Always: Sunset on Third Street 3 (2012) [Film Review]

Always: Sunset on Third Street 3; or, In the Shadow of the Olympics
     Today’s the first day of your new family. But remember… You will always be a part of your family, too.
It took ma a while, but here it is: my review of the third and final instalment of the Always series directed and written by Takashi Yamazaki. Is it a satisfactory conclusion of the trilogy? Let’s jump into the discussion.

Release Info

Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki Starring: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki, Maki Horikita

Language: Japanese Original Title: ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日'64 Runtime: 144 min

Synopsis
Tokyo, 1964. The city gears up for the famous Olympics that reintroduced Japan to international consciousness. The citizens of the third street also prepare to celebrate the sports event, but they also struggle with their personal affairs. Chagawa (Hidetaka Yoshioka) has to compete against a young writer who takes over his reading audience, whereas Roku (Maki Horikita) falls for a surgeon from the local hospital.

Always 64
Honestly, Always: Sunset on Third Street 3 did not sit well with me. When compared to the previous two entries, the third movie is riddled with pacing issues, episodic structure, and some odd storytelling decisions.

First of all, the beginning lets you think that the Olympics are going to function as a major overarching theme in the film, but that’s not the case (these are important only in two scenes). Secondly, humour bits are thrown all the time to lighten up the mood, but these feel forced, even to such an extent that the same music cue signals their appearance. Finally, as a viewer who fell in love with the characters, I do not agree with their send off. Again, I avoid the spoilers territory, but the third film primarily focuses on the conflicts of Roku and Chagawa. While the first character was given a bitter-sweet ending, Chagawa was given closure against his warm, deeply kind character. To me, it’s unforgivable.

With regard to production aspects, there are the same as in the case of the previous Always movies. Takashi Yamazaki really has an eye for visual, and likes to freestyle with special effects to achieve a comedic effect. The music score Naoki Sato feels repetitive in the third film, but it hits you in the feels nonetheless.

Speaking about performances, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Shinichi Tsutsumi rock as always. True stars of the third film are Maki Horikita and Kenta Suga who really stand out with their interpretations of the characters.

Recommendations
All things considered, Always: Sunset on Third Street 3 was a bit of a disappointment for me, but I knew I had to see it because of Takashi Yamazaki. I recommend it only for the hardcore viewers who greatly enjoyed the previous two movies. I don’t think there’s any creative potential for the fourth movie at this point, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the new adventures of the third street inhabitants.Overall score: 6/10

«Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us»

Ace Attorney (2012) [Film Review]

Ace Attorney; or, Justice for All

     Stop being so cocky. You've only been to court twice, and you're still a rookie. If I wanted an attorney, there are plenty out there that are much more competent than you.
If you need legal advice, then seek no father and call Ace Attorney! A 2012 movie directed by Takashi Miike is an adaptation of a famous adventure/legal drama video game series developed by Capcom. I’m sharing my thoughts on Phoenix Wright and his larger-than-life courtroom battles.

Release Info

Directed by: Takashi Miike Starring: Hiroki Narimiya, Takumi Saitoh, Rei Dan, Mirei Kiritani

Language: Japanese Original Title: 逆転裁判 Runtime: 133 min

Synopsis
In view of the increasing crime rate, the Japanese judiciary branch has adopted the so-called Bench Trial System. Attorneys and prosecutors directly face each other in an open court, and the court determines the defendant’s innocence within the timespan of 3 days. We follow a rookie attorney Phoenix Wright (Hiroki Narimiya) who is frequently aided by his mentor, Mia Fey (Rei Dan). After the mysterious murder of Mia, Phoenix manages to determine the innocence of her sister, Maya (Mirei Kiritani), who becomes his associate. However, this is not the end of their troubles. Phoenix and Maya will have to gear up for a difficult trial in which Phoenix’s childhood friend, Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth (Takumi Saitoh) is accused of murder. It turns out that the cases of Maya and Miles are linked to a tragic event which took place about 20 years earlier.

Objection!
As a person completely unfamiliar with the craze surrounding this video game franchise, I have to admit that I greatly enjoyed this adaptation. I went in completely cold, without knowing the characters and the main story arc, but Takashi Miike’s skilful storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat. The dystopian world of retro fashion, over-the-top hairstyles, and top-of-the-line technology in courts is extremely amazing. Indeed, Ace Attorney is not only a well made homage to Capcom’s popular series, but also a clever commentary on Japan’s judiciary system (which, let’s face it, is extremely effective in the world of today).

