SoftInloveRox
Horrible, fascist and poorly acted
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Aubrey Hackett
While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
dbborroughs
Takeshi Kaneshiro stars in the story of three guys who decide to rob a bank and then head for the islands somewhere. The robbery goes sideways and becomes a hostage situation. Things become complicated when several hostages join the robbers becoming a live action version of the cast of the Space Travelers anime show. Funny action comedy is a great deal of fun. Yes its silly and over the top, but you won't care because you'll be having too good a time watching it. The trouble with the film comes in the last 15 minutes or so when the film turns jarringly into left field with an ending that is completely out of place for what has gone before. Sure its real, but nothing that went before was so it becomes seriously WTF. The film is still worth seeing, but at the same time that ending may put you off the film (certainly it has to be the reason I can only find this as a region 3 bargain bin film)
steve_a_woods
This movie was an unexpected gem. It is one of those rare movies where after just a few minutes you forget that it is sub-titled and are fully absorbed into the plot.The film is very funny. The laughs are spread around and there are some great performances. I especially liked "Crusher" who had a dead pan life weary outlook that shone through.I won't go into the plot other than it involves a simple bank robbery where everything goes wrong and the outcome is unexpected.This is a truly wonderful movie well worth watching and great entertainment.
papahan
What a great film this is! The director of Bayside Shakedown returns with this fantastic movie which will bring out the kid in all of us.The film's action sequences are top notch, at times even better than Hollywood. The comedy level in the film is very, very high.Now, it seems for a moment that this is a regular action comedy but guess what - apart from the action and comedy, the film is also a pinching satire on Japanese media, police force and the entertainment industry.I would give this film a perfect 10 if not for the end.The film opens up giving us a feeling that this is one roller coaster ride we'll never forget. But then in the end, the film suddenly goes into a very sad mode. My God - it disappointed me!!!!!!Screw the ending. Check this film out. You'll love it!
SilverHawk
Perhaps one of the most stylishly made action films to come out in a long time. Tired of watching the same old Hong Kong action films that has recently become all the rage in the US? Watch this! This Japanese film pays homage to Hong Kong action films and does one better. It's entertaining. Something that is sadly missing lately. Don't worry that it's in Japanese. There are English subtitles. It also tips its hat to Hollywood films such as Al Pacino's Dog Day Afternoon.It begins much like Dog Day Afternoon, three bank robbers led by the Japanese heart throb Takeshi Kaneshiro. A colourful cast of characters make up the rest of the hostages. It pokes fun at everything from the Japanese police department to the J-pop scene. All this interspersed with an animated movie called Space Travellers. But the animated movie is used to aid the bank robbers who have bungled their operation. With help from the hostages, they all soon learn to believe in themselves and reach for their dreams no matter how high they are.It's a wonderful movie. A must see!