Twisted Flicks: Cutie Honey

Original title: Kyûtî Hanî
Japan, 2004

Director: Hideaki Anno
Starring: Eriko Sato, Mikako Ichikawa, Jun Murakami
IMDB: 6.5

Based on the manga by Go Nagai, Cutie Honey is a Japanese comic superhero flick - think the Japanese version of Wonder Woman.

As the title suggests, our hero is exceedingly cute - but also pretty damn sexy with her long legs and costume-filling curves. Of course no-one does cute like Japan, and lead actress Eriko Sato has the necessary rubber face and looks to suit the role perfectly.

The story is nothing original, the basic premise has been used in superhero/crime capers for decades. What sets Cutie Honey apart is that it has been brought to life with a uniquely Japanese aesthetic, mixing manga styles with cutesy and sexy at the same time.

Interestingly, J-pop diva Koda Kumi provides the catchy title song and even appears in her own scene.

I can hardly recommend this as a quality intelligent movie - it is as shallow and vapid as the name suggests. But if you're in the mood for a light-hearted superhero flick sprinkled with a liberal dose of PG-rated T&A and some zany Japanese action then you will surely have fun with this.

Rating: 5/10