Without getting into any spoilers, the storyline is very engrossing. Apart from epic court battles, there are lots of plot twists, and dramatic reveals along the way. You would think that these are cliched tropes, but these plot points actually drive the whole picture. In consequence, the movie never feels boring. 133 minutes passed by in a blink of an eye!

Apart from Takashi Miike’s direction, I have to praise the flawless cinematography of Masakazu Oka and the editing by Kenji Yamashita. The world of Phoenix Wright looks so flashy yet cozy at the same time.

On the other hand, the music score composed by Koji Endo is not very present throughout the duration of the movie. However, I read that the composer did try to implement original themes from the games.

With regard to performances, I am surprised that so many great actors appear in Ace Attorney! Evidently, the bromance undertones between Hiroki Narimita and Takumi Saitoh are a joy to watch. I also loved Mirei Kiritani, Dan Rei, and Kimiko Yo as the Fey girls. Ryo Ishibashi provides a convincing portrayal of a despicable villain. In addition, the wonderful Fumiyo Kohinata appears as a key character! Kudos to Eisuke Sasai and Akira Emoto for playing supporting parts of a prosecutor and a judge, respectively.

Recommendations
Even though you know nothing about the games, do not feel discouraged. Ace Attorney is a fun, escapist tale for everybody. Grab some popcorn and check out the improbable, yet romantic take on a world where justice prevails. Allegedly, the sequel is in development but no new material has seen the light of day since 2012.Overall score: 8/10

«Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us»

Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (2012-2013) [Tokusatsu Review]

Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger; or, Pain is Strength!

     I am… a man who’s so painful that I can break the barrier between delusion and reality! I don’t care if it’s reality or not! I will transform and fight!

My journey with Super Sentai continues for 2 years now. I have checked out roughly about a dozen of entries, and Tokusatsu Gagaga drama, but absolutely nothing prepared me for the wrecking ball of spellbinding grandeur that Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger [Unofficial Squadron Akibaranger] actually is.
Release Info

Created by: Hatte Saburo Starring: Masato Wada, Kyoko Hinami, Karin Ogino,

Maaya Uchida, Shione Sawada, Ai Shimomura

Language: Japanese Original Title: 非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー No. of eps.: 26 (2 seasons)

 

Synopsis

Hiroyo Hakase (Maaya Uchida) is the owner of a Super Sentai cafe shop in Akihabara district, Tokyo. She inherits from her missing father three strange Moe Moe Z-Cune devices. She recruits Nobuo Akagi (Masato Wada), a delivery guy; Yumeria Moegi (Karin Ogino), a cosplayer; and Mitsuki Aoyagi (Kyoko Hinami), a high-school student. Together, they use the devices and transform into Akibarangers; however, they are an unofficial Sentai team, not recognised by Toei. They battle evil in the realm of delusions, but very soon, malevolent villains find their way into reality. Now, Akibarangers have to protect not only their beloved district but also the entire Super Sentai Universe from being destroyed by numerous foes, including evil commander Malshinna (Ai Shimomura), mysterious Doctor Z (Kazuki Yao), and fanatic otaku Tsuu Shogun (Ryo Horikawa). Little do the Akibarangers know that there is a superior mastermind lurking in the shadows…

 

For the glory of Tokusatsu!

Let me start with stating that Hikonin Sentai Akibranger is the ultimate love letter to the Super Sentai franchise. Even though the show promotes itself as a Sentai parody meant for mature audiences (Remember, good little kids shouldn’t watch it!), it includes literally everything a Super Sentai fan would love to see: from countless Easter eggs through cameos of the tokusatsu veterans to featuring official teams. Akibaranger has it all and even more! That is to say, it is an enjoyable show.

 

Speaking about Season 1, the first five episodes are harmless fun, with Akibarangers poking fun at many clichés of the franchise. However, when the rules of the established universe are broken (which is described by the characters as a shake up), the show starts getting pretty serious. To be honest, I really felt as if I was watching a Japanese version of Doctor Who. Over-the-top villains and non-stop action left me breathless! (On a side note, Hatte Saburo is not a real person, but a collective pen name used by Super Sentai writers and producers).

