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“The future is in your hands!” While this line has been tossed around
the sci-fi genre since the 1950’s, it never seems to grow old. Instead, it
leads to a promise of time traveling and potentially convoluted plot
threads. It is almost a battle cry of any would-be “Terminator” homage
attempting to either find a spot alongside a classic or slide into the
outhouse of doom. Rest assured that in this instance, we’re on the right
track. “Returner” proudly wears the mantle of “summer Hollywood action
flick” as seen through the creative eyes of our friends to the far east.
After our initial glimpse into the future, we are thrown to the present
to see someone climbing the side of a cargo ship. Intermingled with his
approach are scenes of a wild blond character conducting business of a less
than moral fashion. We are immediately introduced to his heartlessness as we
discover the business “cargo” is in fact young children in a large shipping
unit. To further put the stamp of villain on the character, he quiets the
children by shooting one of them (off screen). While this wouldn’t pass in
the US, this is just another piece of the puzzle in Asian filmmaking,
illustrating the character’s motives in a direct manner. Mizoguchi is a
textbook yakuza (Japanese mafia) and nothing short of despicable.
Before business can be concluded, the members of both parties are picked
off in quick fashion, with only glimpses of a black trench coat to give the
viewer hints of identity. Some of the first of many stunning visuals are
found here, as the figure in black is surrounded on the deck of the ship.
Held by the group at gunpoint, the mystery man drops his weapons. After we
are given our first look at the captive, a cell phone jets from his sleeve,
he gives a slight grin, and detonates a large explosive on the ship’s hull.
While the yakuza are distracted, he picks up his gun, and takes out the
entire group while spinning mid-air. The trench coat adds great visual
effects to this scene. These events are a great build up for our hero,
Miyomoto.
After snatching the yakuza cash and freeing the “cargo,” Miyomoto again
heads topside only to be met by Mizoguchi and two yakuza. There is a brief
moment of knowing as Miyomoto seems to know Mizoguchi. The man in black
takes out the two yakuza in quick and tidy fashion, leaving him with
Mizoguchi at gunpoint. Startled by a noise behind him, Miyomoto fires, but
discovers a young girl. This teen is none other than our girl from the
future, Milly. Milly is unharmed by the shot (through sheer luck) and has
one thing in mind: Miyomoto must help her save the future.
“Returner” is purposefully Western in its material. Many critics and fans
of Japanese cinema view this film as a breakthrough to a new style of
filmmaking for Japan. To quote one critic “Japan is trapped in a
never-ending cycle of boring, maudlin crap, underground flicks that nobody
sees, and animation.” (Andrew Cunningham,
www.midnighteye.com ) One glimpse
at the Toho site or Apple’s Japanese Quicktime trailer site can verify that
not only did more than half of what is shown in theaters not originate in
Japan, but much of the rest is animated. It’s no wonder that films like
“Returner” and the current JP horror films are so popular.
While “Returner” is not a cinematic masterpiece, it is a lot of fun.
Don’t get caught expecting the greatest action film ever made, because you
could nitpick small plot points or the Hollywood-style ending for days.
“Returner” is what it is. There are elements of movies such as “Terminator,”
“Independence Day,” “E.T’,” “The Matrix,” and even the anime “Transformers”
found in this film. Some of the fighting style even borrows heavily from
Chinese greats like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” When you mix that in
with yakuza, good special effects, and set in Japan, how could it not be
fun?
- FACT #1 – Anne Suzuki (Milly) has been acting for most of her
young life. Ms. Suzuki has appeared in no less than 10 Japanese “doramas”
(dramas) and many other specials and commercials. Her latest project is
the big screen adaptation of one of Japan’s most popular manga/anime/video
game properties: “Initial D.”
- FACT #2 – Takeshi Kaneshiro (Miyamoto) is not Japanese, but
actually from Taiwan. Gum Shing-Moo (given name) actually spent most of
the 90’s as a Cantonese and Mandarin pop music star. He is fluent in all
of the main Asian languages as well as English. His most recent film is
the Cannes film festival hit “House of the Flying Daggers” in which he
stars.
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