Film 013 - Hakaider

(1995, colour, 80 mins)

Director - Keita Amemiya

Starring - Yuji Kishimoto, Mai Hosho, Yasukai Honda

Let's face it: for western viewers, a lot of Asian cinema doesn't make a lot of sense. That's why it's refreshing to see that, despite the setting and plot being a bit mental, Hakaider does actually make sense for the most part.

The film is set in the futuristic Jesus Town (formerly Jerusalem), and sees a society ruled between a controlling government and an all-powerful leader called Girjev (Honda). A few rebels form a group to try to put a stop to them, but for the most part they struggle to make an impact. That's until Hakaider turns up, of course.

Hakaider (Kishimoto) doesn't really have a proper backstory in the film: he was an android (think a Japanese version of The Terminator) who was kept away from society and somehow ends up back in it. He saves the rebels from certain death by blowing the hell out of a group of government soldiers so the rebels, led by Kaoru (Hosho), befriend him. He ends up going a bit mental and turns on the rebels too, but eventually he falls for Kaoru and decides to help her put an end to the government by destroying Girjev and his robot helper.

What this all results in is some cheesy acting, daft action (which is sometimes surprisingly gory), and a pretty awesome final battle between Hakaider and Girjev's robot buddy.

In all, Hakaider's a fun little film. Nothing too serious, but still a good laugh. Worth a watch if you can find it.

3 out of 5