 

With regard to Season 2, I had a feeling that I won’t like it, but it really surpassed my expectations. Everything seemed bigger and braver! The only thing I disliked was the replacement of AkibaBlue. The new character, Luna Iwashimizu (played by Sione Sawada), is very good, but Mitsuki (Kyoko Hinami) had better chemistry with the team. Also, this season was focused on fixing broken timelines (even more Doctor Who feels!), which I greatly enjoyed. I read that some fans disliked the finale, but I thought it was a brilliant send-off. It ended on such a high note! How I wish there was a third season!

 

Now, a few words about the characters. I totally love Akibarangers. If only they had not been the unofficial team. They have great personalities and they actually develop throughout the series. As for the villains, Malshiina (a.k.a. ©Na; meaning Copyrighted Name) steals every scene she is in (but Tsuu Shogun is the second best villain, to me). She’s got the looks, the swag, and the sass. Nevertheless, the prettiest female character of the series, in my opinion, is Hiroyo Hakase. I love her heart-warming smile and exaggerated mental breakdowns.

 

It has to be noted that many tokusatsu veterans served on this series, including Ryuta Tazaki (Kamen Rider), director/character designer Keiichi Satou (Tiger & Bunny, Gundam), writer Naruhisa Arakawa (Kamen Rider Kuuga), and the legendary composer Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell).

 

Recommendations

If you are in the mood for a ridiculous comedy mixed with science fiction elements, then please check out Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger. However, some previous knowledge of the Super Sentai franchise is required in order to fully enjoy it. All things considered, this show communicates the important message that you don’t have to be an officially recognised hero in order to make a difference. Being a fan who is good at heart is enough… Juu-Mousou Zukyuun!

Overall score: 10/10

Bayside Shakedown 4: The Final Movie (2012) [Film Review]

Bayside Shakedown: The Movie 4; or, A New Hope

     Don't mess with us cops...

Just in 2010, when the Odoru Daisousasen movie series was rebooted and two years later it was announced that it’s coming to an end! The Last TV special episode and Odoru Daisōsasen The Final: Arata Naru Kibō, filmed back-to-back, mark the very last entries in the 15-year-old franchise.

Release Info

Directed by: Katsuyuki Motohiro Starring: Yuji Oda, Eri Fukatsu, Toshiro Yanagiba, Yusuke Santamaria

Language: Japanese Original Title: 踊る大捜査線 THE FINAL 新たなる希望 Runtime: 126 min

 

Synopsis

A gun is stolen from the evidence archive in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Soon after, two people die from that gun in the jurisdiction of the Wangan Police Station. Aoshima’s team begins the investigation, but the HQ’s investigative unit led by Torigai (Shun Oguri) takes over. It turns out that a cop stole the gun so, to hush things up, Muroi (Toshiro Yanagiba) and Aoshima (Yuj Oda) are turned into scapegoats. In the meantime, Sumire (Eri Fukatsu) considers  quitting her job because of the inability to cope with pain from a gunshot wound. WPS police officers join their forces to discover an in-police conspiracy that has something to do with what Mashita (Yusuke Santamaria) did in his early days as the negotiator.

 

All the good things...

Well, to be honest, Bayside Shakedown 4: The Final is a decent, well-made conclusion to one of the most awesome franchises ever. However, I guess that my expectations for this movie were a bit too high. In a lot of ways, I enjoyed The Last TV special episode more, and it was only lead-in to this final film. The uneven pacing is probably the only issue of this movie as it starts right off the bat with the chase scene, crazy awesome intro (my favourite out of all movies) and then it slows down to present a lot of exposition intertwined with humor scenes.

 

Nevertheless, I also greatly enjoyed many things which this film had to offer. The development of the Aoshima/Sumire (only friends!) relationship was done way better than in the previous sequel. In addition, the running theme of the series: excessive police bureaucracy is quite interesting to watch as both Aoshima and Muroi become the victims of the corrupt system. In addition, the conspiracy involving Mashita was really gripping. At first, I thought that the creators were trying to be over-original with the plot, but eventually, I appreciated that the crime had a little bit of personal factor (with relation to the characters) conveyed in itself. All in all, this is the final movie.

