Mardock Scramble the First Compression

Animé and Toons
Mardock Scramble the First Compression
By Chris Zimmerman
September 18, 2011 - 22:35

Writer(s): Tow Ubukata
ISBN: 978-2-6161-5122-5
$29.98 US
Starring: Hilary Haag, Andy McAvin, David Matranga, Kalob Martinez
Directed by: Susumu Kudo
Produced by: GoHands
Running Time: 60 minutes
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Distributors: Sentai Filmworks

I’ve grown quite familiar to the world of Mardock Scramble, having reviewed several of its iterations. From its origins as a novel to a manga adaptation, the world created by Tow Ubukata has become like a second home to me. Considering the stellar year the franchise has been having thus far, it was only a matter of time before the film series made its way across our borders. Sentai Filmworks bought up the rights to the first film and while the film’s glossy animation will have some seeing through rose-tinted lenses, the barebones release and abrupt ending left a sour taste in this reviewer’s mouth.

At the core of Mardock Scramble lies an orgy of violence fueled by revenge. It’s nothing that we haven’t seen before. Chances are there’s a film in theaters now with the same basic story: a character is betrayed and left for dead only to return alive and well toting guns and a penchant for vengeance. Even still, I’m fond of Mardock Scramble. It’s an engaging series with a unique world built around interesting characters. The science fiction elements employed differentiate it from an otherwise stale genre. With echoes of Blade Runner to disguise its shortcomings, one can’t be blamed for wanting to digest everything the franchise has to offer.

The film’s miniscule runtime of 60 minutes is spent establishing the characters and eschewing unconventional ideas that make the Matrix seem tame by comparison, some of which fail to stick, while others remain in viewer’s minds if for no other reason than just how sick they are. Look to the group of assassins found in the latter half of the series for an example of depraved ingenuity.

Mardock Scramble is a character study on the value of life camouflaged in the guise of stylish animation. There is very little not to love from a production standpoint. Colors are a mix of dark and sublime and colorful and electric, making the film a visual feast for fans of outstanding animation. The choreography of the action also adds to the film’s gusto, deploying impossible maneuvers that will have action junkies salivating.

Sadly though, not even the benefit of gorgeous animation can distract from an inconclusive ending that feels abrupt and comes from out of nowhere. I suppose some might argue it is an innovative use of film to build interest for the next installment, but really it just left me scratching my head at why the film would cut off when it did. The film had spent the better part of its last twenty minutes building to a crescendo with gore and limbs flying only to just end.

Another detriment to this release is the complete lack of extras on the DVD. There are the usual batch of trailers, none of which are for the film, and that’s it. A commentary or a feature detailing the production would have been greatly appreciated. Instead we got a relatively barebones disc that does nothing to compliment the excellent production values.

If you’ve seen one revenge story you’ve seen them all, and that adage certainly applies here. The stylish animation and gravity defying action sequences certainly help to distract from this, but for all its eccentricities, Mardock Scramble is more of the same. Still, for fans of science fiction, the film is a technological wonderland. Tow Ubukata’s world is a haven where geeks and gore hounds will revel.

Given the cliffhanger ending, the film only earns a mild recommendation based on its own merits. The foundation has been laid down for future installments, now it’s up to the next films to build on it and deliver something exceptional.

B-

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