Negotiator

Negotiator Mashita Masayoshi

Japanese Title: Koshonin Mashita Masayoshi
Release Year in Japan: 2005
Release Year in the U.S.: n/a

Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro
Cast: Yusuke Santamaria (Masayoshi Mashita), Susumu Terajima (Joichiro Kijima), Hayato Kunimura (Fumihiko Kataoka)

"Odoru series" (from the original Japanese title "Odoru Dai-osasen") is the biggest hit theatrical movie series in Japan in terms of revenue, whose second sequel in 2003 recorded the highest box office gross in Japanese movie history so far. "Negotiator" is the first spin-off story, featuring one of the supporting characters of the main series, Masayoshi Mashita.

Mashita is in charge of negotiating with the suspect, and this time, the criminal is targeting at himself. Mysterious suspect hacked into the system of Tokyo subway, hijacks the experimental new train with the computer remote control, and threatens Mashita with serial bomb explosions.

I watched it without seeing the previous series, but I fully enjoyed the movie, which is full of humor, action, suspense and a bit of satire here and there. Yusuke Santamaria is better known for his comical personality in TV dramas and variety shows, and it was his first main role in a movie, but he did a great job looking real cool in this movie. Fast tempo, sharp jokes, huge robot-like experimental train, the mysterious hacker/criminal, black crows, and some sentiments to Tokyo - many factors in the movie reminded me of the famouse anime-movie "Patlabor". If you enjoy "Patlabor", you will enjoy this one too.

As of the writing date, the movie grossed more than 4 billion yen and is the top hit in the first half of 2005.
(July, 2005)