Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Title: Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Original Title: Gekijouban Jujutsu Kaisen 0
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Director: Sunghoo Park
Writers: Gege Akutami, Hiroshi Seko
Studio: MAPPA
Stars:
- Chinatsu Akasaki
- Aya Endô
- Kana Hanazawa
Format: Movie (2021)
Duration: 1h 52m
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Trailer:
Scene :
Story:
Yuta Okkotsu, a quiet youngster, is possessed by the furious spirit of his boyhood buddy, Rika. Rika appears as a dangerous cursed spirit who brutally attacks everyone who threatens Yuta. Yuta prefers to isolate himself due to concerns about the safety of others.
However, Satoru Gojo, an elite jujutsu sorcerer, steps in. Rather than executing Yuta, Gojo offers him the opportunity to control Rika and become a jujutsu sorcerer himself. Yuta joins in Tokyo Jujutsu High School, a secretive academy for sorcerers who battle afflicted spirits.
Yuta practices with other students at Jujutsu High, including Maki, a skilled weapons expert, and Toge, a spellcaster who fights with his words. Yuta bonds with his friends and learns more about the cursed spirits’ world as he improves his talents.
However, an evil sorcerer named Suguru Geto tries to take advantage of Rika’s immense power for his own twisted objectives. Geto attacks Jujutsu High, forcing Yuta to make a difficult decision: control Rika or risk letting her destroy everything. The film follows Yuta as he deals with grief, guilt, and the weight of his cursed power.
Review:
Jujutsu Kaisen 0, a prequel movie to the iconic shounen anime series, is visually outstanding and emotionally touching. It follows Yuta Okkotsu, a high school student possessed by the negative spirit of his childhood mate, Rika. The animation by MAPPA is exceptional, bringing the world of Jujutsu Kaisen to life with flowing action sequences and gorgeously portrayed cursed spirits.
The film shines in its emotional essence. Yuta’s battle to overcome his sadness and gain control over Rika is both tragic and inspirational. The supporting cast, which includes Maki, Toge, and Panda, adds humour and camaraderie to the fright. While the concept may seem familiar to shounen veterans, the film’s execution improves it.
Below is an analysis of the film’s merits and weaknesses:
Merits:
Stunning Animation: MAPPA produces high-quality animation, especially in the fight scenes. The cursed spirits are hideous and terrible, and the sorcerers’ skills are visually appealing.
Emotional Depth: The film addresses the themes of loss, sadness, and salvation maturely. Yuta’s story is both relevant and engaging.
Yuta is a sympathetic protagonist, and the supporting cast strikes an appropriate blend of levity and seriousness.
Weaknesses:
Pacing: The film packed a lot of story into a small time frame, which may feel rushed at points.
Exposition Dump: There may be periods of information overload, particularly for viewers unfamiliar with the Jujutsu Kaisen world.
Overall:
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is an excellent introduction to the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise, especially for those unfamiliar with the series. While the film has shortcomings, its emotional heart, magnificent visuals, and well-developed characters make it worth seeing. Just be prepared for some emotional stomach punches in between the action parts.