Sinking of Japan

Starring: Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kou Shibasaki, Etsushi Toyokawa, Mao Daichi

Synopsis:

Toshio Onodera (Kusanagi) manages to survive a huge earthquake but is almost killed in an explosion trying to rescue a young girl. Luckily Emergency Rescue officer Reiko Abe (Shibasaki from Battle Royale) swoops from a helicopter to save them both. The earthquake was only a taste of things to come – American scientists have predicted the tectonic plates under Japan will drag the islands underwater within 40 years. However marine scientist Dr Tadokoro discovers the event will actually take place in less than a year. Prime Minister Yamamoto commissions a new Department to deal with the evacuation of Japan and to try and save the country. Dr Tadokoro comes up with a daredevil plan which might just work, but time is running out and the country is besieged by natural disasters.

Sinking of Japan, a remake of a classic 70s film, tries to have it’s cake and eat it too – on the one hand it wants to provide the heady destructive spectacle, while on the other it wants to deal with big issues and humanist drama. It just about succeeds on all counts.

Consider England, or USA, and the current issues of immigration. Imagine what might happen if a whole country had to evacuate. Millions of people looking for a new home, a new job. Would we welcome them in with open arms? Or would we turn our backs? It is one of the many big questions being asked in this film.

Politics play a big part of the story. Prime Minister Yamamoto is a humanist and wants to rescue his country. His deputy on the other hand just wants to make sure he is safe and comfortable, and once outside his country he neglects them, leaving Saori Takamori, head of the evacuation department, to pick up the pieces. The film also relies on traditional disaster movie clichés. Saori just happens to beo be the ex wife of Dr Tadakoro, while Toshio Onodera happens to work for Tadakoro as a submarine pilot.

For a disaster movie, Sinking of Japan doesn’t dwell too much on the destruction going on. It’s there, we know it’s happening, but unlike for example 2012, it doesn’t make a fetishist spectacle out of it. We’re not here to see stuff destroyed, we’re here to see if a country can be saved from the brink, intellectually, spiritually and practically. That’s not to say there isn’t anything to look at. The special fx stand toe-to-toe with any Roland Emerich spectacle, a mix of classic Godzilla-style model work and CGI devastation.

The cast are all perfect for this kind of movie. Tsuyoshi Kusanagi plays the sort of hero who must find his bearings before realising a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Kou Shibasaki, who many might remember as the evil bitch from Battle Royale, plays the Heart of the movie. She has a real hero’s introduction but is left to do most of the emoting for the rest of the running time. Etsushi Toyokawa effectively plays the Jeff Goldblum role from Independence Day, the tortured genius who no-one will listen to. There’s a great scene where he realises the American scientists made an error in their estimate and the despair he feels is very palpable. Mao Daichi plays the woman who has the responsibility of Japan thrust upon her, and rises to the occasion.

Although there are interesting aspects to the plot (the aforementioned reactions of other nations), it is quite functionary once Dr Tadakoro outlines his plan and the presence of a second submarine is made note of, you can join the dots as to how things are going to play out. Having said that, the ending delivers a satisfyingly emotional impact.

Verdict

If you are a fan of Disaster movies, this is a must-see. A good mix of human and political drama bolstered by some believable special fx.

7 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)