2017 Most Anticipated Japanese Movies: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Jojo no Kimyona Boken) – ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 [Takashi Miike]

A few days ago, there was some buzz about the live action adaptation of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 ダイヤモンドは砕けない 第一章). The new Takashi Miike film will allow Kento Yamazaki a first-hand experience of what it feels like to be directed by a foremost filmmaker – something that would lend more credibility to his position as one of Japan’s most exciting young actors. 

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As I said many times, Yamazaki is destined to travel this route precisely because he has the talent and the looks to handle roles usually reserved for the likes of Satoshi Tsumabuki and even Shun Oguri, though the matured, career climbing and romantic roles are still a few years from now. With less than 20 full-length features to his credit, Yamazaki’s climb to the Japanese acting scene is nothing but both guarded and surprising.

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The future is now and his name is Kento Yamazaki. In Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, he lends his name to the ‘bizarre’ anime and will jump a notch higher in terms of acting prestige. Why so? 

• Toho and Warner Bros. combined their resources to make this live action adaptation come into fruition;
• The supporting cast is made up of Japan’s acting elite. Just to have Ryunosuke Kamiki, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya and the rising Mackenyu playing roles to complement Yamazaki’s Josuke Higashikata is enough to make people excited;
• Takashi Miike, notwithstanding his string of ‘not so well received films’, remains one of Japan’s most sought-after filmmakers and to have him ‘mentor’ Yamazaki is like having Sion Sono guide Shota Sometani. Previously, Miike’s As The Gods’ Will had Sota Fukishi, Sometani and Kamiki. The film was painful to watch because the two acclaimed actors clobbered Fukushi so painfully well, I don’t know if Fukushi’s acting trauma is over yet. 

I think the short teaser trailer is an indication of what we can expect from the movie. There will be no blood and gore from Miike, but there are subtle indication to violence. However, you can see the spotlight rests solely on Yamazaki, which means there will be plenty to see of the actor, for obvious reasons. While I want to see the ‘dark’ side to Kento’s acting, I appreciate that he’s willing to expand his horizon by playing characters that defy ‘logic’ or simple classification. 

If you’re going to ask me, I personally prefer Hyouka over all his new roles, but then again, how can anyone (fans or haters) not anticipate this movie?

So what can we expect? 

The plot across these stories is supplied in multi-chapter arcs detailing precarious, melodramatic conflicts between parties defined both by unique supernatural powers, mainly by the versatile Stand phenomenon, and exclusive ambitions, attitudes or moral standards. These arcs vary in tone, alternating adventure, suspense, mystery, and horror; always through action, often with some embedded comedy. Typically, a race emerges among the heroes of a story to intercept a powerful central antagonist.

Many references to modern film, television, fashion, fine art, and (particularly) popular music are readily identifiable throughout JoJo in many settings and both the characterization and nomenclature of the cast. Examples of physical, mathematical and psychological theory, biology, technology, mythology, natural phenomena, historic events, and segments of other artistic work inform the design and functionality of JoJo ‘s multitude of unique Stands. The series occasionally makes fanciful developments upon contemporary scientific theory in the creation of the routes by which certain Stands and other powers exert their influence on nature. [ read more ]

Bizarre and ‘really good’, how can you not agree with that. 

Many times, previous live action adaptations fail for a number of reasons – most obvious of which is the production quality and the use of special effects. I don’t think I would worry a lot about effects here, since I am convinced the movie will rely heavily on the acting and how the ensemble cast can deliver superb performances. 

More discussion on Yamazaki, Ryunosuke Kamiki and the movie here.