‘Knights of the Zodiac’ Movie Review - How to Kill a Franchise Before It Even Begins

Knights of the Zodiac was supposed to be a spectacular live-action movie that intended to bring the beloved Japanese manga and anime series Saint Seiya to life like never before. Directed by Tomasz Bagiński and produced by Toei Animation and Sony Pictures Entertainment, the movie delivers an epic adventure that will thrill fans and newcomers alike.

The movie stars Mackenyu as Seiya, a street teen who finds out that he has mystical powers and is chosen to be one of the Knights of the Zodiac, warriors who protect the reincarnated goddess Sienna from evil forces. Mackenyu gives a stellar performance as the brave and charismatic hero, who leads his friends into battle against the dark and powerful Vander Guraad, played by the amazing Famke Janssen. Madison Iseman plays Sienna, the goddess who needs Seiya’s protection, and she shines as the sweet and innocent girl who holds the fate of the world in her hands. The movie also features other talented actors such as Sean Bean, Diego Tinoco, Mark Dacascos, and Nick Stahl, who bring their characters to life with passion and skill.

The movie is a visual mess, with choppy action scenes, cheesy visual effects, and an unfaithful adaptation of the source material. The movie ignores the essence of the manga and anime series, with its themes of friendship, loyalty, courage, and justice. The movie also adds some twists and surprises that make no sense or are insulting to the fans. The movie has a PG-13 rating for action and violence, but it is unsuitable for anyone who likes fantasy and adventure genres.

One of the major flaws of Knights of the Zodiac is its lack of a compelling story. The movie fails to capture the essence of the manga and anime series, which had rich mythology, complex characters, and emotional stakes. Instead, the movie reduces the plot to a generic and predictable good vs evil conflict, with no depth or nuance. The movie also rushes through the events, leaving no room for character development or meaningful interactions. The result is a soulless series of adventures and fight sequences that have no heart or motivation behind them, and that fail to engage or entertain the audience.

Knights of the Zodiac is going to make you wonder why anyone would bother to adapt the manga and anime series by Masami Kurumada. The movie is a mishmash of Greek mythology and samurai culture, but it looks like a bad cosplay party that got out of hand. The movie also has no clue how to imitate anime and uses some of the worst digital effects ever seen on screen that make the action scenes look like a video game from the 90s. The movie takes everything that was cool and exciting about Kurumada’s work and turns it into a bland, loud, and pointless disaster that will make you cry with laughter or pain.

Knights of the Zodiac was supposed to be the start of a franchise, but it seems like it was the end of it. The movie was a disaster at the box office and received rotten reviews from critics and audiences. The movie did not impress anyone, not even the fans of the manga and anime series, who probably wished they had never seen it. The movie also left many loose ends and mysteries, making it obvious that no one cared about making a sequel. Knights of the Zodiac was a franchise abortion, not a franchise birth.

Despite its flaws, it has many great moments, especially the acting and the humor. The actors do a fantastic job of bringing their characters to life, and some of the jokes are hilarious. The movie also respects the source material, not completely but well enough, and captures the essence of the manga and anime series.

Final Score – [3/10]
Reviewed by - Arpita Mondal
Follow @ArpitaMond33387 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times