From left: Actors Teruyuki Kagawa, Etsushi Toyokawa, Toshiaki Karasawa, Takako Tokiwa and Hidehiko Ishizuka attend a screening of “20th Century Boys.”
PHOTO BY TARO FUJIMOTO

'20th Century Boys' to be screened in 20 countries

Monday 01st September, 05:32 AM JST

By Taro Fujimoto

TOKYO —

One Japanese movie that will get a wide overseas release is “20th Century Boys.” The science-fiction film, which opened in Japan on Saturday, is the first of a trilogy and will be released in 20 countries and regions. The film is based on a popular award-winning comic series in which a group of childhood friends try to fight against the so-called “Friend”—an evil entity who uses childhood ideas of the group to commit acts of terrorism to gain power.

Several members of the cast attended an opening-day screening in Tokyo on Saturday. Actor Toshiaki Karasawa, 45, said, “I’m so happy to hear that the film will be released in 20 countries. At the premiere in Paris, people were very excited about the film.” Actress Takako Tokiwa, 36, said, “Since the original comic is very popular, everybody asks me about the identity of ‘Friend.’ Well, you will have to watch the next two episodes to find out.”

13 Comments

teaabe at 09:08 AM JST - 1st September

and who'd care in the us? nobody.
thepro at 09:19 AM JST - 1st September

looks pretty bad. terrible special effects.
thepro at 09:20 AM JST - 1st September

also, I wish they would use professional actors in these movies, and not fill half the cast with 'tarento'
kenchan at 09:20 AM JST - 1st September

people who like watching films that are well made, irrespective of origin.

...but you are right..nobudy in the US would care....
Dogdog at 09:39 AM JST - 1st September

The film is based on a popular award-winning comic series in which a group of childhood friends try to fight against the so-called “Friend”—an evil entity who uses childhood ideas of the group to commit acts of terrorism to gain power.

Sounds like the usual intellectualy substandard movie that has come out of this country for the last 20 years.
OssanULTRA at 10:27 AM JST - 1st September

This movie, a live action version of some manga or anime is, probably intellectually crap. But when Hollywood remakes one as The Matrix suddenly it's a great movie. Of course the mega budget and special effects make a big difference.
Dogdog at 11:57 AM JST - 1st September

This movie, a live action version of some manga or anime is, probably intellectually crap. But when Hollywood remakes one as The Matrix suddenly it's a great movie. Of course the mega budget and special effects make a big difference.

Nooooooo, the big difference is that The Matrix was quite a clever movie incorporating such things as parallel universes, human free will and POV (points of view) on what choice would you make, if you were Neo, and how most people feel happy in their comfort zone of ignorance and acceptence.

Admitted Matrix 2 and Matrix 3 were rubbish but they were the prize for making the original. Original, now that's a strange word in Japanese cinema these days....
OssanULTRA at 12:26 AM JST - 2nd September

"Original, now that's a strange word in Japanese cinema these days...."

I guess that explains why Hollywood keeps remaking Japanese horror flicks.
Dogdog at 10:13 AM JST - 2nd September

"Original, now that's a strange word in Japanese cinema these days...."

I guess that explains why Hollywood keeps remaking Japanese horror flicks.

Yeah, I remember the Japanese originals of 'There Will Be Blood', 'No Country For Old Men', 'The Good Shepherd', 'Hard Times' and 'Lambs For Lions', just to name a few of the Hollywood movies I've seen this year, don't you?

Hollywood has the best and the worst of world cinematography, Japanese cinematography has been reduced to 2 basic plots of either an unattainable competition/task being won thru gamberu or a powerful evil force being overcome by.....gamberu.
TokyoXtreme at 08:30 PM JST - 2nd September

20th Century Boys is easily one of the best manga I've ever read. I got hooked early on and read all 22 volumes in less than a month. The story is a somewhat suspenseful mystery/thriller that basically kicks the ass of any of that junk scrap that Marvel makes into movies these days. Not to say that the 20CB film will be better than something like Iron Man, but the comic was fantastic and gripping.
KitsuneYoukai at 01:27 AM JST - 3rd September

The Japanese are great at animation but terrible in TV shows and the Movie department.
cwhite at 02:39 PM JST - 6th September

well it's got to be better than any comic book flick that comes out of Hollywood (admittedly Batman Begins was good)
OssanULTRA at 11:23 AM JST - 7th September

"Yeah, I remember the Japanese originals of 'There Will Be Blood', 'No Country For Old Men', 'The Good Shepherd', 'Hard Times' and 'Lambs For Lions', just to name a few of the Hollywood movies I've seen this year, don't you?"

None of those films are Horror Movies much less remakes of J-Horror. Movies such as Pulse, the Grudge, Dark Water, the Ring are examples of Hollywood remakes.