Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution Review – An amazing if confusing anime that is out to thrill and confuse | film

HThere is an unusual presentation: a film that begins with a kind of super-editing, cutting out portions culled from several hours of plot and scene from the TV series Jujutsu Kaisen, which is then followed by some completely new episodes from the TV series; Playing together is completely like a movie in the cinema. Is it a movie based on a TV show? A TV show dressed up as a movie? Does it matter? It certainly doesn’t, if all you need are stunning, fantastically staged battle sequences – although for the uninitiated it’s hard to see them adding up to much more than that.

One thing that would be very useful – and which is sadly lacking – is a Star Wars style scroll that clearly explains the backstory in simple terms for unfamiliar viewers. Sure, the TV set does a little of that, but it also feels like it’s trying to download a thousand years of lore into your head, while simultaneously making your mind boggle with wild visions of conflict in the underworld. More context for the long-standing struggle between good and evil, which involves witches and “curses” (which seems to mean something closer to “devil” here), would be very helpful for the standards here.

Where Jujutsu Kaisen: Perfectly Execute excels for both fans and non-initiates is in its visual and audio design. Intense, dazzling encounters include everything from gore to monsters to visual design of stunning beauty. Apocalyptic cityscapes, ominous sunsets, and truly terrifying subway battle sequences brim with out-of-the-ordinary creatures and grotesque villains.

The soundtrack is truly amazing, accompanied by top-notch voice acting. If this is your first time dipping your toe into the waters of the world of Jujutsu Kaisen (which is ultimately based on the best-selling manga), you can’t expect it to make all that much sense, but you can certainly buckle up and expect a stimulating ride.