[Criticism] Joker Game: an apprentice spy enters the scene!

After Mugen no Juunin, we stay in the action and fights with another feature film a little more modern though. History takes us into the world of espionage and especially political conspiracies governed by the disputes of the great world powers. This is the Live Action Joker Game which some must know the anime!

Joker Game

Original title: ジョーカー・ゲーム – Joka Gemu

Alternative title: Joker Game

Genre: action – espionage

Country: Japan

Release date: January 31, 2015

Director: Yu Irie (SR Saitama no Rappa Maiku no Hosomichi)

Scriptwriter: Yusuke Watanabe (Shingeki no Kyojin: Attack on Titan)

Original manga: Koji Yanagi

Synopsis

In Japan, Lieutenant Colonel Yuki created a secret intelligence and espionage agency: Agency D. Meanwhile, Kato a soldier is sentenced to be shot for refusing to follow orders. But luckily, Kato is spotted by Yuki and escapes his fate. He is then trained and trained before being entrusted with his first mission as a spy. Kato must retrieve confidential documents held by the American ambassador, Graham: the Black Note. He infiltrates there and thus begins a battle to take possession of the Black Note. However, Rin a freelance spy also enters the race as do the British, Soviet and the radical army of Japan opposed to Yuki.

Main cast

Conspiracies

(risk of spoiler)

The plot plunges us directly into the film with first of all the character of Kato Jiro a soldier much more human than he should be, this one wanting to help one of his regimental comrades. Only, his desire to do the right thing will be his main mistake, even going so far as to cost him the penalty of capital punishment. Our soldier has no choice but to accept without flinching his sad fate and resigns himself by assuming his choice. While hope is slim, Lieutenant-Colonel Yuki who happens to be a man of high rank offers him a chance to live if he joins him. Kato, who has no wish to die from such a futile injustice, finds himself having to work in the service of Yuki becoming a spy in the pay of the Japanese government.

Having become one of the members of the D agency, the former soldier is trained and also discovers his new comrades who are mostly in fact simple civilians recruited like him by the lieutenant. Men are not really friendly with the newcomer going so far as to test him in order to understand why he was chosen. It is therefore in this atmosphere that resembles the anime that we are immersed. Moreover, you will see a lot of scenes similar to the anime during the film since both are inspired by the same medium. However, it is not essential to have seen it to appreciate this one because it remains above all a classic action movie!

The Joker Card

If the story that interests us here is indeed focused on the character played by Kazuya Kamenashi (Jiro Kato) it is certainly because of this new side in the middle. Indeed, it is easier to follow him in his reconversion after having sympathized with him and as much to say that we laugh several times, especially during the chase where Jiro takes himself for Arturo Brachetti. Moreover, the actor is doing well, as usual his charisma and naivety (facing Rin) stick to his skin. The Black Note quickly finds itself moving from one country to another since Kyoko Fukada (Rin) will seduce Kato and never cease to annoy him. But it has the merit of amusing us even if it can be annoying to see him act like a blue sometimes.

Hiroshi Yamamoto (Odagiri) and Kiyohiko Shibukawa (Jitsui) serve as support for Jiro but they are quite self-effacing.The cast could also count on other international stars like Richard Shelton (Marks) who in his role of English spy was perfect despite a final (he does not die burned, nor after the fall from the top of the tower) to say the least far-fetched. However, we enjoyed the characters who far from being perfect give us a beautiful show and correct performances.

Anime & Live: two complementary media

This film is enjoyable as a whole despite some gaps or inconsistencies due to a scenario of this type. However, it fulfilled a good part of the contract and most of our expectations to know to entertain us, offer us action and well-filmed scenes. However, we regret that sometimes, the night scenes were too dark making the identification of the characters not always obvious (Rin cutting the power when Kato escapes from Marks). The choice of actor Kazuya Kamenashi as hero was a good idea since it is the genre that suits him best in our opinion.

As for the scenes similar to the anime, they are quite well distributed, we find: the card game, a Jiro turned photographer and the famous chess game (as well, the wardrobe). Sakuma in the anime is a soldier who joins the D agency just like Jiro Kato and finally, what happens in the British base with the telegram, the false plan and the sleeping spy. So many elements that could not be dissociated from the story. We just regret that it is only centered on a few characters while the anime showed many protagonists! We also salute the credits signed by the group KAT-TUN that we love.

Spy movies are always exciting when it comes to setting mood and action. Joker Game has entertained us while offering us a new version compared to the original.

https://youtu.be/mRX7QLcMeYs