Umizaru 4 Movie Review

Title: Umizaru 4: Brave Hearts

AKA: Umizaru: Brave Hearts / Brave Hearts Umizaru

Genre: Action

Origin: Japan

Release date:  July 13, 2012

Cast: Ito Hideaki, Kato Ai, Sato Ryuta, Naka Riisa, Miura Shohei and Hirayama Hiroyuki.

“Because Japan is surrounded on all sides by water... the Japan Coast Guard patrols its maritime borders... through 11 regions. But for search-and-rescue... they have one organization that covers the whole nation. “The Japan Coast Guard Special Rescue Team”, or "Special Ops." They are based out of the 3rd region's Haneda Airport facility. And boast the highest level rescue skills imaginable. They are 36 select members from 13,000 coast guard officers, divided into 6 teams. They can respond to chemical and gas explosions. They're ready to roll out to any part of the country... to step into situations too hazardous...for even the most trained rescue divers. They face various hazards. Confront death on a regular basis. So they train constantly... building up stamina, mental strength... sharpening their judgment and acumen. They are trained for danger. In short, Special Ops are... the last line of defense in maritime rescue. “Japan Coast Guard Special Rescue Team" (taken from intro)

Senzaki Daisuke (Ito Hideaki) has together with Yoshioka Tetsuya (Sato Ryuta) joined the Special Ops, and dedicated their lives to save other people. Now with a 5 year old son, and one on the way, even Tetsuya has started dating a stewardess called Mika (Naka Riisa), whom he plans on marrying soon, they are both have troubles with balancing their love and family life.

When a flight that Mika is on board of crashes in the middle of the sea, the Special Ops are called…

Every movie is stepping up the game, like both emotionally and action wise. I feel kind of sad that this is the last of the Umizaru story: watching this from the very beginning and growing with the characters, and actually seeing every step he takes and every choice he makes which makes you kind of feeling that you know this guy personally. I sort of hope that they make another one, even though I bet that the Japanese are pretty tired of it. The story is good, and this job they are doing is so respectable, which makes me enjoy their interaction.

I do recommend it, even if you haven’t watched the other stuff.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Umizaru 3 Movie Review

Title: Umizaru 3

AKA: Umizaru: The Last Message / The Last Message: Umizaru

Genre: Action

Origin: Japan

Release date: September 18, 2010

Cast: Ito Hideaki, Kato Ai, Sato Ryuta, Kato Masaya, Fukiishi Kazue and Miura Shohei.

When a huge accident happens on the drilling plant “Regalia”, a ship colliding in the plant, Senzaki Daisuke (Ito Hideaki) and his buddy Yoshioka Tetsuya (Sato Ryuta) are put to the task to escort the engineer Sakuragi Hiroshiichirou (Kato Masaya) in and out. But due to a typhoon approaching, Daisuke becomes separated from Tetsuya, and gets stuck together with Sakuragi and three other people: Nurse Nishizawa Natsu (Fukiishi Kazue), driller Kizima Hisayoneo (Hamada Gaku) and newbie rescue diver Hotori Takuya (Miura Shohei).

 As the situation grows more dangerous, the rescue helicopters aren’t able get close, and due to Regalia being a combined plant (different countries contributed in the building of the plant), the government officials are more interested in saving the plant, than the actual people.

Now it’s up to Daisuke to save the people inside, and get back home to his wife and new born son…

I can’t believe that for every movie, it just keeps getting better and the quality too! I mean after the drama I really didn’t believe they would be able to make it deep, since 11 episodes is about 8½ hours, but they managed in the second movie to do just that. I really didn’t expect it to be that exciting, but they really overshined themselves. The storyline is as usually heartfelt, and inspiring, though I’ve started to feel as if I’m basically waiting for Senzaki to die, like really. Every movie is him being in a pinch, I mean how he even survives dammit LOL, not a bad thing though.

This movie you can actually watch without seeing the rest, well you can do that with them all, but this one doesn’t seem to be in the same category somehow: yes, it is in water, but we actually only see them diving in the end. Okay, minor detail, but still.

All in all pretty darn good.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Umizaru 2 Movie Review

Title: Umizaru 2

AKA: Umizaru: Limit of Love / Umizaru: Test of Trust

Genre: Action, Romance

Origin: Japan

Release date: May 6, 2006

Cast: Ito Hideaki, Kato Ai, Sato Ryuta, Otsuka Nene, Fukikoshi Mitsuru and Tokito Saburo.

