Gyakuten saiban (2012)

This movie is based on the second and fourth cases in the popular video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The plot follows Phoenix Wright, a novice lawyer, who faces off against expert ... See full summary »

Director:

Takashi Miike

Writers:

Takeharu Sakurai (screenplay), Sachiko Ôguchi (screenplay)

Stars:

Akiyoshi Nakao, Takumi Saitô, Mirei Kiritani

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Akiyoshi Nakao	...	Masashi Yahari - Larry Butz
Takumi Saitô	...	Reiji Mitsurugi (Miles Edgeworth)
Mirei Kiritani	...	Mayoi Ayasato
Hiroki Narimiya	...	Ryuuichi Naruhodou
Shunsuke Daitô	...	Keisuke Itonokogiri
Akira Emoto	...	Saibancho
Mitsuki Tanimura	...	Natsumi Oosawagi
Takehiro Hira	...	Shin Mitsurugi
Eisuke Sasai	...	Yukio Namakura
Makoto Ayukawa	...	Masaru Konaka
Seminosuke Murasugi	...	Takefumi Auchi (Winston Payne)
Miho Ninagawa	...	Sakura Himegami (Dee Vasquez)
Ayumu Saitô	...	Yamano Hoshio
Kentaro Motomura	...	Igai
Yuko Nakamura	...	Sayuri (Polly)

Storyline

This movie is based on the second and fourth cases in the popular video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The plot follows Phoenix Wright, a novice lawyer, who faces off against expert prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, who had a perfect win record. He defends Maya Fey, the sister of his deceased sister, Mia Fey. The court system of the time dictates that the trial can only convene for a total of three days before a verdict must be reached. In the second case, Miles is charged with murder, and it is up to Phoenix to defend him against the best prosecutor of all time, as well as Miles' mentor, Manfred Von Karma, who has not lost a case in forty years! In order to resolve this case, Phoenix must look beyond the drama of the court room and search for clues left by Mia on a 15 years old case, the DL-6.

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Plot Keywords:

based on video game | two word title

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

11 February 2012 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ace Attorney

Filming Locations:

Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capcom Company, D.N. Dream Partners, Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

This is what a video game adaptation should be like.

I had the privilege of seeing this film in Tokyo while it was still in theaters. Having played all of the Phoenix Wright/Gyakuten Saiban games, I was very familiar with the source material. That being said, it easily introduces all of the characters in a very succinct manner, and their personalities show through brilliantly on the big screen.

The summary: Ryuichi Naruhodo aka Phoenix Wright is a struggling defense attorney who works for the Ayasato law firm. After a shocking murder, he finds himself in the high court defending a client against murder... pitted against a prosecuting prodigy... who just happens to be a childhood friend. The twists and turns of the case lead Naruhodo into an investigation of a long-closed case which is very relevant to current events.

For fans of courtroom drama or mystery, it's a very suspenseful and very clever murder mystery, but if you've played the first game, you already know how it turns out. For once, a director chose to go with the original story rather than trying to go off in a strange direction or "re-imagine" the details that people know and love (yes, I'm looking in your direction, Michael Bay), though some elements have been absorbed into one story to make sure the entire story takes place. All of the cases from the game are referenced, though not all of them are fully played out on screen (time constraints). Additionally, there are no clever "wink wink" moments to future games in the series, thank goodness.

Purists will be happy to know that some of the musical numbers come straight from the game, particularly in the courtroom, and the "floating box" evidence presenting element from the game is preserved as a very cool holographic system.

If I may level one criticism, it's that just like the game, the "investigation" portions tend to drag, but the courtroom scenes will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, pointing dramatically and shouting, "IGI ARI!" -- OBJECTION!