Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
100 years ago, titans suddenly appeared on Earth. Soon, human civilization veered on collapse due to the titans. Humans then built a giant wall to defend themselves. Within the giant walls, humans lived in peace, but, 100 years later, the giant wall is broken.
The 2015 live-action Attack on Titan adaptation struggles to translate the beloved manga's epic scope to screen. The plot condenses and alters the source material in ways that frustrate fans and confuse newcomers, losing much of the nuanced character development. Acting is largely wooden, with the cast unable to convey the emotional weight the story demands. Cinematography has some effective moments — the titan practical effects and gore carry a visceral horror quality, and some action sequences are visually engaging — but is inconsistent overall. Novelty is moderate: the core concept of humanity besieged by giants behind massive walls remains distinctive and unsettling even in this adaptation, though the execution feels derivative of its source. The ending lands poorly, feeling abrupt and unsatisfying, particularly given it was designed as the first of two parts, leaving audiences with little resolution.