Golgo 13: The Professional (1983)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

"The Professional: Golgo 13" is an Action-Anime directed by Osamu Dezaki year 1983. It was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, which was also involved in other stuff like "Sonic X" and "Akira".Basic plot: Oil baron Leonard Dawson witnesses his son Robert Dawson get assassinated by Duke "Golgo 13" Toga, and since then, he becomes obsessed to have Duke Toga dead by having the FBI, CIA and the U.S. Army to hunt him down. Will "Golgo 13" be able to survive all the bloody violence enough to even meet the evil Snake, Gold and Silver later in the movie...?Together with the 1988 masterpiece "Akira", I highly loved this pretty violent anime-film. Various people die during the course of the movie, often with gory result. It has plenty of action and violence to keep the fans entertained. The animation style is great, very manga-like as if it was made in the late 70s. As I have the original Japanese version of the film on a French DVD, I can so say the opening theme "Pray for you" by Cindy Wood totally rocks, as well as the dated CGI intro sequence itself with skeletons and bullets!Speaking about the scenes itself, I have at least two favorite scenes, it be the "Bernard Mueller hit"-sequence which results in a car chase, as well as the ending sequence beginning with the Atari-like CGI-helicopter scene which I honestly love. I even like the action-scenes itself. This is why I confirm this film as my second favorite Anime movie of all time, right behind my all-time-favorite anime "AKIRA".If you menage to find the Japanese version of this film, not the Streamline- or the Urban Vision-version, I suggest you to take this film, amongst them because of the above mentioned "Pray for you" song.

It should be known before I start that I'm not a fan of anime at all whatsoever. It usually bores me or is way too bizarre for my taste. That wasn't the case with The Professional. I loved this film so much and I'm very glad that I saw it. I was entertained the whole way through. It truly is a blast.The blood is this one is absolutely awesome! I also loved Golgo's character and the story moved pretty well also. It's not a movie you're gonna wanna show to the kids but if you love gory action flicks, you'll definitely want to check it out. And please, please don't let the fact that it's an anime discourage you from seeing it, it's the best anime I've ever seen!

TAG-LINE (EUR): "Leonard Dawson is the richest man in the world...powerfull people makes enemies...if an enemy becomes a problem...then someone calls the proffesional, codenamed: GOLGO 13. The proffesional is about to be tested...to his ultimate level...how long can the Proffesional last? Hard hitting action as the Proffesional faces his ultimate challenge."This film got too little publicity at the time, and deserved more recognition. I dont understand why the media failed to recognise this anime, before the Western release of AKIRA. And personally, I think it was unfair. Even today, the detail in the artwork, and the fluencey of animation is astounding. Never before have I seen a more detailed drawn anime. The animators sorted everything from the rendition on the gun lenses to the air-brushed shading to give the guns a more metalic look. Another notable thing about this film is the use of CGI graphics to add extra realism to the atmosphere, something which was unheard of, and thought impossible in 1983. Golgo 13 demonstrated this way before Akira came into the public domain. Many of the anime today are drawn sharp, and unimaginatively, e.g. Pokemon, but it's always the "old sckool" anime that retain high standards in the art-work. The plot is just something that noone would have expected from animated production: A man supposidly hunting down another man for the murder of his son, but in the end it is revealed to the viewer his actions were purely for the sake of passion. I especially liked the idea of a spoiled-pretty woman hiding behind the guise of a ruthless crime-mobster, too which noone expected to be "Doctor.Z" The film is a worthy adaption to Saito's comic series, and thankfully it didn't have a crummy television series, with drab animation. The story alone portrays the more explicit, cold violent world surrounding the guise of a lone-Japanese pre.James Bond 007 who is UNLIENCED to kill. Golgo 13 kills purely for a living, and the mystery behind his cold, seemingly-cyborg character, and the fact that his soul is void of human sentiments and ultimately, emotion adds further interest & suspision to his past and true motives behind the killing game. Definately worth a watch if your a fan of Japanese cinema or anime, but may seem a bit dull for those of you who are used to John Travolta/Nic.Cage shoot'em ups where the guy gets the girl and the bad guy dies, etc. A far from lame story. *8/10*

The Professional Golgo 13 is a manga-film about an assassin called Golgo 13. Golgo 13 is the world`s greatest assassin, he has never broken a contract, but one day he kills Robert Dawson, the son of an oil-billionaire(Leonard Dawson). Suddenly, Golgo 13 is hunted by FBI, CIA and the U.S.Army. The action found in are explosiv as he¤%, and very bloody. This manga is better than many of the hollywood-produced action-films, this is original and with a superb story. The ending is also very unexpected and innovative. A movie you must see! 10/10