Movielogr
Ultraman: The Next (2004)
Directed by Kazuya Konaka
Twitter Facebook Google+Action | Science Fiction | Horror
Overview
First Lieutenant Shun’ichi Maki of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is a prestigious F-15 Eagle jet pilot (or “driver” as he is called in the film). A lifelong fan of flying since he was a child, being a pilot is his ultimate dream. Unfortunately, his duties distance himself from his wife, Yoko, who always ends up being neglected, and his son, Tsugumu, who has a congenital blood disease and has a high risk of dying at a young age.Maki decides to quit the Air Force to devote more time to his family and to spend whatever is left for his son. He takes a part-time job as a commercial tour guide run by a kindly group of people who allow him time to work and to also take care of his family.
Length 97 minutes
Actors
Tetsuya Bessho | Kyôko Tôyama | Osumi Kenya | Ryohei Hirota | Nae Yuuki | Toshiya Nagasawa | Daisuke Ryû | Masao Kusakari | Makiko Amuro | Tatsumi Ishihara | Ryo Kinomoto | Kazuya Konaka | Katsuyuki Konishi | Yôichi Okamura | Kazuya Shimizu | Hideyuki Tanaka | Edo Yamaguchi
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/19/2021 | Computer | Broadcast | Other | 6 stars |
| (Average) 6 stars |
Viewing Notes
DKU programmed a Ultraman double feature for Ultra-Monday and both films I had not seen. This one is the first Ultraman story that could be considered a horror, or sci-fi horror, that I’ve watched. This military woman’s boyfriend is somehow infected by a mysterious virus or something that transforms him into a legit monster that kills people. It’s rather scary and eventually Ultraman Next shows up to deal with it.
This is also the first Ultraman that I wouldn’t consider a kid’s flick. Super heavy on the drama especially concerning the pilot that becomes imbued w/Ultraman’s being. He quits being a military pilot to spend time w/his family bc he’s having marital issues plus his son has a terrible disease. Not exactly kid’s fare. Plus the super scary monster that appears. Really curious what the reception was to this movie. Feels more like something Keita Amemiya would do (and did do on his Kamen Rider film). Even the Ultraman Next suit is p gnarly.
Not the best of the Ultra films but certainly fascinating for the heavy drama slant and more adult approach to the property.
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