nearly quadrupling the profits of other blockbusters like Tron: Ares. It’s certainly been praised highly both by critics and audiences, but is it worth going to the theater for?
Really, there’s no question about it. It cannot be overstated: Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is easily one of the best films of the year. Based on the Chainsaw Man manga by author Tatsuki Fujimoto, the movie takes a fan-favorite arc in the comic series and improves upon it even more. What couldn’t be fit in the black-and-white manga panels was expanded upon and perfected in the film, which lasts an hour and forty minutes.
The movie wears its influences on its sleeve, something it greatly benefits from. It’s a ridiculous mix of classic seinen anime, art films, and Sharknado. With animation that can be called nothing less than stellar, the film alternates between lingering, artistic sequences and fast-paced, over-the-top fights that are as detailed as they are thrilling. In fact, it wouldn’t be a bold claim to say it’s one of the best anime movies of all time.
It isn’t just the quality of the animation that matters; the style is a huge part of why Reze Arc is such a success. The animation style is incredibly unique, and the soundtrack is top-notch, which is unusual for an anime.
The story follows Denji, a teenager with the power to transform into the fearsome, yet heroic Chainsaw Devil, and his time working at the Tokyo Public Safety organization as a devil hunter. He’s content to eat good food, pursue his love interest and boss, Makima, and kill devils. However, everything changes when he meets the charming character Reze in a phone booth. From there, the audience is plunged into a mix of catastrophic, high-stakes urban fight sequences, a beautifully crafted love story, and a conspiracy plot involving the supernatural, underground organizations, and Soviet assassins.
We watch the shallow, yet likable main character as he comes of age and begins to value genuine connections with others. We also see him ride a giant shark through a cyclone while slashing at devils with his chainsaw arms. It’s nothing short of art, but it’s absolute insanity—which is a part of what makes it so good. While the plot and main characters are certainly captivating, it’s often the newer side characters, like Angel Devil, Galgali, and Beam, that steal the show with their witty humor and new angles to an otherwise more serious film.
Praise for Reze Arc also comes from within our very own Pembroke Pines Charter High School. “I thought the Chainsaw Man movie was incredible,” says junior Juan Bustamante. “It had outstanding animation and an equally impacting, emotional story. The fights were really cool too, and the soundtrack added a lot to the movie. I highly recommend others to give it a watch.”If you’re interested at all in Chainsaw Man, or are curious to see what it’s about, it’s a must-watch. However, to fully appreciate the film, it’s best to watch the first season (12 episodes) of the TV series before moving on to Reze Arc. In short? Go see it.
