Returner

Starring:Takeshi Kaneshiro, Anne Suzuki, Kirin Kiki, Goro Kishitani, Yukiko Okamoto, Mitsuru Murata, Kisuke Iida, Kazuya Shimizu, Chiharu Kawai, Dean Harrington, Xiaoqun Zhao, Masaya Takahashi, Hoshi Ishida, Ari Anders, Buruna, Byron Baron, Bernard Beardsley, Soltane M. Salah, Semenov Ivan, Sean Ryan
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

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

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly good - and I was expecting cheese!.......2007-06-13

I found this and a stack of other foreign DVDs at our local Big Lots for 1.99 each - most have been spectacular!

This one was no different - I really expected a cheesy flick with bad effects. this has a slow start and it's a little hard to follow - then they how scenes from the future and it's like you're sucked into another movie with a REAL budget! It was well acted and well made - I could have seen this being good anime, but they chose to use live action instead - and it actually works!

Lots of entertanment for the price.

Entertaining blend of science fiction action .......2007-03-21

All is a matter of taste. If you enjoy science fiction movies, you might like this one. It has a blend of Independence Day, The Professional, The Matrix and Terminator. It's not original but it is entertaining.

One of my favorite movies.......2007-03-09

This movie is fantastic! what could be better? Time travel, Love, Duty, saving the world from aliens, yakuza, a personal quest for vengance, and great action? Not much! the plot is very clever, well thought out, and well acted. I also love that the "heroes" of the story aren't "typical". I watch it all the time!

Not great but a fun movie.......2006-12-10

This movie certainly has it all I just could have used a little more action.

There is a girl who has been sent back through time so that she can save the world from aliens. We learn a lot about the aliens and what the real reason the world is so horrible in the future. We got aliens, wire fu fight, shoutouts, and all kinds fo crazy stuff. Kaneshiro is the main reason to watch this movie. I never thought of him as an action star but that is just because I haven't seen him in too many action movies. This movie really defines who he is, a great actor who can do just about any role. He is just one of the coolest guys you will ever see. Overall a good story and a good action movie.

Special features are sweet with an hour long making of and a commentary as a second audio track to the making of with the lead actress and director.

Better Than I Thought.......2006-11-07

Returner will no doubt remind you of some other films especially it's actions scenes which remind you a lot of the Matrix but somehow it is still a powerful movie. The thing about it is that the story may be lacking a bit or the plot but when all the elements are put together this film can't be stopped. Returner is about a young teen named Milly (Anne Suzuki) from the future that is in the middle of a war between aliens and humans. In the future they finally got time travel figured out so she is quickly sent back from 2084 to 2002 to stop the war from ever happening. She runs into a loner named Miyamoto who has a couple of secrets and a lot of skills that can come in handy. The movie from there is like a dream and by the end it seems like it never happened.

The stunts and special effects in the Returner is amazing, the fight choreography is sick and the gunplay will remind you of a video game or the anime Mezzo. I think that the only problem with Returner is that it is a little too long; it feels like 3 hours long when you're done watching it. After a while you might start to forget some of the keys to the story. On the acting side this movie was executed near perfect and the characters are interesting enough for fans to desire a sequel but that's unlikely. Returner is a good movie and almost perfect one but it could use some polishing, hopefully a sequel might come up soon.

Average customer rating:

Returner
Starring: Returner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000A2V8AO
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Average customer rating:

Surprisingly good - and I was expecting cheese!
Entertaining blend of science fiction action
One of my favorite movies
Not great but a fun movie
Better Than I Thought

Returner [Region 2]
Starring: Takeshi Kaneshiro , Anne Suzuki , Kirin Kiki , Goro Kishitani , and Yukiko Okamoto
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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