In a lackluster venture into live-action, 'Knights of the Zodiac' stumbles gracelessly onto the screen, stripping the luster from the cherished Saint Seiya saga. What was supposed to be an enthralling escapade through fantastical constellations turns out to be a disheartening nosedive into mediocrity.
Adapting anime to live-action is fraught with peril, and unfortunately, this movie exemplifies just about every pitfall. The film's narrative, centred on Seiya's gritty journey, yearns to weave the rawness of street brawls with mystical battles, but it falters, stuck in a liminal space that captures the essence of neither. It feels like going to a dinner where the flavors are as muted as the ambiance — bland and uninspiring.
'Knights of the Zodiac' had the potential to be a sensory feast, an emotional rollercoaster that would engross die-hard fans and newcomers alike, but it instead presents a haphazard patchwork of ideas that seems to be grasping at straws. The elements of familial love and propelled destiny collapse under the weight of overambition and underdevelopment.
The bold attempt to breathe new life into the series has, to many devoted fans' dismay, backfired. This reinvention distorts the Saint Seiya they revered, leaving a sour aftertaste. While the effort is evident, perhaps it was a reach too far, a cosmic quest that should have stayed in the realm of animation, where its spirit truly resides.
In conclusion, 'Knights of the Zodiac 2023' scores a disappointing 3 out of 10, a reminder that not all that glitters in the cosmos is worth the gaze. This adaptation may leave you wishing you'd spent your time among the stars, rather than witnessing this fallen constellation.
