Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese film directed by Shinji Higuchi
. A fictional story of the Japanese military saving Tokyo from the third atomic bomb during the waning days of the Second World War, it was the highest-grossing film in Japan during the week of its release.
and is equipped with imaging technology that is far in advance of the era's primitive sonar (and is of course a pure manga-esque invention).
The mission, as revealed by the grim Chief of Staff Asakura (Shinichi Tsutsumi) after the nightmarish A-bomb attack on Hiroshima, is to intercept U.S. ships transporting a third nuclear weapon to Tinian Island, where B-29 bombing raids were launched against Japan. The man charged with the mission; Commander Masami (Yakusho Koji) -- a brilliant destroyer of enemy ships relieved of his command when he opposed the navy's increasing reliance on suicide tactics. Given a last chance to redeem himself, he is burning with zeal, but is ignorant of the various secrets the I-507 carries on board.
Once at sea, Lt. Takasu (Ken Ishiguro), the owlish technician in charge of the imaging system, refuses to tell Masami what it is or how it works. Masami also discovers that two crew members belong to the "kaiten" suicide corps. He has no idea why they are there -- and neither, for the moment, do they.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy is tracking the I-507 with more than usual interest. What, Masami wonders, is going on here? Enough to say that a sweet-voiced teenage girl (Yu Kashi) is part of the master plan and that one of the minisub pilots (Satoshi Tsumabuki) becomes her protector -- and something more.
Supporting Cast
(Japanese edition)|language=Japanese}}
Shinji Higuchi
is a storyboard artist and is one of the top special effects wizards in Japan, best known for his work on the Heisei Gamera Trilogy. He works on both anime and tokusatsu projects.-Biography:...
. A fictional story of the Japanese military saving Tokyo from the third atomic bomb during the waning days of the Second World War, it was the highest-grossing film in Japan during the week of its release.
Plot
The story of "Lorelei", based on a best-selling novel written by Harutoshi Fukui, is a departure from the last 50 years of Japanese cinema by weaving a tale using a "what if" fictional narrative with a tip of the hat to modern manga storylines and styles. The starring submarine, the I-507, is a gift of the dying Nazi Germany to the Empire of Japan in the closing days of the war. This sleek behemoth bears heavy resemblance toward the French submarine SurcoufSurcouf (N N 3)
Surcouf was a French submarine ordered to be built in December 1927, launched on 18 October 1929, and commissioned in May 1934. Surcouf—named after the French privateer Robert Surcouf—was the largest submarine ever built until surpassed by the Japanese I-400s. Her short wartime career was marked...
and is equipped with imaging technology that is far in advance of the era's primitive sonar (and is of course a pure manga-esque invention).
The mission, as revealed by the grim Chief of Staff Asakura (Shinichi Tsutsumi) after the nightmarish A-bomb attack on Hiroshima, is to intercept U.S. ships transporting a third nuclear weapon to Tinian Island, where B-29 bombing raids were launched against Japan. The man charged with the mission; Commander Masami (Yakusho Koji) -- a brilliant destroyer of enemy ships relieved of his command when he opposed the navy's increasing reliance on suicide tactics. Given a last chance to redeem himself, he is burning with zeal, but is ignorant of the various secrets the I-507 carries on board.
Once at sea, Lt. Takasu (Ken Ishiguro), the owlish technician in charge of the imaging system, refuses to tell Masami what it is or how it works. Masami also discovers that two crew members belong to the "kaiten" suicide corps. He has no idea why they are there -- and neither, for the moment, do they.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy is tracking the I-507 with more than usual interest. What, Masami wonders, is going on here? Enough to say that a sweet-voiced teenage girl (Yu Kashi) is part of the master plan and that one of the minisub pilots (Satoshi Tsumabuki) becomes her protector -- and something more.
Cast
Starring- Koji Yakusho - Masami Shin'ichi
- Satoshi TsumabukiSatoshi Tsumabukiis a Japanese actor. His breakthrough film was Waterboys for which he was nominated for the 'Best Actor' award at the Japanese Academy Awards, and won the 'Newcomer of the Year' prize...
- Yukito Origasa
Supporting Cast
- Toshiro YanagibaToshiro Yanagibais a Japanese actor. He had major roles in several TV drama series such as Bayside Shakedown.- External links :*...
- Kizaki Toshiro - Yu Kashii - Paula Atsuko Ebner
- Shin'ichi Tsutsumi - Asakura Ryokitsu
- Ken Ishiguro - Narumi Takasu
- Isao Hashizume - Sadamoto Nishimiya
- Masato IbuMasato Ibu' is a Japanese actor and voice actor.-Films:*Maison Ikkoku *Empire of the Sun as Sgt. Nagata*Sukeban Deka *Dr. Akagi *Taboo *Godzilla vs...
- Eitaro Narazaki - Takaya KamikawaTakaya Kamikawais a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. He played the Anti-Spiral in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.- External links :...
- Man - KrevaKrevaKreva is a township in Hrodna Voblast, Belarus.-History:The Kreva Castle, constructed of brick, was built by the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania at the borderland of Lithuanian ethnic lands. After his death in 1341, Kreva became the patrimony of his son and successor, Algirdas...
- Shunpei Komatsu - Jun Kunimura - Matoi Tokioka
- Takehiko Ono - Shichigoro Iwamura
- Shugo OshinariShugo Oshinariis a Japanese actor best known for his roles in the controversial Battle Royale II: Requiem and Shunji Iwai's film, All About Lily Chou-Chou ....
- Ryuta Sato - Kikuo Kiyonaga
- Pierre TakiPierre Takiwas the front man for Japanese technopop group Denki Groove, which consisted of himself and Takkyū Ishino. As of 2001 he was involved in an exhibit called Prince Tongha with Hideyuki Tanaka in New York City.-References:...
- Tokutaro Taguchi - Yoshiyuki TominoYoshiyuki Tominois a Japanese mecha anime creator, director, screenwriter and novelist. He was born in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and studied at Nihon University's College of Art...
- Ouwada - Shingo TsurumiShingo Tsurumi- TV :* Antoki no Inochi * Kamen Rider Fourze * Yakuza Weapon * Umechan Sensei * Ningen Konchuki * Brutus No Shinzo * LADY~Saigo no Hanzai Profile~...
- Sankichi Oominato
Sources
|accessdate=2008-12-06|publisher=VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
(Japanese edition)|language=Japanese}}