Hataraku saibou

RATED 8/10 Language: Japanese Source: Netflix RECOMMENDED

The movie presents a thoughtful concept, blended with a fair dose of emotion. It playfully brings back memories of your biology classes in a lighthearted and amusing way.

While the film leans towards a more child-friendly tone, making it especially enjoyable for younger audiences, it still offers a worthwhile watch for the whole family.

If you enjoyed Inside Out, this movie is definitely worth a try - it won't leave you disappointed.

After watching this movie, I moved on to a series, but it turned out to be quite violent. Compared to that, the movie feels much more family-friendly.

The live action reminds me of Power Rangers down to the vibe of the villains and the colorfulness of it. I like it. I remember watching the anime and it does feel faithful from the sets to the character albeit more streamlined. They added in some bits of the manga spin-off too. I like that they show us the pov of the humans they reside in and they gave off a nice emotional plot line... too bad it's a film so it just feels very quick. Pacing just goes boom with the plot so it can feel pretty thin and simple. Overall it's a wholesome but kinda bloody here and there show. It's fun and sweet enough if you can get past the cringiness of it.

I loved how they intergrated learning with action sequence, although it is rated 13+ for violence. The scenes are justified and not gory at all. A must watch movie for people who wants to be educated and entertained at the same time. The scenes are fast moving and very engaging. Overall, the movie has funny moments and sad and engaging moments, and it will sure to make you nostalgic for Rorouni Kenshin due to the action sequence. Finally, it is well worth your time watching such a fun movie. I am not sure why other people didn't like it, but my family and I surely enjoyed watching, laughing and crying over the movie.

Cells at Work! Is a wonderful film adaptation of the beloved anime - think of it as the Asian version of Once Upon a Time... Life. It's an incredibly educational experience that manages to remain fun, light-hearted, and, most importantly, genuinely gripping. The film brilliantly brings to life the microscopic world inside our bodies, turning biology into an epic tale of heroism, teamwork, and sacrifice. What makes it truly special is its emotional depth: there are moments that are surprisingly moving, reminding us just how much our bodies go through every day. It's a rare gem that entertains, teaches, and touches the heart, all at once.

Background: I've seen the original "Cells at Work!" (2018) and "Cells at Work! Code Black" (2021) and 3 previous movies by Hideki Takeuchi (the director): Tonde Saitama (2019) and Thermae Romae I & II.

Verdict: A solid 7/10, I still prefer the anime version and ditto when comparing the live action version of Thermae Romae (2012) with the anime Thermae Romae Novae (2022).

Thoughts: It was indeed a treat seeing the familiar characters in live action - there was that unmistakable cocktail of goofy comedy and deadly serious 'enough-to-make-a-grown-man-cry' drama which I've come to associate with Hideki Takeuchi. Perfect use of classical music soundtracks as always. Recommended.