3 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

This live-action version of Attack on Titan is only very loosely based on the original manga. Truckloads of liberties have been taken with the plot as well as the characters. You can pretty much think of it as a whole new story, except with some familiar character names.

The visual and sound effects were really good and definitely emphasized the horror of the Titan invasion. Those who are weak of stomach should be forewarned that the violence is quite bone-crushingly, flesh-tearingly graphic.

In my opinion, the actors were reasonably well-cast for their parts. I had seen Haruma Miura and Kiko Mizuhara in other movies before and didn’t like them that much; however they were fine here. Because there were not many quiet, emotional scenes, the opportunities for bad acting were relatively few anyway.

Being a huge fan of the anime, I was well-aware of the need to check my baggage, all of it, at the door before watching this film. In doing so, I think I was able to enjoy the movie for what it is, an action-filled blockbuster which uses romance as an easy emotional anchor to engage (or enrage, as the case may be) its audience.