Masami Kurumada’s Saint Seiya manga is as old as Dragon Ball but it hasn’t been as prominent in pop culture worldwide, despite the manga having sold millions and with hundreds of anime episodes. This live-action film adaptation is Toei Animation’s chance to make it more popular in the mainstream.

From the perspective of a newcomer who’s not familiar with the source material (manga/anime), did they succeed? Read on to find out.

Bland And Uninspiring

No, it’s not nearly as bad as 2009’s Dragon Ball Evolution was but Knights Of The Zodiac is definitely not much better by any means. Knights Of The Zodiac isn’t as cringe-worthy or as ridiculous as Dragon Ball Evolution but director Tomek Baginski has managed to make Knights Of The Zodiac so bland and uninspiring that it sucks all the fun out of the movie. At least Dragon Ball Evolution had its fun moments. Knights Of The Zodiac mostly made me want to fall asleep from beginning to end due to its overly serious vibe.

The colour tone and cinematography of the movie is so muted and dark as if Knights Of The Zodiac is afraid of bright colours. It’s baffling, considering how vibrant the source material looks like, in comparison. While I’m not that familiar with the source material myself, I grew up thinking that the franchise’s iconic armour looks cool and awesome. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the movie version, which looks more like cheap foam rather than the shining godly armour it’s supposed to be. The budget should have been used to make the armour, which the franchise is famous for, look much better than it is.

In addition, Knights Of The Zodiac suffers from pacing and editing issues. Scenes are cut jarringly, and the movie likes to rely on dreary exposition. Sean Bean is one of the highlights of the movie (his mere presence usually improves anything he’s in), and he’s burdened with spewing most of the exposition. He does the best with the lines he has, but that’s not enough to make the movie’s boring writing more exciting or compelling. As for the rest of the cast, they’re pretty unremarkable (yes, even Famke Janssen) and Mackenyu (who plays Seiya, the protagonist) delivers a wooden performance. Plus, there’s no chemistry between him and Madison Iseman, who plays Athena. It’s a shame, considering how genuine and warm Madison Iseman’s performance is, she certainly deserved better.

The only saving grace in Knights Of The Zodiac is its decent action scenes and fighting choreography. Visually, they sort of look like how anime translated into live-action would look like, featuring stylistic flourishes and an emphasis on each punch/kick. Too bad the action can’t really make up for everything else. It’s still nowhere near the level of something like Alita Battle Angel or The Raid Redemption. Thankfully, if you’re not familiar with the source material, the movie does explain its premise in a somewhat straightforward way. As I’ve previously mentioned, though, the dry exposition and bland plot don’t help in making the movie any better.

Not The Knights You’re Looking For

Only the most die-hard or hardcore fans will be able to gain any enjoyment out of Knights Of The Zodiac. That is; if they can. It’s not as bad as Dragon Ball Evolution, but it’s still not a good introduction to the franchise for newcomers. You’re better off looking for the source material, either anime or manga, instead of this poor excuse of an adaptation.

FINAL SCORE: 30/100

We attended an early screener of Knights Of The Zodiac courtesy of Sony Pictures Malaysia. Knights Of The Zodiac is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 11 May 2023.