Joker Game (2015)

In Japan, Lieutenant Colonel Yuki (Yusuke Iseya) recommends the creation of spy training school "D Kikan".

Director:

Yû Irie

Writer:

Kôji Yanagi (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Kazuya Kamenashi, Yûsuke Iseya, Kyoko Fukada

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Kazuya Kamenashi	...	Jiro Kato
Yûsuke Iseya	...	Yûki
Kyoko Fukada	...	Lyn
Richard Shelton	...	Marks
Jasper Bagg	...	Campbell
Richard Moss	...	Graham
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rajid Ahamed	...	Wheelchair Soldier
Kentez Asaka	...	Soldier
Mike Bash	...	British Intelligence Officer
Justin Bratton	...	Soldier
Mark Chinnery	...	Narration
Steven Dasz	...	English Soldier
Marcio Fernando
Kyle Charles Gannon	...	British Intelligence Officer
Sanjay Gautam

Storyline

In Japan, Lieutenant Colonel Yuki (Yusuke Iseya) recommends the creation of spy training school "D Kikan".

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

31 January 2015 (Japan)

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chukyo TV Broadcasting Company (CTV), Cine Bazar, Fukuoka Broadcasting System (FBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Joker Game (2016)

User Reviews

Stylish yet simplified spy movie.

While Joker Game has good atmosphere and to its credit, an engaging first act, it eventually culminates into basic espionage thriller with little twist or surprise. It's not entirely a complex showing of strategy as most of the time it focuses on flamboyant one dimensional characters. Still, its simple sleight of hand might adequately entertaining as mild diversion.

After an incident with his military supervisor, a man is sentenced to death and eventually recruited to a spy agency. He's given alias Jiro Kato after intensive training and sent to recover a crucial piece of information. It starts with a good opening act before, unfortunately, turns into a predictably straightforward plot.

The entirety of the cast is shaped to be a glorified version of espionage with excessively classy demeanor. It's appealing at first, but ultimately the feeling wears out as it hampers with the thriller aspect, even making it look rather comical later on. Characterization, along with acting, serves to create larger than life personas, and the characters seem trapped in this constant superficial front.

It plays around with typical heist set-up as well as slight bantering with femme fatale. This is not a deep display of intelligence or overlaying trickery. There are only few nifty gimmicks at best, and at later act it changes into basic cat-and-mouse game in outlandish setting. Few of these instances even resemble classic Bond flicks, although it can get too cheesy, especially the action sequences which look like watered down Pirate of Caribbean debacle.

It may win a few style points with the visual and premise, but as far as thriller goes, Joker Game is just elementary.