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Appleseed

EMAILPRINTGeneon Entertainment

Appleseed reviews
40
7.7 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 12 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Action  |  Animation  |  Foreign  |  Sci-fi

Written by: Haruka Handa
Tsutomu Kamishiro
Masamune Shirow (comic)

Directed by: Shinji Aramaki

Release Date:
Theatrical: January 14, 2005
DVD: May 10, 2005

Running Time: 103 minutes, Color

Origin: Japan

Language(s): Japanese (dubbed in English)

Summary

RATING: for some violence

Starring Ai Kobayashi, Jûrôta Kosugi, Yuki Matsuoka, Asumi Miwa, and Akimoto Tsubasa

Inspired by a manga by the legendary Masamune Shirow, this anime is set in the year 2131, after a non-nuclear war has left the earth barren.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

60

Variety Leslie Felperin

Craft connoisseurs won't be disappointed with the splendidly executed result. However, everyone else is likely to wonder what the fuss about given the plot's dated cyborgs-and-supercomputers hijinks.

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60

The Hollywood Reporter Richard James Havis

The film has enough originality to interest demanding fans of the genre.

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50

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

The stock characters and leaden stretches of expository dialogue are welcome evidence that there's still no computer program capable of telling a decent story.

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50

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Only real fans, however, will be willing to slog through the heaping helpings of incomprehensible exposition.

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50

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The film's lingering exploration of their sleek surfaces verges on roboporn.

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50

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

At this point, there's something almost masochistic about the way animators in Japan use cheesy ''Westernized'' heroes to fuel their fantasies.

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50

Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder

Whatever is lost in translation can't keep Appleseed from feeling a decade late--and its animation from looking like a relic on arrival.

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50

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

The characters are (hand-painted) so flat that the film looks like a paper-doll convention at Epcot.

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50

The New York Times Dana Stevens

While there are some genuinely dazzling moments of visual bravura, the marriage of flatness and depth that Mr. Aramaki attempts doesn't quite work.

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40

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Dazzling visually but is flattened by corny dialogue better suited to the 1936 "Flash Gordon" serial, a needlessly hard to follow plot and heavy-handed exposition clotted with pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo.

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40

LA Weekly David Chute

The film's snazzy new automated animation style falls short: The supposedly human face of our metal-plated robocop's partner -- the inevitable curvy female in a leather jump suit -- is an inexpressive, glossy doll mask, untouched by human hands.

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40

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

Its busy, stiff, artificial graphics are a perfect match for its busy, stiff, artificial plot. A simple Shirow pinup parade might almost be preferable.

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40

Village Voice J. Hoberman

Much of the movie is dull, and as it has been dubbed into English, the blah-blah is impossible to ignore.

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40

Empire Kim Newman

The characters might physically appear rounded, but are otherwise paper-thin.

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38

New York Post V.A. Musetto

Lackluster anime.

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25

Miami Herald Peter Debruge

The visuals are really the only compelling reason to see Appleseed.

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25

San Francisco Chronicle G. Allen Johnson

Held back by a story and script that is often silly and confusing.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 7.7 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sam gave it a2:
With the exception of Princess Mononoke, I truly despise anime, and Applessed enlarges my grudge against the ridiculous form of art even more.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
The opening action sequence in this movie is only outdone (in my opinion) by the Omaha Beach sequence in Saving Pvt. Ryan. While I wish the movie would have followed the manga more closely I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't wait for the Appleseed series!

[Anonymous] gave it a7:
The story has great premise, but it doesn't take advantages of the prime elements in the best way. Still, it does get you to think about such a system, if only a little bit. If that doesn't please you, there's plenty of graphics to feast on, and the action is among the best i've seen in an animated feature. Not perfect, but definitely worth a watch or two.

me m. gave it a9:
Good thing about manga is that you can just switch your brain off and let the movie take you into its own little strange world. the visuals in this film help u on that little journey to manga land, and its great. reminds me of watching FF spirits within.

JJ R. gave it a10:
This is one of the best movies ever created. I wish that there were more movies like this.

JD gave it a10:
It is a REMAKE. That is why the story seems antiquated. The story holds up perfectly to the orginal and the visuals set a new milestone. This is a wonderful anime and it will serve as a transition point in future retrospection. Don't listen to the haters. It's worth at LEAST a rental!

Cody K. gave it a7:
It’s not a terrible movie, but nothing to write home about either. The new 3D cel-shaded style is a breath of fresh air, but doesn’t make the movie any more or less enjoyable when compared to traditionally animated movies. To give Appleseed anything higher than an 8 is doing a lot of great anime movies an injustice. Appleseed doesn’t even compare to Ghost in the Shell. I give it a 7 because of the awesome mech designs and slick art style. The only thing holding this movie back from greatness is the story; too simple and too many cool concepts that were only touched upon or completely undeveloped.

Read more user comments >

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