I found the story to be pretty interesting the whole way through the film. Everything else was kinda inconsistent. Sometimes the audio was incredible and then another random time I'd notice a stock sound effect being used or a sound effect peaking. Visually there are some amazing shots but then there are the weird CGI visuals that don't quite work. This is definitely a film I enjoyed despite its pretty obvious flaws. Its definitely worth checking out and it seems like something I would watch Again despite my mixed feelings.

The first 30 minutes of the movie was awesome (have to agree with the others). The way the audience was being brought into understanding of the emotional conflict going on in Kasumi. I like how the twins have totally different characteristics but still show strongly how much they love and are willing to sacrifice themselves for each other. (Heart wrenching moment with the harm that was self-inflicted) it just tugs on my heart strings so much.

The middle part of the movie took the audiences' attention away with all the monsters and the survivors' need for survival. I like the action and suspense and all, but the monsters are a little too robot-like to be conjured up by imagination; I would have preferred it if it's moments were more fluid. On a personal note, I thought that there could be maybe one to two more species of monsters. "Demonasaurus" gets boring after a little while. (No offense, my personal thoughts) When small hints are dropped in the movie, like the staff personnel and Mr Vega, it got me thinking and trying to figure things out. Love the mystery and suspense. If there were a little more links while the characters were trying to escape, it would have been wonderful because then the audience might not have gotten lost in the action and forgotten the mystery. (Which to me is the main part)

The last parts of the movie triggered the audience to start thinking and piecing the pieces together. The sub-plots come in at this part, and it's quite what I would call a "bombardment". Too many sub-plots makes it hard for me to sieve through the information and solve the mystery. Though I think that the sub-plots were great as stories(: and they were heart-wrenching too. Love the addition of these sub-plots but the timing of revelations could've been timed better.

A previous review mentioned that there were too many ideas going on and were not fully developed. I must agree on that note. When I read that, I started comparing "Inception" to it, trying to understand why Inception had a much better review than this though they were similar in the themes of dreams, reality and human subconscious. The technical details aside, I understood why the review had mentioned that. The idea of the scar was presented and turned out to be an object of recognition (love the moment when it was revealed) but the idea of the thorns and much so the "King of Thorns" was not explained. Why thorns? Why these type of monsters? What is the symbolism behind these? And though I love the way little Tim compared the monsters to the monster games, I couldn't help but wonder if they were actually in a game. (Hmm, don't know if this is good or bad) and there was this weird moment where Alice took over Tim's mind. I kinda see no link in that. But it was a potential idea to develop because Alice had to protect "the patients" (which could have been more specific and said Kasumi, totally add to the suspense)

So in a nutshell, the movie was great(: just a little too saturated with fantastic ideas. Would definitely recommend people to watch it! I think "King of Thorns" is one of the best animation movies that I have watch combining fantasy, action and love (sisterly love)

Knowing nothing of the movie, I looked at the box art and thought that this might be an interesting, thoughtful sci-fi/fantasy with dark fairy tale elements. It's not.

It's schlock.

A space-born virus is petrifying (literally) the human race so a zillionaire sets up a cryo "ark" deep underneath a Scottish castle to send a handful of lucky randoms to live in a better future. Of them are Japanese twin sisters Kasumi and Shizuku, who has not been chosen and is only there to see her off. The sleepers are rudely awakened by horrific creatures (who are apparently CGI and rendered in a lower frame-rate) who tear them apart as they attempt to escape the castle, which has now been infested with thorny vines.

It's an intriguing premise up until this point, but then it all begins to fall apart, quickly. With each attempt at explaining the mystery it becomes more and more moronic. Horrible dialogue and a muddled, confusing plot turn it into a borderline comedy. The allusions to Sleeping Beauty are ill-conceived and just don't work. If anything, this movie is much more like Resident Evil than the thoughtful fantasy I wanted it to be. An attempt at a plot twist just about saves this from a lower score.

It's a Sunday afternoon mild distraction while you do the ironing or the dishes. Don't go into this nonsense expecting a Miyazaki epic.