Galerians - Rion 2004 Horror Movie Review

As computers grow faster and cheaper, it’s become possible to create full-length CG features like Galerians on minimal budgets. It’s not clear if that phenomenon is a good thing or a bad thing. This highly derivative, game-based film borrows heavily from Akira, as well as the Matrix and Terminator movies. Rion is a human being who’s been genetically altered by Dorothy, a mad supercomputer that’s trying to become a god. Rion’s parents helped to create Dorothy, and left a special computer virus and its delivery system in his brain and in the brain of the hidden Lilia. Rion battles various foes as he searches for Lilia, then they attack Dorothy together. Director Masahiko Maesawa tries to disguise just how limited the animation is with special effects and camera movements, but it’s a losing battle. (Rated 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, nudity, alcohol, tobacco and drug use) —Charles Solomon