| One fault that I often find
in western movies, particularly those from the
U.S.A. is that they are distinctively lacking
when it comes to using anything from the real
world. "Where did this monster come from?" "Um.
it came from over there." These are the typical
lines that I expect from any science fiction movie
made in the United States. Fortunately, when it
comes to the Japanese, I am rarely confronted
with the use any such weak explanations. Case
and point, Parasite Eve, a movie that
I adore, not only because it is based on some
actual science, but because it uses it in a way
that is not only interesting, but truly horrifying.
Parasite Eve, for those
of you who haven't heard of it, is a horror movie
based on, shockingly enough, a parasite that we
cannot live without. This isn't any US movie style
parasite that attaches itself to your brain stem
and controls you because it wants someone to talk
to, but an actual endo-symbiotic organelle that
we naturally carry. These little critters are
known as mitochondria, and they are an essential
part of our existence. Without these little organisms
living in our cells, we couldn't process energy
and would thus die. That said, the movie takes
an interesting premise, and it is this: after
countless generations of servitude in our cells,
the mitochondria decide that they want to be running
the show, so they rebel, in the form of Mitochondria
Eve, a massive amalgamation of thousands of mitochondria,
cultured from the liver of the deceased wife of
a reclusive microbiologist.
Cast wise, I think that all of
the actors did a superb job. Riona
Hazuki, the actress that played Mitochondria
Eve, was particularly impressive though. In the
outset of the movie, she is a sweet, innocent
little housewife who is about to celebrate her
first wedding anniversary. Later, as Mitochondria
Eve, she becomes a cold, ruthless, almost demonic
force bent on liberating her brethren from the
control of humans. Both parts are played not only
exceptionally well, but also convincingly.
Musically, the movie is quite well
done as well. From the somber music when Eve's
host dies to the thoroughly evil sounding music
when she first appears, the musical score is simply
astounding.
When it comes to the powers that
Eve displays, I am, once again, impressed by the
accuracy the author represented the abilities
that something controlling our mitochondria would
have. Eve's ability to cause people to combust
by releasing the energy in all the mitochondria
in the target's body is an accurate interpretation
of what would happen if our mitochondria did all
spontaneously release all of their energy.
Above all, this is a good movie
in my opinion because it's not only science fiction,
but good science fiction, because there is actual
biological science and evidence involved in the
story. Thus, this movie automatically ranks high
with me, because it takes a living, "breathing"
biological entity and uses it in a very interesting
way. (Then again, I might be prejudiced because
I like mitochondria.)
|
(4/5)