For a long while in the Eighties through the Nineties anime, with its limitless possibilities, was the dominant medium for Japanese fantastic cinema. Come the twenty-first century advances in digital effects paved the way for a new live-action boom. Much as Disney has lately opted to recycle its own cartoon output this new wave led to remakes of much-cherished anime classics. Japanese childhood favourites like Yatterman (2009), Space Battleship Yamato (2010) and even Kiki's Delivery Service (2014) all got the live-action treatment and here we have Gatchaman which is based on Tatsunoko studios' seminal superhero serial, re-cut and released in the west as Battle of the Planets. In fact this new film kicks off with a campy animated encounter between the iconic teen heroes of Team Gatchaman and their masked nemesis Berge Katze who, disguised as a famous TV talk-show host, quizzes the cast about their new live-action 3D movie. Happily the campy humour ends there. This does not go down the Joel Schumacher route and takes its superheroics relatively seriously, albeit with a welcome sense of fun.
In the year 2015 much of Europe is a fiery wasteland, ravaged by armoured alien invaders known as Galactors led by the mysterious, androgynous Berge Katze. Three young friends: Ken, Naomi and Joe are among a select group of children that came into contact with a mystical otherworldly stone. Endowed with magical ninja powers they aim to save the world. Years later a now-grownup Ken (Tôri Matsuzaka) heads Team Gatchaman alongside similarly bird-costumed teen heroes: fiesty Jun (Ayame Gôriki), her wisecracking computer-genius kid brother Jinpei (Tatsuomi Hamada) and stoic, affable Ryu (Ryohei Suzuki) fighting to protect Tokyo which has become the last refuge for humanity. When the Galactors drop a giant mechanical death-wheel onto the city, Team Gatchaman springs into action. They receive unexpected assistance from a brooding, mysterious super-powered stranger who turns out to be Joe (Go Ayano). Reunited with his formerly estranged childhood pal, Ken tries to reign in Joe when the team embark on a crucial mission to retrieve Iriya (Shido Nakamura), a Galactor who wants to defect after angering Berge Katze. In return Iriya offers vital intel regarding the Galactors' secret germ warfare plan: Last Suicide. Things get complicated when it turns out Iriya is responsible for the death of Ken and Joe's mutual love interest Naomi (Eriko Hatsune).
One of the unfortunate side-effects of the fandom around Pacific Rim (2013) is that many seem to believe Guillermo Del Toro somehow 'corrected' the 'flaws' inherent in Japanese fantasy and science fiction films. Consequently actual Japanese productions like Gatchaman that recapture the unique tone, energy and sense of colourful wonder inherent in vintage genre fare are routinely dismissed as kitsch. Although far less ambitious a re-imagining of the original mythos than the recent anime reboot Gatchaman Crowds (2015), the live-action Gatchaman is a rollicking superhero romp that is great fun if entered into with the right spirit. Director Toya Sato seems to take his cue, at least in part, from recent Marvel movies like Avengers Assemble (2012) along with Hollywood's current crop of relationship-driven young adult fantasies. Mixing visceral action with flashy visual effects, spectacle with angst-ridden teen drama, Sato ably recreates all the iconic imagery from the original anime but more crucially captures its unique emotional intensity.
In keeping with the original show's fondness for outrageous plot twists the third act springs a wild gender-bending surprise and really puts poor old Joe through the emotional wringer (complete with post-credits plot twist!) Regrettably, pouting pretty-boy Go Ayano lacks the brooding charisma suitable for one of the most iconic, tragic heroes in anime but the rest of the cast ably embody their roles. As a consequence the traditionally stoic and square Ken becomes the cool, complicated one. The reboot subtly alters the characters. Jun, for example, is far more sassy and outspoken than she ever was in the original although predictably softens whenever she goes ga-ga for Ken. Back-stories and motivations are a little different from the show but the characters remain recognizably themselves (one does miss Jun's pink miniskirt and white go-go boots, but that's just me). The film has a pleasing international feel with English speaking actors in supporting roles and several glamorous foreign locations where Team Gatchaman get to dress up and show off their espionage skills in scenes straight out of an Avengers movie. Outstanding production design wisely sidesteps the overly dour reboot route that flawed but laudable Tatsunoko live-action reboot Casshern (2004) and instead updates the bright and colourful spirit of the original. Fans should note the film restricts the team's iconic spaceship the Gold Phoenix to the finale albeit to crowd-pleasing effect. Sato imbues the film with a playful self-awareness (as when Ken and a Galactor adversary crash into a store full of Tatsunoko anime merchandise!) without letting things get too jokey. Occasionally the film trips into costumed posturing that gets a little absurd. Yet the tone is never less than sincere including a new moral to reflect the changing times. Whereas the original Gatchaman was about dying nobly, the remake is about living bravely.
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