 

Speaking about performances, as in the previous movies, the Odoru cast was remarkable. The highest praise goes to Eri Fukatsu as she did the best job with her character since Bayside Shakedown: The Movie 2. Yuji Oda is great as always as Aoshima and the same thing applies to Toshiro Yanagiba and his portrayal of Muroi. Though, I hoped to see a little bit more of Muroi Shinji in this movie. In addition, Ren Osugi reprises his cameo role from the first theatrical film as a cover-up expert, the man behind the scenes who brings down the top brass of the police force

 

Recommendations

If you liked the previous theatrical films of the series, then this movie will not let you down. It may be uneventful at times, but generally it manages to deliver the desired dosage of Bayside Shakedown glamour. There’s humour, action, entertainment, and Aoshima running to the pumped up "Rhythm and Police" theme song. What’s more important, the promise made by Muroi in the last episode of the show has finally been fulfilled.

 

Well, this is the end of my two-month adventure with Odoru Daisousasen. It was a wonderful and unforgettable ride. I can only hope that someday, just maybe, there will be a new movie released.

Overall score: 8/10

Odoru Daisousasen TV Specials [Bayside Shakedown] (1997-2012) [Drama Review]

     In order to never lose sight of myself... I fervently adhered to rules. I thought that was the right thing to do. But... I guess there are many ways of doing things. After all, we're different, you and me.

     No. You're wrong. We're both police officers.

If you have no idea what Odoru Daisousasen is, then please head over to my drama review here.

 

Following the success of eleven kickass episodes, Odoru’s creative team, consisting of Katsuyuki Motohiro (director), Ryoichi Kimizuka (screenwriter), and Chihiro Kameyama (producer) decided to carry on with the show and devised in 1997/1998 three TV specials following the adventures of our favourite Wangan Station officers. Nevertheless, due to Bayside Shakedown becoming such a smash hit in Japan, more (big and small) specials were made after 1998. Below, I have made an attempt to create a chronological list of all the special episodes with broadcast dates, original and English titles, as well as descriptions along with my short comments.

• 1997 December: Year-End Special Alert (Saimatsu Tokubetsu Keikai SP 踊る大捜査線　歳末特別警戒スペシャル)- Aoshima’s back... or so it would seem as he is still an ordinary street officer. Muroi notices that and arranges for an immediate transfer of Aoshima back to Wangan. The chiefs are not all too happy to see Aoshima so they assign him to the Traffic Section. There, driven by his reluctance, he ends up helping a school teacher find a vandal who destroyed a school project. Aoshima is unaware that the vandal is actually a drug-addicted killer. By complete coincidence, the killer gets hold of a gun and takes everybody hostage at the Criminal Section. Thrilling and entertaining episode with a big reference to Die Hard.

• 1998 June: Wangan Police Station Female Police Officers' Story (Shoka no Koutsuu Anzen SP 踊る大捜査線番外編　湾岸署婦警物語)- Contrary to the previous one, this special episode features main Odoru characters only in cameos, whereas the real heroine of the story is a newcomer Natsumi (Yuki Uchida) who is beginning her career at WPS as the traffic officer. Under close supervision of officer Kuwano (great Eri Watanabe from Shall We Dance? movie), we see Natsuki trying to learn the police job. Yet, her defiance of Kuwano’s strict conduct leads to a conflict between them. Some at the station even compare her to Aoshima. Still, Natsuki gets an opportunity to show her true value as she attempts to apprehend a dangerous criminal. Very entertaining episode and my personal favourite.

• 1998 October: Autumn Campaign for Crime Eradication (Aki no Hanzai Bokumetsu SP 踊る大捜査線　秋の犯罪撲滅スペシャル)- Aoshima, Sumire, and Mashita are ordered to escort a woman who paid to kill her boyfriend. However, the woman manages to escape and Sumire is suspected of harbouring her. A sick game of suspicion begins as Muroi orders Mashita and Yukino to follow Aoshima who follows Sumire. How will Aoshima prove Sumire’s innocence? More importantly, who is the fugitive: a criminal or a victim? Engaging story with a twist towards the end. It perfectly develops the Aoshima/Sumire relationship and builds upon Muroi’s ambiguity.

• 1998 October: Late Night at Bayside: The Worst Three Police Officers* (Shinya mo Odoru Daisousasen SP 深夜も踊る大捜査線 湾岸署史上最悪の3人!)- This is basically a mini-series of five 10-minute episodes about the follies of the WPS chiefs. These were aired for five nights before the premiere of Bayside Shakedown: The Movie. They are available at PandoraTV but without any subtitles.

