As you probably already know, I don't really watch too many Japanese dramas or movies anymore so when I first found out about the debonair actor Ryohei Suzuki（鈴木亮平）, it was actually through the distinct travelogue program on NHK, "Sekai wa Hoshiimono ni Afureteru"（世界はほしいモノにあるふれてる...This World is Filled With Wants） since he was the co-host.
It was also through the program that I found out that Suzuki has quite the prowess with the English language.
But then, thanks to a gift from JTM, I finally got to see Suzuki in his first element and it was as the Ryo Saeba（冴羽獠）in the Netflix adaptation of the beloved "City Hunter"（シティーハンター）. I'd heard about its development and initially I wasn't all that optimistic considering that another popular manga-turned-anime-turned-live-action adaptation, "Cowboy Be-Bop" didn't exactly impress viewers or critics.
I caught the April 2024 "City Hunter" movie (wished it was a TV series) yesterday and it was definitely fun to watch. I'd only seen a few episodes here and there of the original anime from the late 1980s and then the most recent movie in the anime franchise a few years ago at my anime buddy's house. So, I had the gist of the main characters of Ryo and his long-suffering partner-in-crimefighting, Kaori Makimura（槇村香）, with all of the mokkori, 2-tonne mallets and Ryo's seemingly superhuman abilities. Strangely enough, the plot in the movie includes some special solution that reminded me of Captain America's Super-Soldier serum.
The movie was indeed a hoot and Suzuki didn't just play Saeba; he was Saeba, perverted interests and all. I can pretty much guarantee inbound tourism to Shinjuku has increased since the show premiered. I can definitely use a sequel.
Of course, any iteration of "City Hunter" practically demands an iteration of TM Network's "Get Wild". The two are now solidly joined at the hip with "Get Wild" being the unofficial calling card for the anime and the live-action show. In fact, we've already had two other articles on "Kayo Kyoku Plus" on "Get Wild" with my take and Marcos' take.
I have to say that this latest version, "Get Wild Continual", which was released as TM Network's 47th single only a few days before the premiere of the Netflix show, was a thrill to hear during the shiny end credits...probably on the same level as hearing Alan Silvestri's "Avengers" theme when the Avengers show up. Having said that and watching the above video of the three much-older members walking slowly toward each other in the darkness of Shinjuku, there did seem a bit of melancholy within the still-dynamic arrangement as if the underlying message were "Can't be doing this again and again all that much longer", especially with the inclusion of the band's past videos from decades ago.
However, I am hopeful for another live-action "City Hunter" entry and another rendition of "Get Wild". Perhaps that can be called "Get Wild Eternal".
It's such a great song but honestly, when I think of music from the show, the first song I think of is "Ai yo Kienaide" by Kahoru Kohiruimaki.
ReplyDeleteAnother great addition to "City Hunter" as well. Hope that might get a shoutout in the next movie.
DeleteCity Hunter has had numerous different live versions through the decades. There was a Hong Kong version, a Korean version, a French version, a Chinese version, a 2015 9-episode Japanese live-action version, and now a new Netflix version.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the French version was pretty good, too. As I mentioned above, I hope that Suzuki and company are back in a sequel not too long from now.
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