WFG RATING: B

Stage 6 Films presents a Toei Animation/Convergence Entertainment production in association with Hero Squared, Sola Entertainment, and Takz Film. Directed by Tomasz Baginski. Produced by Joseph Chou, Yoshi Ikezawa, and Tim Kwok. Written by Josh Campbell, Matt Steucken, and Kiel Murray; based on the manga “Saint Seiya” by Masami Kuramada. Cinematography by Tomasz Naumiuk. Edited by Kenny G. Krauss and Peter Pav.

Stars Mackenyu, Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman, Sean Bean, Diego Tinoco, Mark Dacascos, Nick Stahl, Caitlin Hutson, and the voice of Katie Moy.

One Piece’s Mackenyu stars in the live-action adaptation of the 1980s anime Saint Seiya that has its ups and downs.

For many years, Seiya has been looking for his sister Patricia, who had been taken and has since disappeared. While on the search, he makes his money through fighting in an underground ring. One night, he is set to take on the ring champion and soon finds himself facing the wrath of the ring’s organizer, Cassios. During their fight, Seiya begins to feel something he never felt and it attracts the attention of Alman Kido, who saves him from his ex-wife Vander Guurad.

Kido tells Seiya that he has been chosen to become the Pegasus Knight, the protector of the Goddess Athena, who has been resurrected as his adopted daughter Sienna. At first, Seiya only cares about finding his sister. However, as he must learn to unlock and harness his powers, he is sent to train with the Silver Knight Marin. Meanwhile, Guraad and henchman Nero are on the hunt for Sienna as they fear, like Athena, she will destroy the world. However, Seiya feels that Sienna could be able to somehow control her powers, but he must overcome obstacles to find his destiny.

When it was announced that there would be a live-action adaptation of Saint Seiya, it was quite unsurprising that Mackenyu would be cast in the lead role. Mackenyu is the new go-to for live-action adaptations after his performances in the Fullmetal Alchemist sequels and the capper Rurouni Kenshin: The Final as the lead villain. Now known for playing Roronoa Zoro on Netflix’s hit adaptation of One Piece, Mackenyu does well in an origin story that goes a bit of a different route than expected. 

Famke Janssen plays a gender-reversed version of a more minor antagonist in Vander Guurad, who here is the ex-wife of Kido, played by Ned Stark himself, Sean Bean. With metal arms, Janssen churns a pretty devious villain role much like her full transformation in X-Men: The Last Stand. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’s Madison Iseman is pretty good as Sienna, the young woman who like Seiya, is undergoing some changes herself as she is soon to be the resurrected Athena. 

Mark Dacascos provides some comic relief and action as Mylock while stunt performer Caitlin Hutson provides the physical form of Marin, the Silver Knight with Katie Moy providing the voice. 

Diego Tinoco brings some ruthlessness in the role of Nero, Guurad’s number one henchman who holds a bit of a secret revealed in the third act while Nick Stahl brings that “henchman who thinks he can do anything” trope in the form of Cassios, who after being ridiculed by Seiya, seeks revenge especially after Guurad turns him into a cyborg Black Knight. 

While the story does add some familiar tropes and sappiness in the story, the action is the highlight of the film. Andy Cheng’s stunt team, with Vi-Dan Tran, Joseph Le, and Jay Kwon assisting, the fight scenes are nicely done. We get to see Mackenyu do virtually all of his own stunts and fight scenes due to his expertise in martial arts. Even with the Hong Kong-style wirework for the armored fight scenes and seeing Dacascos use a gun and baton together against some Black Knights is quite a delight. The finale seems a bit quick but leaves it open for a possible sequel. 

Knights of the Zodiac suffers a bit in the story but it more than makes up for it in its action scenes. However, one thing is for sure. Mackenyu is perfect casting.