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Movie: The Returner Director: Takashi Yamazaki Actors: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Ann Suzuki, Kirin Kiki, Goro Kishitani |
I've heard about this movie some time ago. Reviews were mixed, said it was a Matrix rip off but I got curious. My local DVD store recently imports Hong Kong and Japanese DVD's and The Returner popped up on their weekly newsletter. I took it as a sign and ordered the Region 3 DVD!
The story in a nutshell:
Miyamoto is a killer-for-hire who stumbles across a young woman named Miri. She asks him to help accomplish her mission, a mission that could save the world from total destruction. The girl was send back from the future in order to change the past. I know it sounds very familiar, I'll get back on this later. Miyamoto agrees to fight evil when he finds out that his longtime nemesis Mizoguchi, a vicious gang leader, is related to the coming events that will exterminate the existence of human kind.
The story is a mish mash of other end of the world and gansters-in-black-suits-with-sunglasses movies. Take a bit of Independence Day and Terminator. A grain of Mission Impossible 2, a chunk of The Matrix and top it off with some Blade coolness (I even noticed a sample of the soundtrack of End of Days). What do you get? A great fun movie! Really, the filmmakers gave the story some nice original twists to keep you awake otherwise the action will take care of that. See it as combination of all your favorite movies in one flick. Takeshi Kaneshiro as (Miyamoto) is a Japanese version of Keanu Reeve's Neo, leather coat, sunglasses and perfect presence. The chemistry between Takeshi and Ann Suzuki (Miri) works on screen and gives the film a lighter tone. Goro Kishitani provides a top-notch performance as the evil Mizoguchi. This character is just so evil, slick and ruthless, something you've never seen before.
The Returner is one of Director Takashi Yamazaki first movies and he does a great job. He gives the movie a nice western, sometimes Hollywood feel to it, unlike some Hong Kong action flicks. Japanese movies like The Ring and even some of Takeshi Miike's movies are more "watchable". The action is a combination of John Woo-style gunfight (although nobody can top the master) and some jaw-dropping CGI special effects. The Returner is a hell of a ride, a nice example that popcorn movies can also be made in Japan.
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Written by Reggy 04/10/03
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