SP: The Motion Picture II (2011) User Reviews

conclusion .. but there's a prequel to this in 2010

[dumsumdumfai · 9/10 · 31 October 2011]

I heard this was first a TV series, then the final 2 episode made into movies. Might have it wrong, but the TV series was 3 years or something? I have no time to catch up on those.

First saw the 2010 movie, it was good, lots of action for a Japanese police type of drama. Although some of which doesn't make sense - but you get somewhat caught up in the moment if you've seen enough Japanese proceduals that has practically no action.

Not having seen the series, parts of the 1st movie seem confusing, but with this 2nd part everything falls into place. And if you seen enough JP dramas, they have this thing about corrupted government and change in Japanese society thing going very often.

Bu the tension here great, from the get go, you see some plan is in motion. Well setup, choreographed and explained - maybe a bit too much explanation - detailed nonetheless. Then you see the response, slow and methodic as well, all the way to the crescendo moment of truth and back again. So I was not disappointed with this kind of caught up in the action - and live action that is - with not much gimmick or F/X, or CGI (only use where not plausible areas) This is old school in a way, strecthcing the rubber band to the extreme and let it go. So very satisfying.

Cagey stuffy guys

[ebiros2 · 3 December 2011]

The story's main character Kaoru (Junichi Okada) has specially sensitive perception that borders on extrasensory perception. He can "sense" a crime before or while it is happening.

Story is about terrorists lead by head of SP taking over the Japanese parliament building, and another team of SPs or Security Police dispatching the bad guys.

This movie is supposed to be the conclusion to the TV series that was on air between 2007 - 2008.

While I was watching this movie, I couldn't help feeling that the people portrayed in this drama are bunch of cagey, stuffy people. They were so stiff it makes me feel choked watching them. Also, their emotions are so much based on self pity, and stand offish pride, it amazed me that this is supposed to be humanity to people involved. They're all (good guys and bad guys alike) in this little world unto themselves, thinking its some kind of noble quest. The mean comments they say to each other showed the underlying mean society they live in.

This is a society where concept of perfection has made a wrong turn, and completely obliterated the true humanity that should be at the core of it all. The idea of cool presented here is suicidal in nature, and somehow that's sold as being heroic. Then the misunderstanding is sad and draws even more (self)pity.

I'm just astonished that such crap is sold as heroism. There are or were times when Japan made higher quality movies, and this one is definitely not one of them.