Kaiji

Watched this movie in the plane ride home... acted by Tatsuya Fujiwara (Death Note)... spoilers may be below... *warning*!



And must say, it left me thinking still. I actually like the story.. parts of it, not all! It made me think of humanity and our ability to survive. Especially the 'brave men's road'... where there was a dialogue about how we are never more alive than when we face all kinds of hardship and overcome them..

Anyway, for the main story, Ito Kaiji is is portrayed here as a loser in life, surviving each day on a petty job, petty gambling and going no where in life. He is then given an opportunity to repay a debt (that he never knew he incurred due to being someone's guarantor) and a chance to win it all in one swoop aboard a ship 'Espoir'. He takes the chance rather than having to work for 10 years to repay it all. But it is all a con job and he ends up losing badly. Talk about loser.

The interesting part is how the people luring all these losers into a 'lose-lose' situation, where they are stuck for life. These people are rich con-men, loansharks, and it seems they are building an empire. It seems like an interesting sub-plot but we never get beyond that. Maybe it's only a movie so we don't see the whole picture. Anyway, the story is about Kaiji.

It is quite an adventure to journey with him through his ordeals, which seem so much larger than life. It does make you think, about abstracts such as what is freedom? and that the very fact that one is alive, is already a gift itself. Despite being a loser in life, doesn't one even need at least some dignity to choose how he would like to live his life?

The movie also gives a bitter taste in portraying the rich elites who take joy in watching the poor people struggle for their lives or just get conned out of their freedom into slavery. It takes an even more dramatic turn when it is not just petty struggle, but a struggle for life and death. That is so powerful. AND i just can't help it but notice the possible spiritual lesson fromt this too. If you know what I mean... for example, I can see it such that Jesus has bought us freedom, but thinking that we do not deserve it, we buy into the lies of the world or maybe the devil (aka, Endo) and end up slaving our live for money, or for the hope of getting somewhere in life... ! or for "freedom"... when originally, we already have it. (ok it's not a really good analogy, maybe you gotta watch the show to understand).

Anyway, the end is just silly... after all the struggle, they could have made a more emotional impact, but everything just reverts to where it begun... maybe it was like that in the manga? but well, it's just like that show...what was it again? (i had to check this out on google again) -- yes, burn after reading. Totally just BURN after reading... no point. haaarrrhar

So well, what's more.... the super super WORST Point at the end is that I just found out that Kenichi Matsuyama was also in the show. HE WAS? I didn't even notice....!!! Did his moustache make him look different? MAN! ARGH! What a silly small role he played! Seesh!

Nevertheless... I liked the story... if only they didn't make it so laughable at the end. GEESH! Dang!

READ another review (more proper review): here