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The story was decent - it's very much your typical spy/action film. The writing didn't really give me anything new or interesting which made many of the events throughout the film pretty predictable. There also didn't seem to be much focus on characters or character development itself, so I didn't really connect or empathise with many of the characters, including the protagonist. I also wouldn't really consider this film a thriller, but it definitely is action-packed. Speaking of action, however, the fight scenes didn't have much of an impact on me. They looked TOO choreographed and calculated, so it lost some of its realism and oomph.
The acting overall was okay. I think Kamenashi Kazuya did a good job but it wasn't really a stand out performance for him (or the film). For the the amount of time Iseya Yusuke was in this film (which I swear was only about 10% of it), I thought he did a very good job. His portrayal definitely gave me more of an interest in his character more so than anyone else's. Fukada Kyoko was okay. I wasn't very interested in her or her character which is pretty sad considering that it seemed like the writer wanted her character to be the more mysterious and alluring one in the film, but I don't think they fully achieved that. Everyone else in the film did a decent job as well, especially considering that there wasn't really much to go off of as far as characterisation (obviously not including the more stereotypical/archetypal roles that were present).
As far as the other technicalities go... the cinematography was very good, the music was pretty typical (that of a spy film), and the direction probably could've been a bit better as well.
I know my review sounds pretty negative but it was still a relatively enjoyable film for me. It's biggest issue was lack of impact. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't very outstanding in any way.
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Kamenashi got to show off some of his mad athletic skills and speak some English (something I've never really heard him speak before other than a few words, never whole sentences), and he got to spend a little bit of time making out with Kyoko Fukada. I wonder which was made first, "Joker Game" or "Second Love?" I hope it was fun for them to work on two different projects together.
The costume designer for Kamenashi was brilliant. I can now die a happy woman after seeing him in 1940s suits and fedoras. Such a handsome man anyway, made even more so in classic Hollywood clothing.
The overall story is extremely simple. A black notebook with schematics for a bomb has gone missing and Kamenashi, as a spy for Japan, has been tasked to find it and beat out everybody else, including the Americans and the British. It's not a difficult plot to follow which isn't always the case with spy stories. I've never read the comic that this is based on so I have no idea how accurate it is, but I do know that the larger-than-life escapades and action scenes were definitely filmed anime style, which was fine. Not to the point of distraction, but the anime-inspired style is definitely there.
"Joker Game" is just a fun romp. It doesn't take itself too seriously, like, at all, and is super pretty to watch. Having been a long-standing fan of "Mission Impossible" and some "James Bond," this one was right up my alley. I just wish they'd made more. It would have been the perfect venue for Kamenashi to do a film trilogy!
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Literally Sat On the Edge of My Chair
I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed Joker Game. I was glued to my seat. I tried to get up and wound up sitting on the edge of my seat, riveted. D Company, an organization under the purview of the Japanese Military but acts separately for the most part, is assigned a mission to recover secret documents, the Black Note, from what appears to be Hong Kong (the name is never mentioned). The movie follows a spy called Kato (played by Kazuya Kamenashi) as he attempts to acquire the Black Note and send it to Japan. It's one of several attempts by Japanese writers to put another spin on WWII. Unlike in most of the other stories, they are not against the German or Germanesque villains, this time they are up against the Brits, who are quite villainous. If a fanciful retelling or a different view point of history bothers you, then don't watch it. They're spies from the 1930s/40s attempting to avoid WWII would be idiotic.I've always been of the mind that the Japanese were master storytellers, but aside from a few outstanding exceptions (like Kurosawa and Miike), poor movie makers. If they ever got it into their minds to actually allot the amount of money into production costs that's needed, their movies would be more popular. Their movies almost always look sepia toned or dull, which is ridiculous when you think of the technology in Japan. That being said it looks like they put more money toward JG. Although the coloring was a bit drab and dull it fit the surrounding and story. The director's use of shadow in many scenes really stood out and made some scenes beautiful. One in particular tricks you into thinking you're watching black & white. When I think back on it, I keep seeing Kamenashi in b & w which he wasn't. I have never read the novel nor watched the anime (just added it to my list) on which the movie is based, but I'm ok with that. I liked it regardless.
The cast led by Kazuya Kamenashi were entertaining. It was odd seeing Yusuke Iseya in such a small role. Colonel Yuki is a pivotal character and Iseya was very good. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Yuki and Kaminaga (his secretary??) played by Yukiyoshi Ozawa. They seemed to have a budding bromance. Kamenashi, Keisuke Koide, Hiroshi Yamamoto, and 1 other, did fine jobs as the spies on the mission. I wish we had seen more of them as a team. Kamenashi was well suited for the soft hearted Kato. Unfortunately, we barely get to know the other spies. Mores the pity. They were fun to watch in the few scenes they were in.
The music was really good (not counting the ED which was out of place). It was a big component in making scenes exciting. They missed their mark with the ED by using a KAT-TUN song instead of jazz or something that promoted feelings of the time.
I love mysteries. I love thrillers. This was both. However, I doubt I would re-watch it unless they did a part 2 (it needs a part 2). Don't get me wrong. It's a good movie, but it's not spectacular. It's not flawless. I think if I rewatched it, I'd only pick it apart and not enjoy it the way I just did. I rarely rewatch anything so I never consider this value in my factoring my overall score.
Again, Joker Game was enjoyable. It was almost 2 hours, but you wouldn't know it. The time flies by. Rarely do movies fully tell the source material the way a reader wants. I've learned to separate the 2 and judge a movie adaptation on it's own merits. What matters to me is if it's a good movie, and in my opinion Joker Game is a good movie. If you're looking for an in depth character study and/or character development that you can sink your teeth into, then click on by, this is not your movie. However, if you're looking for a bit of "actiony" fun with spies and big boys with guns, then click play.
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The story of this movie is already different compared to the anime. In the anime, you'll see high tension of spy and espionage job, which is misses in this movie, A LOT. Besides, this movie itself doesn't have a proper story IMHO, the shooting scene jump from one to another, from pre-world war II in Japan, to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and then Indonesia.
The cast is pretty good.
My recommendation to watch this movie : 4/10
Conclusion : The cast is good, but the story ruined the cast. If you like espionage movie like Bourne, believe me, there are a lot of better movies than Joker Game
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