• [Chronology] 1998 October: Bayside Shakedown: The Movie

• 2001 September: Big Dance in Seoul* (踊る大ソウル線)- I stumbled upon this one by complete accident. Any English site about Odoru does not mention it at all! Only at odoru.org I found a short description that it’s a quasi-special episode, but in reality, it is an advertisement of Seoul for prospective tourists. We follow Sumire, Mashita, Waku, and the chiefs on their journey around the capital of South Korea. No English translation exists. Treat this only as a trivia.

• 2003 July: Late Night at Bayside 2* (Shinya mo Odoru Daisousasen 2 SP 深夜も踊る大捜査線2)- The same thing as the previous Shinya, but made for the promotion of Bayside Shakedown: The Movie 2. I couldn’t track down these episodes at all.

• [Chronology] 2003 July: Bayside Shakedown: The Movie 2

• 2003 August: Thats! Three Amigos: A Stage Play* (舞台も踊る大捜査線 ザッツ!!スリーアミーゴス)- As the title says, Odoru franchise even hit the theatre. It was played from August 15th to August 17th, 2003 with five performances in total. In terms of the storyline, it is a follow-up to the events from the second movie as the WPS chiefs have their salaries reduced. After the performance-segment, there was a small talk-show section with a different guest each time. Ultimately, live recording of the play was released on dvd. No English translation available online.

• 2005 December: Odoru Legend – The Fugitive, Kijima Jouichirou (Odoru Legend ~ Toubousha Kijima Jouichirou 踊るレジェンドドラマスペシャル逃亡者 木島丈一郎)- A TV movie focusing on the character of Detective Kijima Jouichirou from the spin-off film Negotiator: Mashita Masayoshi (2005). In The Fugitive, Kijima rescues a boy from a kidnapper. However, the boy is reluctant to be returned to his parents, thus Kijima escapes with him. No English fan-subs are available. Nevertheless, it is always awesome to see the great Susumu Terajima in action.

• 2006 October: The Lawyer, Haijima Hideki (Bengoshi Haijima Hideki 踊るレジェンドドラマスペシャル弁護士 灰島秀樹)- Another TV movie, this time made about the character from the spin-off film The Suspect: Muroi Shinji (2005). To me, there was nothing absolutely interesting about it. We get 95 minutes about some prick lawyer without even cameos from the Odoru cast. It might as well have not been part of the franchise.

• 2010 June: Late Night at Bayside 3* (Shinya mo Odoru Daisousasen 3 SP 深夜も踊る大捜査線3)- Another mini-series with the chiefs, made to promote Bayside Shakedown: The Movie 3. I managed to find only two episodes. No English subs, but the episodes look interesting as they are limited to the office space only.

• [Chronology] 2010 July: Bayside Shakedown 3: Set the Guys Loose

• 2012 September: Midnight Odoru Daisousasen: The Final (深夜も踊る大捜査線 THE FINAL)- For the promotion of the fourth and final theatrical movie, Shinya mini-series was not made. Instead, four episodes following Detective Kijima Jouichirou were aired each midnight. Again, no English translation, yet still, it’s quite intense to watch as Kijima and his team defuse a bomb hidden in a huge teddy bear.

• 2012 September: The Last TV (踊る大捜査線 THE LAST TV サラリーマン刑事と最後の難事件)- It is best to watch this episode after seeing the third movie as lot of things have changed at the Wangan Station. Aoshima is now a Section Chief, whereas Mashita, Uozumi and Hakamada head the station. Aoshima. along with his investigative team. is on the lead of a Korean woman who cheats men out of their money. Little do detectives know that the woman is allegedly engaged to officer Wang (a member of Aoshima’s team). In collaboration with HQ, a huge set up is organised in the form of a lavish wedding ceremony. Great stuff to watch and the original cast is at their best.

• [Chronology] 2012 September: Bayside Shakedown 4: The FINAL

All things considered, one can see from the list above how much has Odoru gone through the years. Even though it came to an end back in 2012, it is still a wonderful experience to sit through and watch the drama along with all of these specials. I don’t regret a single minute spent with these brilliant characters. Is there a possibility for a new special or a new movie? Probably not, but still, great franchises are known for comebacks.