Zeburâman

I watched Zebraman at the IFFR in Rotterdam, and it was a coaster ride from beginning to end. I've seen a view movies by Miike Takashi, and they all had elements of gore and typical Japanese-over-the-top-violence. Not this one though!!! From the first second up it's totaly wicked. It has all the elements you've already seen in this sort of action-figure-based movies, but in the hands of Miike it turns into movie magic. In a nutshell: Goodbye Hollywood! Sadako rock's! America doesn't!

The story about a failed teacher/familyman, daydreaming about his alter-ego Zebraman who after construction of his ducktaped superhero outfit gets more then he could ever hoped for, will keep you on the edge for the entire length of the movie.

Those of you familiar with Miike's previous work do not need to dispare: It wouldn't be Miike if there wasn't any blood, body fluids or slurry involved, but I can't tell you anything without spoiling, so: GO SEE!

Takashi Miike never disappoints. His latest film to the Toronto Film Festival is ZEBRAMAN, a story about a father (Shinichi) who no longer has a family, or a life. His wife is having an affair, his daughter is a slut (no wonder, she's cute as hell), and his son is bullied at the school where he teaches. Even the other students think he is a geek. Shinichi spends all of his free time fantasizing about a show he watched as a kid called Zebraman, that was cancelled after only a few episodes due to low ratings. He even goes as far as to make his own Zebraman costume, and that's when the fun truly begins.

As the Earth is invaded by aliens (what did you expect) Shinichi is called into action as Zebraman and he transforms from mild mannered teacher to Earth's last hope. Think PowerRangers but with odd and hilarious dialogue ("Don't stand ... behind me."). But first he spends some much needed time in front of a mirror practicing his shouts ("Black and White Ecstacy!"), costume spliting poses, and signature attacks like the "Zebra Double Back Kick". I admit I was sold as soon as he beat the crap out of a guy wearing a giant crab mask on his head. I laughed the hardest at the introduction of ZebraNurse, though.

This is a different kind of film than what you'd expect from Miike. The characters are warm and lovable, and no one gets injured (with the exception of an easily re-grown arm, "Thanks ... ZebraNurse!"). Which shows the kind of range this cult director has. My only regret was that Takashi Miike wasn't present to witness a world class response to this outrageously funny film. (9/10)

After Shinichi Ichikawa (Show Aikawa), a nebbish schoolteacher with a cheating wife and resentful kids fashions a cheap-looking replica of the costume of 'Zebraman', his favorite childhood super-hero, he discovers the black-and-white outfit actual gives him superpowers, which become useful when he is forced to battle some gooey, green nose-goblin aliens who are taking over people's minds for nefarious purposes. The story makes little sense (note: I have not read the antecedent manga) but Aikawa's character is likable, the 'action sequences' are fun, there are some comical scenes (I particularly liked the victim of Zebraman's deadly back-kick) and the film has a goofy low-budget appeal (especially for viewers who pick up on the meta-humour and the tokusatsu in-jokes).

I just saw it in the comfort of my own living room, without subtitles - but I speak a fair bit of Japanese myself, and I had an excellent translator (my girlfriend) who saw it with me.

Now, I am - as many of you - a huge Takashi Miike fan. But this one is my least favourite so far (but what do I know - having only seen about 10 of his movies). But anyway, my point is this; it tried to be funny - and sometimes it was mildly amusing.. but this was really a kids-movie. A mix between Mars Attacks and Howard The Duck, I don't feel I have wasted my time watching it - but as I said in my headline, it was not as good as I had hoped it would be.

It wasn't qwerky enough to be "really weird and qwerky", it wasn't funny enough to be a great comedy, it wasn't violent enough to be a Miike trademark gore-fest, and definitely not original enough to be "something completely new"... so what we're left with is a bit of this - a bit of that.. not really going anywhere.

But as I said, If you like Miike - you'll probably end up watching it anyway - just like I did.

rating: x "stars" out of y "stars"

Well, you probably know by now whether you like Takashi Miike or not, so that's probably the first thing to consider. If you do, Zebraman is sure to please, being a very fun yet dark spoof of superhero films with high production values and the ever-wonderful Sho Aikawa.

There's nothing in Zebraman that would class as particularly shocking or offensive, if you've only seen ICHI THE KILLER or VISITOR Q before and that's your only objection to Miike, but the mix of dark, deadpan humour and absurd silliness probably aren't going to win any new converts. It's a very Japanese film in style and tone, and though still doubtless low budget by Hollywood standards, has impressive special effects and a good feeling of quality. Except when it doesn't want to :)

If you're an undecided, Zebraman may well be one of the best Miike films to sample to help make that decision :)