Saturday, November 24, 2007

HERO











I just watched the Japanese Movie "Hero" starring Takuya Kimura and it is always a joy watching Takuya's acting! I used to wonder why he is so popular and why all the girls are crazy over him. But i was hooked once i watched his TV series "Long Vacation" in 1996. I was attracted to his great acting and of course his cute look hehe and have been watching all his TV series. I especially love his TV series "Love Generation" which he starred with Takako Matsu. I feel that they really make a very good pairing in the show.



The movie "HERO" is as good as the TV series and what i really like about the TV series and movie is that Takuya's character, who is a persistent prosecutor, will go to all means to gather evidence to prove his case. There is always a moral story behind each story and it's inspiring to see the passion the characters in the movie have for their job even though it is not glamorous. It really makes me wish that i could also share his passion for his work :> Takuya and Takako Matsu also show great chemistry in the show and some of the scenes were very comical.




For those not familiar with "HERO", this movie is adapted from the most watched TV series (2001) and Special (2006) of the same name in Japanese television. Channel U has recently shown the Hero Special last Saturday and the movie is a sequel of the special. After six years of professional exile to local District Attorney Offices in Okinawa, Sapporo and Yamaguchi, Kuryu Kohei (Takuya Kimura) returns to Tokyo Prosecutors Office Josai Branch. Kuryu is immediately asked to prosecute a seemingly open-and-shut case of manslaughter. However, the defendant changes his plea to not guilty in the midst of trial. All these are spin from a more serious political bribery conspiracy. To pursuit the truth, Kuryu and his loyal assistant, Amemiya (Takako Matsu), went to Busan, South Korea. In the midst of finding evidences, they receive great help from an elite Korean Chief Public Prosecutor, played by Lee Byung Hun. Kuryu's youthful passion and dedication to his trade makes him an interesting contrast to his colleagues who have become only too accustomed to the stuffy and hierarchical realm of public prosecutors in Japan. Once past the initial dismay of Kuryu's unconventional ways, his colleagues gradually find themselves infected by his dedication and sense of mission.



While pursuing the truth, the romance sparks between the couple rekindles after the years. First airing in 2001, "HERO" became the most watched mini-series in Japanese television averaging viewer ratings of 34.3 percent. After a 5 year hiatus, Fuji Television Network brought "HERO" back in 2006 with a triumphant two-hour special that once again captured a 30-plus percent television audience share and paved the way for a much-anticipated big screen transition.





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