"The Atlanta Olympics heralds a major breakthrough in mankind, a new breed of being that can achieve the impossible. Thirteen Olympic records are smashed and the world takes note that human life is now capable of far more than ever imagined."
"Two years down the line and superhuman mankind is under threat, suffering from a catastrophic degenerative disease called the 'moira syndrome'. Patients once thought infallible are now aging rapidly and dying like flies. The medical establishment is baffled and Blackjack, the 'rebel' doctor, is called upon to provide an answer."
"Blackjack discovers that superhuman mankind is the product of a revolutionary new drug with catastrophic side effects called 'Endorph A'. Originally manufactured to further mankind, 'Endorph A' had assumed viral properties and threatens to wipe out life, as we know it."
"With the fate of mankind in his hands, Blackjack contracts the disease and is plunged into a web of 'X-Files' type conspiracy, racing against time to find a cure before it's too late."
Original story: Osamu Tezuka Director: Osamu Dezaki Copyright: Tesuka Production Co./Shochiku Co., Ltd Language Format: English Language Running time: 90 mins Certificate: 12 Label: Manga Video Catalogue no: MANV 1204 Price: £12.99 Release Date: 18th January 2000
This anime is much more intimidating than it looks on the video case, believe me. So whats it about then? The story is about an unlicensed surgeon, who, because of his rare skills, performs operations that are impossible for even the finest surgeons.
One day Blackjack faces his biggest challenge, to try and save the lives of an extraordinary amount of intellectual and amazing record breaking geniuses. Dubbed 'super humans', these people, later on in their career become severly ill that their unable to move, and doctors can barely keep them alive. It is Blackjacks mission to cure them, but will he succeed?
This is the first anime film I've seen, and after watching it for the first time back in August '99, I was greatly dissapointed and it didn't leave me feeling very happy. Firstly, it is so very disturbing seeing patients suffer horribly because of their disease before finally going nuts and eventually dying, and really its like this in the most part of the film. When it rarely isnt unpleasant, the scenes are dull, boring and horribly slow. The only thing I liked about this piece of anime was Blackjacks cheerfull little daughter, who is just adorable ^_^ . So all in all, this is a dissapointing piece of anime, and how it ever got a BBFC '12' rating, is still a mystery to me, it should have been 15. Unlike Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend, which although it is unbearably disturbing can still be a decent piece of anime, this isnt recommended not even as a rental. [Basheer shamma]