Spriggan (1998)
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54% of critics liked it
(13 reviews) -
66% of users liked it
(7,001 ratings)
Animator of the groundbreaking animé classic Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo was the executive producer for this two-fisted Raiders of the Lost Ark-like animated action-adventure flick, based on a manga by Hiroshi Takashige and Ryoji Minagawa. The film opens with members of the secret organization Arkam… More Animator of the groundbreaking animé classic Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo was the executive producer for this two-fisted Raiders of the Lost Ark-like animated action-adventure flick, based on a manga by Hiroshi Takashige and Ryoji Minagawa. The film opens with members of the secret organization Arkam rooting around on Mt. Ararat -- the supposed landing spot of Noah's Arc. They not only find the Arc, they also discover death in the guise of a powerful magnetic beam that blasts them to nothing and takes out three U.S. satellites along the way. Six months later, Arkam member and high school student Yu Ominae almost gets blown up himself when a classmate wired with explosives goes off in the schoolyard. He also gets the cryptic message that "Noah will be your grave." Someone is out for Yu's head, and he wants to know why. After venturing to Turkey, he braves dangerous trap after bloody ambush. When he finally does reach Mt. Ararat, he learns that his organization Arkam has a rival in its effort to learn the secrets of the Arc, and that group is a U.S. government-sponsored special force which includes a massive powerhouse of a man called Fightman, and a whey-faced trickster named Little Boy. While Arkam is devoted to protecting humanity from the terrible power of the Arc, Fightman and his cronies are bent on using the ancient object for their own twisted ends. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- R, 1 hr. 30 min.
- Directed By
- Hirotsugu Kawasaki
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Animation, Anime & Manga, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- Oct 12, 2001 Wide
- On DVD
- Apr 23, 2002
- Studio
- ADV Films
Critic Reviews
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Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
Much of Spriggan feels like an apocalyptic Arnold Schwarzenegger cartoon, with lots of automatic gunfire, rivers of blood and dialogue that could have been written by a theologically inclined 11-year-old with a thing for explosions.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
Characterisation is regulation thin, plotting largely nonsensical, 'camerawork' and effects increasingly pyrotechnical until an amazing final light show inside the Ark.
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Jay Hardwig, Austin Chronicle
This animated 1998 actioner about a Japanese superspy out to defend the world's most guarded archaeological secrets from evil Americans has to be seen to be believed.
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Eric Campos, Film Threat
The Spriggan are specially trained troops placed all over the world for the purpose of guarding historical artifacts - kinda sci-fi Indiana Joneses if you will.
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James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
Newcomers to anime would be better off checking out the likes of Ghost in the Shell, but fans of the genre won't be disappointed.
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