Zebraman (2004)

Director:

Takashi Miike

Writer:

Kankurô Kudô (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Being a failure as a teacher and a familyman, Shinichi tries to escape everyday live by dressing up as "Zebraman"...

Plot Keywords:

Title Appears In Writing | Title Spoken By Character

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Sho Aikawa	...	Shin'ichi Ichikawa / Zeburâman
Kyoka Suzuki	...	Kana, Asano's mother
Teruyoshi Uchimura	...	Ippongi
Yui Ichikawa	...	Midori, Shin'ichi's daughter
Koen Kondo	...	Segawa
Naoki Yasukôchi
Makiko Watanabe
Keisuke Mishima
Yu Tokui
Yoji Tanaka
Arata Furuta
Kumiko Aso
Akira Emoto	...	Kani-Otoko
Yoshihiko Hakamada
Ryo Iwamatsu	...	Kanda

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Mitsukaido City, Ibaraki, Japan

Company:

Bingo Y.K.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Ringu (1998)

The softer side of Miike

With ZEBRAMAN Takashi Miike proves he can do anything. This film is quite possibly the best feel good movie I have seen in 10 years, and this from a director best known for graphic violence, moral ambiguity and razor-booted kung fu kicking crybaby psychos. The movie has a simple and universal message: you can make a difference if you believe in yourself. It's sweet, poignant and Hilarious(The scene with the Sentai show Shinichi is watching on TV had me laughing so hard I almost choked on my cup of tea). The final scene with Shinichi transforming into a "real" hero is amazing and had me cheering more than any movie I watched as a kid. If that scene fails to stir you then I guess you're dead inside. Miike produces more solid gold cult classics in one year than Hollywood makes in five - he's the king in my eyes: long may his reign continue.