Hormones and Action Collide in "Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc"

"Chainsaw Man" is the new hit anime that could potentially highlight the rift between the new generation and the old generation in a similar way to how rap did when it burst onto the scene years ago. This is a franchise that is bonkers to the 11th degree, with violence and sexual innuendos thrown around like candy and some of the most bizarre fight sequences since "Dragon Ball Z" burst onto the scene. Joyfully juvenile in tone and mature in content, this is the kind of show that I would have watched behind my parents' backs as a teen, thinking it was made for people older than myself (it's not, I can assure you).

While the movie adaptation proudly wears its R-rating on its sleeve, this is a movie made for teens and knows what they want. If it doesn't involve our main protagonist growing chainsaws out of his arms and head, it's worried about whether our young protagonist will find true love. "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze" acts as the second season to the franchise (so newcomers are not welcome), and while the show is known for its speed-induced action, I was surprised that the first half of this film slows the action down quite a bit, as Denji (the Chainsaw Man in the title) finds himself falling in love with a waitress.

This is a complicated situation for him as there is a woman that already has his heart (literally speaking...and no, I'm not explaining it here, you'll have to watch the show), yet he finds himself having feelings for this new girl. The two spend time together as Reze teaches Denji what it feels like to be a teenager for once in his life. Dare I say it, but these scenes were honestly kind of sweet and touching. Of course, Reze is hiding a secret, and that secret will be the catalyst for the action that most ticket buyers are attending to see, and they will not be disappointed. 

I saw this movie in 3D (because, why not), but I'm sure the action will still have a pop-out effect even in a traditional theater (it's also being shown in IMAX and premium screens). Combine this with "Demon Slayer: The Movie - Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle," and action animation has had an excellent year on the big screen. It's nice to see that, at least in Japan, animation was taken seriously as an art form to make movies with action sequences that were better than those in most live-action movies. 

The star grade below only applies to fans of the show, as newcomers will be lost. That said, seeing as how strange the show is anyway, there is a good chance that non-fans can watch "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze" purely as a drug-infused rush and dismiss the screenplay altogether.