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Returner Actors: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Anne Suzuki, Goro Kishitani Director: Takashi Yamazaki Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Format: Color, Widescreen, Digital Video Transfer, Surround Sound, Subtitled, Digital Sound Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Running Time: 116 minutes Studio: Columbia Tristar Hom Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2004-09-07 Buy from Amazon |
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From Amazon.com There's not a single original idea in Returner, but that doesn't stop this Japanese sci-fi action thriller from being a whole lotta fun. Combining elements of (what else?) The Matrix, E.T., The Terminator, and Independence Day, plus a dash of Back to the Future (among others), the mayhem begins when scruffy survivor Milly (Anne Suzuki) uses a time portal to leap from 2084--when humans are being systematically wiped out by invading aliens--to 2002, where she hooks up with a gunslinging maverick (Takeshi Kaneshiro) whose swirling overcoat and hair-trigger attitude make him the live-action equivalent of the quintessential anime hero. Together, they thwart a Yakuza psychopath (played with hilariously laconic nihilism by Goro Kishitani) who's attempting to steal a recovered alien spaceship to exploit its highly advanced weaponry. In its race to avoid an end-of-the-world scenario, Returner throws in just about everything from the sci-fi anime repertoire, and director Takashi Yamazaki blithely and blatantly shifts from juvenile sentiment to violent brutality, resulting in a clash of tones that makes Returner wildly entertaining but decidedly not for children. Utterly derivative but worthwhile for sci-fi and anime fans, it's a noteworthy case of clever recycling, with energy and ammunition to spare. --Jeff Shannon |
 "Combo of Red Bull Speed"I know that I will defentaly have to see this film again. Japanese movies are getting that sleek futuristic look and Returner is chock full of it. Although I have to admit, there seem to be a lot of "homages" ranging from Matrix, Men in Black to Fifth Element, X-Files and so on. Still, it's an action packed with cool style to boot. The main hero and butt whooping babe work well together. From martial arts, lasers, guns, explosions, action scenes are rapid that you're left blinking in awe. I defentaly think towards the final 30 minuites, it does seem to go on a tangment and a friend and I were trying to piece together what we could keep up. The CG is used well in enhancing the style of the film, especially the futuristic technology stuff.  "Japanese Sci-fi action film."O.k. so the first thing that you'll probably notice with this film is that it ripps of so many hollywood films but I'm not going to mention it again since alot of other reviews have said that, so what does this film has to offer? well nothing that we haven't allready seen before, but what I did like was some of the special effects were pretty good as well as the stunts but I thought that the second half was increadebly dull but then again you might enjoy this if you like action scifi films that don't have any thought behind it, I thought that the story was kind of lame and I suggest you watch Versus or Pyrokenisus if you want a more better and entertaing japanese action film than this.  "Fun-And a somewhat happy ending for an asian film"I originally bought this because the preview looked really cool and I thought Takeshi Kaneshiro was very good looking. I really thought it would be kind of mediocre at best, but it was a fun film. The premise is simple. A girl goes into the past to stop the war that she and her people are loosing. She runs into Kaneshiro. She forces him to help her. The action is nonstop. I thought that the characters were likable and the ending was happy. This film is geared to science fiction lovers. It has the typical Matrix like action that most films are sporting these days. If you like action and sci fi this is for you. Girls, if you like cute Asian guys, they don't come any cuter that Takashi Kaneshiro. "Returner - smart action at its best"It only took me 4 months to finally sit down and watch this movie from when i first heard about it, and I am upset that I did not watch it sooner. yes this movie borrows heavily from the Terminator, Independence Day, Matrix, and a couple of other western movies, but it also makes them its own. Great acting and the script is top notch. The action is well done, and during a bit of a slow stretch during the middle of the movie it is compelling to watch the chemistry between the actors. Especially the Hero and the Villian. Highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys Japenese action movies. "light hearted over the top timetravel alien revenge gunfight!!!"this is a violent anime style feel good film!! It's got aliens, a kooky crazy old chinese woman, a psychopath villian who shoots people just for the hell of it and wears bad suits with shiny white sneakers or golf shoes, crazy anime style bullet time gunfights, a mismatched timetravling girl and street smart down on his luck gunslinger, and loads of people getting shot. It's got an anime style and is fun and humourish throughout as well as melodramatic, often in quick succesion of each other. For what it's aimed to be, it succeeds completely and has enough quirks in its plot to keep interest till the end. Recommended if you feel like something different and not too serious. |
