Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean (2005)
"Lorelei" (original title)

A drama set during World War II where a submarine carrying a secret weapon attempts to stop a planned third atomic bombing of Japan. Based on Harutoshi Fukui's novel Shuusen no Lorelei.

Directors:

Shinji Higuchi, Cellin Gluck

Writers:

Harutoshi Fukui (novel), Satoshi Suzuki (screenplay)

Stars:

Kôji Yakusho, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Toshirô Yanagiba

Cast

Credited cast:
Kôji Yakusho	...	Masami Shin'ichi
Satoshi Tsumabuki	...	Yukito Origasa
Toshirô Yanagiba	...	Kizaki Toshiro
Yuu Kashii	...	Paula Atsuko Ebner
Shin'ichi Tsutsumi	...	Asakura Ryokitsu
Ken Ishiguro	...	Narumi Takasu
Colter Allison	...	Lt. Eric Minott
David Austin	...	Lt. Dodet
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicholas Dombrovskis	...	German Scientist
Christopher Ryan Doyle	...	Captain's Talker
Norman England	...	Sonar Operator #1
Caroline Paris Gluck	...	Girl on Beach
Isao Hashizume	...	Sadamoto Nishimiya
Masatô Ibu	...	Eitaro Narazaki
Takaya Kamikawa	...	Man

Storyline

A drama set during World War II where a submarine carrying a secret weapon attempts to stop a planned third atomic bombing of Japan. Based on Harutoshi Fukui's novel Shuusen no Lorelei.

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Plot Keywords:

weapon | secret weapon | submarine | japan | suicide | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Fuji TV [jp]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

5 March 2005 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Lorelei sukellevene I-507: Viimeinen ase

Filming Locations:

Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$661,912 (Japan) (11 March 2005)

Gross:

$5,734,981 (Japan) (8 April 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cine Bazar, Fuji Television Network, Kansai Telecasting Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The design of the I-507 submarine is based upon a real one : the french submarine 'Surcouf', launched in 1929, was the biggest submarine ever launched at the time.

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Soundtracks

"Wiegenlied (Cradle Song)"
Composed by Bernhard Flies
Lyrics by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter
Performed by Hayley Westenra

User Reviews

A somewhat new way to issue an old history will in Japanese war movie

The slick music is a flaw. It's a pity that traditional Japan music can't be adopted in movie about modern affair. Music sound tedious in a repeated oppressive rhythm, as well as the cadenced music that helped to arose the urgency condition. Perhaps better without the background music.

Having watched some Japanese WWII movies. The common narration was: graceful landscape and relics in motherland, dear family members or lovers --everything in country is so beautiful, and all these should be cherished; be forced to frontier; found be cheated by warlord (only when defeated?); but, in any way, soldiers should behave braveness and obedience (approve the real Japanese soldiers' behavior in late stage of WWII); at last, somebody sacrificed for their honor, the survivals represent the hope of new Japan.

-- All above in the service of such a mention: the own country is the core, in other words, Japan is the most important. It seems most Japanese turn a blind eye to other nation's suffer, and addict themselves to their own perception. People in occupied territory means nothing, and if they does, they should appreciate the occupiers from the same Asia for their 'liberation' from Westerners. Defeat is not reconciled to -- 'Go down swinging'. If plot not be treated so, the nation's 'self-pride' would hurt. Sometimes, remorse or condemn to warlord are allowed, in an delicate 'apropriate' limit, but it wouldn't account for the main line. Scenarios must be turned around thereafter anyway. Perhaps someone responsibl for movies partially realized the fact, but they just wouldn't recognize it.