After Nagare was scrapped the Yokohama team was separated into different branches and different districts. Senzaki Daisuke (Ito Hideaki) together with Yosikawa Tetsuya (Sato Ryuta) got stationed in a mobile rescue unit based in Kagoshima. When his girlfriend Kanna (Kato Ai) visits, to talk about their wedding, she is stunned when Daisuke tells her he needs time to think things through.

When a huge cruise ship breaks down 2km from the Kagoshima shore, the rescue unit is mobilized to save the 600 passengers and crew. On the ship Daisuke happens to find Kanna on, but due to a hurt and pregnant passenger, they split, Kanna to evacuation, Daisuke to escort the passenger. As he is moving through the parking lot, he stumbles upon another passenger, but he is unwilling to leave his car. While lighting his cigarette on, the flares fall on the ground and hit spilt gasoline, making the second floor explode. Managing to avoid the explosion, Daisuke and the two passengers are saved by Tetsuya, only to find out that they are trapped, and have nowhere to get out…

One word: wow. Who said only Americans know how to make action/thriller movies?! This movie is amazing. I have no idea where the 2 hours I spent watching this went! They really took this up a notch!

Again we have the honest and almost realistic story, though with pretty amazing saving/surviving skills, but nevertheless, mostly realistic. Everything from the love story, to the unity of the coast guard, to the stories of the passengers, everything was made so good. One negative would be that the actual progress in their lives was not that vivid, but that is just me.

All in all, a very good movie!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Umizaru Review

Title: Umizaru

AKA: Umizaru Evolution

Genre:  Action, Romance

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2005-Jul to 2005-Sept

Cast: Ito Hideaki, Kato Ai, Nakamura Toru, Sato Ryuta, Tokito Saburo and Natsuyagi Isao.

This drama is the follow up on the movie after the recruits become coast guard divers.

A year has passed since Senzaki Daisuke (Ito Hideaki) became a coast guard rescue diver, but has still not been in an actual rescue operation. When his transfer to the 3rd district is decided, he is thrilled to find out that it is in the same city, Yokohama, as Kanna (Kato Ai) his long distance girlfriend lives in, but for some reason she doesn’t want him to come Yokohama, even though they have been mailing and talking to each other. Not only that: his new buddy Ikezawa Masaki (Nakamura Toru) is a veteran, who has no interest in him, basically not seeing him as an even equal.

Hoping to save lives and trying to adapt to his new environment, Daisuke tries his best to match up to Ikezawa and grasp the meaning of being a coast guard diver…  

The drama is a great follow up on the movie. The vibe and the mood is pretty much the same, and you really start idolizing these people who not only sacrifice their life, but also jeopardize their family life and relations. The story is not as action packed as the movie, but tries really hard to make it interesting and realistic, which I believe they did very good. The lead couple has a good chemistry with one another; somehow they just seem to be a really good duo. The drama has that emotional feeling to it, which makes you tearing, heck even cry - I know I did.

I would recommend it, but it probably would be more interesting if you watched the first movie.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Umizaru Movie Review

Title: Umizaru

AKA: Sea monkeys

Genre: Action, Romance

Origin: Japan

Release date: June 12, 2004

Cast: Ito Hideaki, Kato Ai, Kaito Ken, Karina, Ito Atsushi and Murata Mitsu.

Senzaki Daisuke (Ito Hideaki) is a new coast guard recruit, with a master diving license. He joined the coast guard due to boredom at being a salary man. Being cocky and sort of undisciplined, he isn’t really interested in being a diver, but when Mishima Yuji (Kaito Ken) pokes at his pride, he decides to fight back.

On a day out Daisuke meets Izawa Kanna (Kato Ai), a fashion journalist, who he almost has a one night stand with. Even though they decided to part, they keep meeting again.

When the trainees are introduced to the ‘buddy’ system, Daisuke is teamed up with Kudo Hajime (Ito Atsushi), the lowest trainee, and the most likely to be released from duty. At first Daisuke finds him annoying and thinks of him as being in the way, but as time passes they become close.

Now he has to make sure that Hajime passes the test…

First of all bad summary, but sort of what this movie about. That said, I like this, maybe much more than I thought I would. If you’ve watched and liked those Japanese inspiration dramas, like when someome has a hobby or a dream, and then fights for it, you will probably love this too. I mean, for a movie that is almost 10 years old, I honestly was moved. Seriously people sacrificing their lives for other people, is honestly something Japanese are great at making movies off. Acting wise, great. Chemisty, there too, and lastly story, pretty good. Oh yeah, and a whole loads of butts. (Don’t ask)

All in all, a great Japanese movie.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts