Big Man Japan

Big Man Japan

2007 ""
Big Man Japan
Big Man Japan

Big Man Japan

6.2 | 1h53m | en | Animation

Daisato, a second-rate, third-generation superhero, annoys his neighbors with the noise and destruction he causes on the job. But a heroic public image is the least of his concerns. Besides defending Japan from bizarre monsters, he must deal with an agent seeking to brand him with ads, a superhero grandfather with Alzheimer's and a family embarrassed by his incompetence.

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6.2 | 1h53m | en | Animation , Action , Comedy | More Info
Released: May. 19,2007 | Released Producted By: Yoshimoto Kogyo , Country: Japan Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

Daisato, a second-rate, third-generation superhero, annoys his neighbors with the noise and destruction he causes on the job. But a heroic public image is the least of his concerns. Besides defending Japan from bizarre monsters, he must deal with an agent seeking to brand him with ads, a superhero grandfather with Alzheimer's and a family embarrassed by his incompetence.

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Cast

Hitoshi Matsumoto , UA , Itsuji Itao

Director

Etsuko Aikô

Producted By

Yoshimoto Kogyo ,

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Reviews

Paul Magne Haakonsen Only in Japan......Would something as obscure and crazy like this see the light of day!"Big Man Japan" ("Dai-Nihonjin") is about a rather plain middle-aged man named Masaru Daisatô (played by Hitoshi Matsumoto) who is capable of turning into a giant in order to fight the monsters that threaten Japan. However, the giant, despite his efforts to help people, is disliked and openly ridiculed by the people he is supposed to be protecting and helping.The only thing more surreal than Masaru Daisatô's hair, were the monsters that he was fighting. I will say that the Japanese have a weird sense of imagination. These monsters were funny and actually well enough made. Some very bizarre creations here that you are guaranteed not to see anywhere else."Big Man Japan" has some good enough effects, although the CGI could be spotted a mile away. But still, it worked out well enough. And to bring the movie from strange and bizarre into being just downright absurd was the ending, where the superheroes showed up. And just when you thought you had seen it all...The good thing about "Big Man Japan" is that it is a spoof on the monster genre that has been making its way out of Japan. And not taking itself serious, in the regards as monster sightings have been less and less in recent years, as they said in the movie.I didn't really enjoy "Big Man Japan" and found it to be somewhat of a struggle to get through. But I am sure that a movie as odd and bizarre as this would have instantly found a following of fans, because the movie is unique, I will say that much. I have seen worse Japanese movies, and as such, then I am rating this a mediocre 5 out of 10 rating.
oshram-3 The concept is genius; the film takes the form of a mockumentary about a Japanese superhero, Big Man Japan (Hitoshi Matsumoto), an ordinary man who can transform, via a massive electrical shock, into a hundred-foot tall warrior. Apparently this trait is hereditary; his father and grandfather could also do this (in fact his grandfather was a popular hero, shown briefly in doctored WWII clips milling with the troops), and Big Man wonders in the film if the trait has been passed down to his daughter. But the tone of the documentary is what really makes the film; it's exceptionally dry and somewhat dull, like following an average man of little financial means would be. Big Man leads a wholly uninteresting life, until called upon to defend Japan from a marauding giant monster; then he rushes to the nearest electrical station to do his thing and fight whatever freakish thing is attacking (usually the other monsters are grotesque and stupid, more comic than scary). It's a spoof of the giant monster genre in Japan, but it's also a very clever social satire as well, because most people hate Big Man; they graffiti the walls outside his house and leave angry messages on placards on the road to the electrical station (once or twice sitting around his house just talking for the documentary, windows behind Big Man break as people throw bricks through them). The humor is exceptionally clever – and, aside from the scenes with the monsters battling, very low-key. Big Man's wife – no longer living with him – is somewhat ashamed of him, and insists that their daughter's face be pixelated on film. His manager is obviously conning him, and most people treat him with mild disdain. It's an interesting switch from the hero-worship we often see in superhero movies, and it's both more realistic and sublimely comic at the same time. The movie maintains its subtle and gently mocking tone right up until the end, when the final scenes turn to outright parody and we're not entirely sure what happened (did he die? Is this heaven?); it's more quizzical than disappointing, and it's hardly enough of a departure to spoil what is otherwise an inspired parody, probably the best fake documentary since Spinal Tap (and I would argue a better one). This film might not be for everyone – it can move slowly, and it is very Japanese – but it is so astonishingly clever and funny that I was deeply impressed. The film is absurd in all the right ways, and is far, far better than any of the 'straight' superhero movies you'll see any time soon.
tullebi A funny movie. Makes ya think. Like the sequences of kid interviews, totally realistic about talking to kids at high school and community college, you know, "I'ma bad an don't like nuffin' bout popular opinion. Hey, come over to ma crib and we get high, watch some TV." Big Man seems all about popular opinion in Japan media. Back when, there was big popular opinion and big monsters to fight. Now there's salarymen and looking hip. Subtle cultural references too, or not so subtle. Mob monster does shake downs, stink monster is breeding with the young, like, "Let's get in the cars and make smog, man! I been doing this for decades." Ooh, is the red scary thing N. Korea, or just the usual big meanies? Takes US media to organize opinion around that. But US has the same problems going, the young want something new, and "Baby Or Die!" just ain't cutting it. Let's try, "I Love My Beam!" Like, everybody wants peace these days. Mother Super America is perfect at the end, what with being eight stone overweight. And I love Father Super America's RED NIPPLES!!! Are they really in the shape of stars? Also, a final touch too good to be subtle, the last portion of movie, in the thick foam padding and clumsy choreographing to show US media prowess, "Watch it in real time." A movie not for prime time but for watching in a complicated world.
Polaris_DiB I guess what's surprising is that I'm any longer surprised. Big Man Japan seemed relatively straightforward at first. A hated underdog loser who has to protect Japan from giant CG monsters promises silly action filled delight. The surprising thing is that the CG monster fights are slow and not all that interesting, ultimately, except for the design and idea behind the monsters. It's actually the drama of a lonely, depressed man with a government job who refuses to acknowledge that nobody likes him that is a very interesting, compelling story. I can't believe it yet I'd have preferred this movie NOT have any action sequences and just stay focused on the quiet, insulated drama of a man losing all hope.Also, I just simply did not see that ending coming. Again, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. I almost don't really know what to say about this movie. There's three entirely different things going on here, and in typical b-movie Japanese style that doesn't matter--what matters is that they can.So, alright then. It is what it is, and luckily it's enjoyable. I'm just trying to wrap my head around a sort-of Zebraman meets Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl story with an actual, dramatic core that ends up tossed away.