BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

bob_bear A film that looks like a video game. The quality of the animation varies from the superb to naive. Visually it's unbalanced but largely engaging.The storyline could have been written on the back of a postage stamp -- which is just as well as that way it doesn't interfere with the action sequences which seem to be the film makers primary interest.The idea of an artificial intelligence taking over and assimilating humanity has been done before and better by Star Trek's Borg and appears to have been borrowed wholesale here. Personal "devices" cause the general population to morph into homicidal Zombies who stagger down the street like rejects from Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Yet, despite discovering this, our heroes don't even try to eradicate this "fashion accessory". Well, there wouldn't be a film if they did.I can understand the film's appeal to a narrow band of the population -- mainly young men, I'd imagine -- but don't believe the raves or the 7.1 rating. It's nothing special.

nikkiten1979 I'm not a huge fan of anime or 3D animation, but i am a fan of great animated movies that have substance, a story-line that holds from the beginning to the end, thorough and not rushed out character development, great scenery and camera shots that make sense for the moment.There are many things i liked about this movie, and a some i didn't like.Some might say that the animation in this movie was flawless. I say it was not and it has nothing to do with opinion. It has something to do with fact and what is capable to be done. I believe that the animation could have been much, much better. The still objects such as the city, buildings, and vehicles were definitely excellent, but the people didn't stand, move, or talk realistically enough and nowadays it is possible to come VERY close to that - but it seems like they ran through that and didn't put enough effort into it. I'll just assume they had a time limit and that was the least of their worries - a lesser worry than the story-line should be.So I assume than the story line and character development would be the main focus here, since little was done to better or outdo the first Appleseed movie. I have to say it was in a way equal to the first. A few things i liked the most about this one was the interaction between the character or Deunan and Tereus. The chemistry was well illustrated, and I wish the envelop was pushed a little further and there was some type of physical contact, kissing or something, anything more than just a hug. This way to explore love in a different between a human and a biologically engineered human being that is the copy of someone that you still love.The cinematographic was entertaining, but the music wasn't that great. I can't stand the upbeat electronic music and wish it had been replaced by something more suitable like some different electronic music that made sense for the movie and the action scenes. A few times i felt trapped in a rave club or some rave party, which i enjoyed when i was in high school, but never enjoyed in a good Sci-Fi movie. I would have stuck with organic or industrial sounds for effects.Overall this movie isn't better or worse than the first. It's very entertaining and i greatly enjoyed it.

tina-175 When I saw Appleseed 1 I was over the moon. I really enjoyed the subtle story, the plot that was so twisted, the hidden messages... everything. I loved it, because it had a twist, something elusive. The graphics were great and well made following the popular Anime style but fresher and sharper somehow. I couldn't wait to see Appleseed II...Unfortunately I was greatly disappointed but I "entered" warned as I had read some comments here about it. It felt like "just another Hollywood movie". First off, they had redesigned the characters to a Hollywood standard. All pretty and nice ... (I will however admit that Terreus was gorgeous lol). Deunan reminded me of Barbie in more than one instances! She had lost her "edge" and acted like a love sick fool that desperately needed protection. Nothing like her "I can do it on my own" self of Appleseed I.The fight scenes were nice but cliché. I recognized many scenes from previous Woo films. The plot was very swallow and predictable. The characters talked too much. There was no twist, no agony... some scenes and the reaction of the characters were actually silly. You had a hard time bonding with the characters ... they just seemed so... predictable. I can't think of another word. What's worse I saw the English language version and this made things worse. It really did feel like a silly Hollywood movie. And the title... The title had a meaning in Appleseed I but was totally irrelevant with Ex Machina, except to remind us this was a sequel.I was fully expecting to see a continuation of the first story... get some answers on things that were put into motion in the first movie. Instead I got a totally irrelevant story, with the characters changed, some beyond recognition. Briareos is so... gentle... so human... he wears cool clothes. Deunan is this fragile creature that every time Briareos gets hurt (and it happens a lot in this movie) she calls out to him like a love sick fool. I wasn't sure if I watching a sci-fi version of Romeo and Juliet or an anime film. The whole thing was very "americanized" in so many levels... not Japanese at all.I give it a 3 for the graphics, the cool scenes and Terreus ;) I would have had a totally different opinion if Woo had made a totally different film and not call it "Appleseed II" because it does not feel like a real sequel at all.

late-6 If you are watching Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina for the first time - this is top notch at all. The world is shiny, beautiful, scary. But comparing it with Appleseed (2004) this is nothing new. Poor script, same cool (but same) graphic quality. For me personally the major disappointment is the music (OST). The previous (2004) was moving by the marvelous techno rhythms by Oakenfold and Boom Boom Sattellites. This is action! This time, action B-class, SF movie and... script is getting stuck in some places and very boring clear complicated j-acid and electro OST is doing nothing for help. Finally, if you haven't seen prequel - you will not understand the movie. Well, just enjoy the pretty picture. If you have watched it - you will find nothing new.