Attack on Titan 2: End of the World

Attack on Titan 2: End of the World (2015)

My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars


Still don't like the movie, but Part 2 didn't leave me cringing as badly as Part 1 did. There's still plenty of action and some gore as humans are literally stepped on and crushed from sweeping Titan arms. However, no one actually gets eaten or bitten apart in this segment, despite there being lots of Titan action. Actually the only action we see from the typically mindless Titans are the few who come through the wall to be killed by the transformed Titans and the recap of Part 1 at the start of the movie. While there are several transformed Titans in the original animanga, the characters are still changing outside of Eren in this one. Eren does help with sealing the wall this time, though it's his unknown brother who plays a bigger part with the bomb and deflecting the King Titan than Eren himself (no handy boulder hauling this time around). Almost makes you wonder after seeing some of the lab test recordings that created the Titans and then discovering that the same leader who was so set on killing Eren is actually the King Titan (supposedly this is the same Titan who originally breaches the wall, though this happens from the outside). There's also a bit more drama to the Titan transformations as well as outside of the original virus outbreak it appears to require a life threatening injury for the transformation to happen this time around instead of the convenient blood draw where Eren would bite his thumb to trigger his change in the anime. Mikasa also finally starts coming back out of her shell, though she proves to be just as skilled dodging the transformed Titans as the mindless ones. It almost makes one wonder why the mindless Titans are so bent on eating humans when they are essentially immortal and don't need either food or water. It's been stated multiple times that they can live literally without anything. So why then do they essentially chase down the humans though they've proven to ignore animals? It is rather disturbing to realize that Titans would not exist if not for the military experiments in the first place and the fear over who may or may not transform from the general public resulted in just as much, if not more, slaughter than the actual Titan attacks prior to the building of the wall and human seclusion. That obviously wasn't the end of the tests since Eren and his apparent brother are both test subjects carrying the virus, as well as this Commander who is more disturbing every time we hear him talk. Kept seeing flashes of mindless Titans moving towards the hole in the wall while the fight with the transformed Titans was taking place, which lead to some gut clenching wondering if there'd be a secondary bloodbath. Rather relieved with the much more positive note and less overall disturbing images than the first movie left. Seriously did not think I would end up watching this with how disturbed I was from Part 1, but the ending and not knowing, especially with Season 2 waiting to be watched. Hopefully having seen it to the end will close this chapter for me and let me start to forget how much Part 1 haunted me.

Attack On Titan 1

Attack On Titan 1 (2015)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Realistically, the CGI is actually very well done here. However, there are a couple of reasons for the low score beyond just the fact that I really did not like this movie. First, they pretty much rewrite the series, which is especially annoying with a popular anime and manga both already in place following the same arcs. Large parts of the main characters stories/development are completely removed or rewritten. On top of that other big characters (like Levi) are missing entirely, yet we have a plethora of new characters that seem to have little to no meaning (other than becoming Titan food). Then there's the changes in the wall and how it breaks, one of the soldiers physically throwing a Titan (adrenaline surge or new ability?), the new commander who apparently replaces Levi and is just disturbing, the strange new character who hits on Eren before being eaten (the scene that still gives me nightmares two days later), and I can't even remember how many other little details now at this point. On top of that is the gore. Now, AOT is a rather bloody series to begin with given Titans literally eat people, I get that. Somehow though, this level or horror and apprehension didn't even register with either the manga or the anime. With this movie however, I find myself flashing back to certain scenes that leave my skin crawling, not wanting to close my eyes or look out windows in the dark. I know I can scare easier than some people, but usually I just watch something else (which I did this time too, I followed up the viewing with re-watching Kamisama Kiss in an effort to reset) and I'm fine, but that hasn't worked this time. It's left me feeling more than a little unsettled and wishing I hadn't actually watched the movie despite originally enjoying the anime with my husband. At least the kids were with grandparent's that night so they didn't catch any unwanted glimpses. There is a sequel film as this was apparently planned in two parts. Given the trouble I'm having with this one however, I'm doubtful about ever watching End of the World.

Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan (2013)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Done by the makers of Death Note, the art style is somewhat inconsistent. The titans are somewhat androgynous and disproportionate. An especially telling detail is the eyes and the way the hollowed out/haunted faces are done - very similar to the earlier series. The story line itself is rather twisted and complex. It takes time to sort out and make sense of what is going on or has happened leading up to current events. Even with these gaps, each episode ends with a hook that leaves you thinking "it's just another 20 minute episode..." until you realize it's well past bedtime and you really do need sleep more than you need to see that next episode, no matter how badly you want those answers from the story. Rather dark and bloody, it's not for the faint of heart in that regard. A little on the disturbing side overall.