Wicked City

Other than having City in the titles there really is not all that comparable to the two films. I have to say I enjoyed that film more as it was action packed and had very nice visuals. This one though does get points for the excessive violence and nudity as that film was devoid of nudity and the violence never did get all that bad in that film. This movie has two agents from two different companies as it were assigned to protect this strange old man. The catch, well one agent is human, and the other is some sort of being from another dimension. One could probably call her a demon and all the other crazy people in the movie. The old man the two are assigned to protect provides the humor in the film as he is one horny old dude, and while the action is not quite as fast paced as Demon City what there is of it is usually violent and bloody. As I stated there is sex and nudity in this film, but it comes in really small scenes not really long enough to make much of an impact thus I would not really call this movie a Hentai film, which is usually an anime film that has so much sex in it, that it is almost a porn flick and this one certainly does not contain that much sex. The story needs a longer runtime to it as it kind of goes by to quickly with little explanation in areas that need more explaining as I am sure not still what the other people are supposed to be. However, it entertains in a fun way, just not as fun as Demon City.

I wouldn't profess to be an anime "fan". I certainly watch it, and own a few British released videos, but I don't go to conventions or run down to Forbidden Planet every week looking for the latest import. The reason? Cultural differences mean a lot of high-end anime is perhaps confusing and a little boring for us westerners (see Akira and Ghost in the Shell). But not Wicked City. Just like Ninja Scroll, this dispenses with theological and spiritual issues in favour of gore, guns and shagging. Written and directed by the same guy, this is similar to Ninja Scroll, with the same superhuman themes and forbidden love interest. And I love it. Call me shallow, but I've been brought up on a diet of in-yer-face culture, and the Japanese prevalence to dwell on life and self-worth don't interest me in the slightest, at least not when I watch videos. Wicked City has the meanest gun IN THE WORLD, an amusing old man (a trademark of the director I fear) and people in smart black suits. O.K, the final battle is classically confusing, but not a day goes by when I don't yell "Fu**ing monsters!" at the top of my voice. An utterly enjoyable romp, and one that's always a pleasure to watch on the Sci-Fi Channel.

'Wicked City' isn't the worst film that I have ever seen. It just wasn't enjoyable. For its director, Yoshiaka Kawajiri to now be considered a "visionary" anime director with his film 'Program' in the recent 'Animatrix' anthology, he can't be a total loss, his other films since 1989 maybe a lot better than 'Wicked City'.

But to the film. 'Wicked City' sees Taki, a member of the secret organization the Black Guards assigned to protect Dr. Mayart whose job it is to oversee the renewal of a treaty between Earth and the Demon World. As the mainstream movie-dom cliche tends to go, Taki who works alone is immediately paired with Mackie, a seductive Black Guard who hails from the mysterious Demon World. Together, Mackie and Taki protect Dr. Mayart from Demon World extremists (of course) out to stop the treaty from taking place.

In my experience, there are two types of anime. Really good anime and really bad anime. Unfortunately, 'Wicked City' falls into the latter category. In amongst the obligatory gratuitous violence which people have come to expect from action movies, the film has lingering scenes of gang rape and segments of the fights look like something out of a tentacle hentai movie which almost made me throw up.

'Wicked City' is not redeemed by what becomes the standard two-heroes-protecting-witness/diplomat storyline. Dr. Mayart, who is like Yoda with nymphomania is extremely dislikable, and the eye-rollingly bad sexual tension between Taki and Mackie seems only to be there to fill in time between cardboard sex scenes between the pair. The treaty sub-plot doesn't gel at least for me. Why is it that only people from the Demon World want to overthrow the treaty? So much for the political intrigue.

I don't get disgusted by a simple action film, but I do get disgusted by an overly simple action film that reeks of mysoginy and pervertedness. It was for those reasons that 'Wicked City' was so unenjoyable. I'll be able to forgive Yoshiaka Kawajiri for 'Wicked City' if his latest film 'Program' exceeds 'Wicked City' in quality. O *'s out of 5 from me.

Wicked City is a strange Japanese film that follows many of the same tropes of a standard issue biopunk anime. However, it's warped, graphic and unapologetically sexual, almost crossing the line into hentai territory. Many of the characters are contrived and stereotypical anime archetypes and the story is hardly memorable but the film itself has enough clever animation and action to make it watchable.

It was definitely a good time killer, especially since I knew nothing about it beforehand. If you've seen Akira and want something in that vain, you'll find this digestible. If you don't like things like that, stay far away.

B-

And the best part is the gun was before Men in Black and the Noisy cricket!!!! Eat that America!!!!! This is an awesome anime full of a rich plot, action,nudity, and an awesome gun!!!! Personally it had a little bit to much nudity and sexual situations for me but that gun made up for it. Seriously, it is a great anime worthy of being added to any anime collection. It kinda reminded me of BioHunter + The X-Files + Some other stuff. I got this DVD at a pawn shop for a few bucks maybe $5 but even at $20 it would be a bargain. This gun in the movie had to be fired backed against a wall because of the force of the blast, and even then it would crack a concrete wall.