Interesting mixture of science fiction, and action, this story written by Seiichi Morimura for Kadokawa publishing with intent on making a movie out of it. It's the first movie to feature Hiroko Yakushimaru as the girl who has sixth sense to foresee danger in the near future.
Ajisawa (Ken Takakura) is a special forces commando. He was on a training mission with orders not to engage with the civilians. But he runs into a massacre of the entire village (by only one man, hah !), with the sole surviver being the daughter of the murderer. The daughter has amnesia, but can tell the impending danger of anyone who is involved with her. She thinks Ajisawa is her father, and Ajisawa takes her in as a daughter. Now Ajisawa and the daughter gets involved in a news paper's attempt to bring military's corruption into public. More killing ensues, and Ajisawa, and the daughter becomes the next target for the military, and the corrupt power broker.
The movie has all the Kadokawa regulars like Rentaro Mikuni, Hiroko Yakushimaru, and Haruki Kadokawa himself as the Defense force command leader. It was Haruki Kadokawa's early attempt to break out into the movie making business (and it shows).
The plot is somewhat interesting, but the story lacks punctuation. It just drags on until the end. Both Seiichi Morimura and Haruki Kadokawa doesn't know how to showcase the coolness of the character through his movements on the screen. He just looks like a middle aged guy meandering through the mayhem created by the military, and the power broker played by Rentaro Mikuni. So what if Hiroki Matsukata comments "Ajisawa is the best commando". Ken Takakura never shows the edge.
The acting was terrible. Hiroki Matsukata, Ryoko Nakano, Ken Takakura all did terribly. And they were supposed to be the leads for the military, the main protagonist, and the civilian sector. So there's no hope for this movie to ever make it out of the hole.
Hiroko Yakushimaru must have a special talent, because even in this very early point of her career, her role looks interesting and intriguing. She always seems to be able to define her role with pinpoint accuracy.
So the movie might have helped launch the career of Hiroko Yakushimaru, and rightfully so, because she was the only one that counts in this monotonous saga. Everyone, and everything else was a flop.
It makes you left feeling "What was the meaning of the story ?". One thing I am impressed with is all the tanks and helicopters they've been able to assemble without the help of the Japanese Self Defense Force. It sure helps to have money.
Ajisawa (Ken Takakura) is a special forces commando. He was on a training mission with orders not to engage with the civilians. But he runs into a massacre of the entire village (by only one man, hah !), with the sole surviver being the daughter of the murderer. The daughter has amnesia, but can tell the impending danger of anyone who is involved with her. She thinks Ajisawa is her father, and Ajisawa takes her in as a daughter. Now Ajisawa and the daughter gets involved in a news paper's attempt to bring military's corruption into public. More killing ensues, and Ajisawa, and the daughter becomes the next target for the military, and the corrupt power broker.
The movie has all the Kadokawa regulars like Rentaro Mikuni, Hiroko Yakushimaru, and Haruki Kadokawa himself as the Defense force command leader. It was Haruki Kadokawa's early attempt to break out into the movie making business (and it shows).
The plot is somewhat interesting, but the story lacks punctuation. It just drags on until the end. Both Seiichi Morimura and Haruki Kadokawa doesn't know how to showcase the coolness of the character through his movements on the screen. He just looks like a middle aged guy meandering through the mayhem created by the military, and the power broker played by Rentaro Mikuni. So what if Hiroki Matsukata comments "Ajisawa is the best commando". Ken Takakura never shows the edge.
The acting was terrible. Hiroki Matsukata, Ryoko Nakano, Ken Takakura all did terribly. And they were supposed to be the leads for the military, the main protagonist, and the civilian sector. So there's no hope for this movie to ever make it out of the hole.
Hiroko Yakushimaru must have a special talent, because even in this very early point of her career, her role looks interesting and intriguing. She always seems to be able to define her role with pinpoint accuracy.
So the movie might have helped launch the career of Hiroko Yakushimaru, and rightfully so, because she was the only one that counts in this monotonous saga. Everyone, and everything else was a flop.
It makes you left feeling "What was the meaning of the story ?". One thing I am impressed with is all the tanks and helicopters they've been able to assemble without the help of the Japanese Self Defense Force. It sure helps to have money.