A Grittier, More Brutal James Bond

Read Time:3 Minute, 28 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Golgo 13 (Gorugo 13)
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Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Year Released: 1973, 2023 Eureka Video Blu-ray
Runtime: 2h 32m
Director(s): Jun'ya Satô
Writer(s): Takao Saitô (screenplay,) K. Motomitsu (screenplay,) Takao Saitô (manga)
Cast: Ken Takakura, Mohsen Sohrabi, Jaleh Sam, Pouri Baneai, Tahere Ghaffari
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Where To Watch: available July 17, 2023, pre-order here www.eurekavideo.co.uk

RAVING REVIEW: Prepare to be whisked away into the captivating realm of GOLGO 13! From the land of the rising sun comes an edge-of-your-seat saga that breathes life into the legendary manga icon. In a twist that overturns widely held assumptions, Ken Takakura, the colossus of Japanese cinema, assumes the mantle of this larger-than-life character, predating even the well-known portrayal by Sonny Chiba.

Meet Duke Togo, better known as Golgo 13, a mercenary with an icy demeanor, who navigates the murky underworld, always ready to exterminate the undesirables. Orchestrated by director Jun'ya Satô, the narrative plunges Golgo 13 into the labyrinth of danger as he hunts down Max Boa (Ahmad Ghadakchian,) a notorious scoundrel with a rap sheet that reads like a crime anthology, including narcotics peddling, illicit arms trading, and human trafficking. The dust-laden streets of Tehran, Iran, serve as the atmospheric canvas for this tale, a nod to a contemporary oil accord inked between Japan and Iran.

This film earned a well-deserved spot in the Edinburgh International Film Festival, teleporting audiences to an Iran untouched by its subsequent revolution. Even though the plot feels familiar, it effortlessly keeps viewers on their toes as Golgo 13 painstakingly dismantles King Goa's infamous gang, a group notorious for abducting women off Tehran's streets.

Created in Japan's unrestrained early 70s, the film takes an unexpected turn towards modesty, potentially paying respect to the societal norms of Iran at the time. Despite a slow-burning start and a relatively subdued introduction, the narrative gains momentum with pulse-pounding action sequences and a compelling portrayal of Iran. The true scene-stealer is Ken Takakura, whose embodiment of Golgo 13 keeps viewers engaged.

With a more sinister and raw tone than James Bond, GOLGO 13 elevates the scale of brutality. Ken Takakura's depiction adds an intriguing facet to Golgo 13's multifaceted persona, further bolstering his image as Japan's authentic tough guy. The film also serves as a time capsule, vividly showing a more liberal Iran before its revolutionary shift, a society starkly contrasting with contemporary norms.

GOLGO 13 has undergone various transformations across TV shows, video games, and films. GOLGO 13: ASSIGNMENT KOWLOON (1977), with Sonny Chiba, was entertaining but lacked the gripping punch. The original GOLGO 13, however, holds viewers with its breathtaking cinematography, mainly showcasing the rugged urban terrains of Tehran and the barren deserts of Iran.

Even though GOLGO 13 failed to make waves at the box office, it holds a unique place in cinematic history. Despite budgetary constraints and overseas filming challenges, the initial adaptation boasts a special appeal, underscored by Takakura's compelling portrayal, which leaves even Sonny Chiba's subsequent portrayal in the dust.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Limited Edition slipcase featuring new artwork by Tony Stella [2000 copies]
1080p presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K restoration of the original film elements
Optional English subtitles
Brand new audio commentary by Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
Lucky 13: Junya Sato’s biographers on Golgo 13 – brand-new interview with film writer Tatsuya Masuto and film critic Masaaki Nomura
Trailer
A limited edition collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film by Tom Mes [2000 copies]
**All Extras subject to change

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[photo courtesy of EUREKA VIDEO]