Ganheddo

This film is abysmal.

Maybe it's lost something in the translation. Perhaps it's just plain rubbish.

I bought this video because I thought it was Manga Anime. Unfortunately it's the most unbelievably poorly acted euro-nippon trash I've ever seen. It's actually so bad I've had to watch it about four times to try and work out what the plot is. I still don't think it has one.

Why anybody would seriously want to watch this is beyond me.

I saw this movie, listed as "Gunhed" on Sci-Fi channel and complained often about how difficult it was to make out what was happening because the film is dark and has a green lighting to it retro-reminiscent, of Matrix. Also the cuts and scene transitions are seemingly random including some dotted dissolves early on which just don't work. So I was surprised at myself to want to check it out on DVD to view on my RP wide screen TV. I fully intend to. I love atmosphere heavy films and this is nothing if not that. It has a nice texture, good action and a remarkably good blending of mecho-maniac gadgetry and robotic "acting", without CGI. Some modern directors will not use CGI except for things which literally could not exist w/o such imagi-creation and this film deserves credit for doing so well w/o CGI.

Cyber-punk?... Decidedly! Plot?... yes, pretty much... well... some techno-scavengers dare an island, the smoking site of a robo-rebellion (since put-down) find a female soldier type person. One thief, the woman and some latter discovered child refugees struggle against a still surviving cyber-ruler program.

I couldn't sell this movie at gun point by describing it, but I still like it and believe viewing it will win over many who risk it. Just for reference, the first movie I ever bought was Blade Runner.

This movie is pure fun. Ok....so it may be a bit cheesy at times, and maybe some of the plot curves make little sense, but who cares? It is still a decent cyberpunk movie to be watched. My friends and I love this movie and anyone with a little desire to have fun should too. See it. You may love it, you may regret it, but at least you gave it a chance.

Ganheddo was produced by the same Japanese studio which brought us Godzilla, and it shows... but in a good way. Where many, higher-budgeted films of the time were moving to computer-generated effects, Toho stuck with scale models and stop-animation, giving this movie a gritty look not often found in films of similar provenance.

Though the plot is difficult to keep up with at times, it is still enjoyable, made especially the more so by the character of Seven. This movie will be a godsend for fans of the Mechwarrior/vertical tank type stories. The plot revolves around a group of scavengers who happen across a defunct lair controlled by machines, cyborgs, and their master, a central computer. The scavengers are after a rare power source which fuels the complex. Having detected their presence, the computer counts down to self destruct. Matters are complicated when one of the crew becomes incorporated into the machine's consciousness.

Good cinematography, decent acting, and a fantastic story all contribute to this film's warrants. It's too bad that CGI has taken the forefront -- I think modern filmmakers could learn a lesson from this one.

If you can surpass some of the crappiest acting in human history, the annoying brat that makes retarded noises, some questionable editing, disjointed story, slightly sluggish pacing and embarrassingly painful dialogue Gunhed is a pretty good movie. What make this movie stand out is its impressive set design, costumes, action and effects and does make up for the aforementioned flaws. But in the long run, I could only really recommend this movie to people who are fanatical cyberpunk enthusiasts because this movie is a train wreck. I hate kids.