Japanese Cinema's new-found zeal for nationalistic war movies continues with
Aegis. Adapted from the novel by
Harutoshi Fukui, (whose work also inspired two other recent military thrillers,
Lorelei and
Sengoku Jieitai),
Aegis plays very much to an international audience with its story of international terrorism and seemingly invincible
heroics.
The Isokaze, an Aegis-class escort vessel, sets sail on a routine training exercise, playing host to a platoon from the
Fleet Training Group. No sooner is the Isokaze on open water, however, then the FTG reveal themselves to be terrorist stowaways
who kill the ship's captain, send the rest of the crew overboard and take control of the vessel. The ship is carrying a secret
biological weapon which the terrorists are now threatening to use to level Tokyo! Only a stowaway NCO, Sengoku (played by
Sanada Hiroyuki from Ring and Twilight Samurai) is in a position to stop them - but does he really have what
it takes to save the day? Playing like a cross between a sea-faring version of Top Gun and Die Hard, director
Sakamoto Junji shows that it's not just Hollywood that can produce thrill-a-minute action spectaculars.
DVD FEATURES:
- Language(s): Japanese
- Subtitle(s): English, Japanese,
Chinese (T/S)
- Special Feature(s): Trailers; TV Spots; Analysis of Aegis; Human relationship
