photo via Viz Pictures

About a week ago I had the chance to see the new live-action Gantz movie on its one day showing here in the States. I had actually won a free pass from VIZ to see it here in Nashville (it was being broadcast live from LA to theaters around the country) and convinced a couple of friends to go with me. We braved the ice that was coating Nashville that night to check out a live-action movie based on a manga and anime that none of us were really familiar with. I’d seen the first few episodes of the anime about a year prior but hadn’t watched any since.

I do have to admit that part of the reason I was so excited to see it was that I discovered one of my favorite actors, Matsuyama Kenichi (who played L in the live-action Death Note movies) would be one of the main characters.

Well, the live intro to the movie was hosted by someone who definitely was not made to host such things. Honestly, I think we would have thrown popcorn at the screen if we’d had any. It was nice to see that they had the two lead actors (and their translators) brought up on stage for a quick intro and a reminder of a Q&A session after the movie. Then it started.