Sogo Ishii Movies

Following up on his exuberant Gojoe, which featured an ear-splitting soundtrack and a seizure-inducing editing style, veteran indie director Sogo Ishii spins this bizarre cyberpunk action flick about rock & roll and electricity. Ryuganji Morison (Tadanobu Asano) has two loves in his life -- electricity and lizards. As a child, he was struck by a bolt of lightning, rendering him a human battery of sorts. As a result, he can play the electric guitar with freakish intensity and speed. In his quieter moments, he tends his plethora of reptilian companions in a run-down apartment. Raiden Butsuzo (Masaotshi Nagase) was similarly struck down by a bolt of lightning, leaving half his face horribly scarred, which he covers with a metal mask of the Buddha. Raiden -- who works as an electrician by day and a nefarious crime avenger by night using a variety of exotic high-tech gear -- takes a dim view of Morison, whom he views as a potential rival. When Morison returns home to find his beloved lizards fried, he vows revenge. Soon, Tokyo's power grid blows as the two human sparkplugs power up for their final battle. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Veteran indie director Sogo Ishii spins this trippy coming-of-age drama cum sci-fi supernatural headtrip. The film centers on Izumi Hazuka (Rena Komine), a high school student and Olympic high dive aspirant. When she transfers to a new school in the southern city of Fukuoka, she meets two lads who think she's the cat's meow. One is the shy yet hunky Mao (Shinsuke Aoki) and the other is slick Ukiya (Masaaki Takarai). The two happen to be best friends and soon become rivals for Izumi's attention. When Ukiya's clairvoyant friend (Reiko Matsuo) tells Ukiya that he and Izumi are not in the cards, Ukiya bows out. That same friend also predicts that Izumi's upcoming diving meet will be a disaster. While in mid-dive, Izumi sees the water turn into rock. She panics and then belly flops. When she comes to, she learns that she has superhuman powers. At the same time, a mysterious drought and disease has descended on her hometown. Empowered by her newfound abilities, she sets out to save Fukuoka. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi