Takayuki Yamada Movies
- 2008
At some point in the distant future, a massive, catastrophic earthquake strikes Tokyo, causing the temperature of the Pacific Ocean to rise meteorically and the largest typhoon in recorded Japanese history to sweep toward the city and inundate it with water. The Tokyo Fire Department and its team of crack rescuers swing into action, and shortly after they do, a distress call arises from an underground subway station - with repeated indications of the rescue code, 252 252, and the exclamation "We Have Survivors." It soon becomes apparent that the local rescue squad must attempt to save the survivors, doing so at the expense of their own lives and safety. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hideaki Ito, Masaaki Uchino, (more)
- 2009
This fantasy action-comedy from Japan focuses on a group of college students who get mixed up in the world of Horumu - a fighting competition where people call upon spirits to do battle for them. Supernatural combat might not be the best fit for freshman Akira Abe, but when he falls in love with classmate Kyoko, joining the school's Horumu team, the Kyoto University Azure Dragons, is the best way he can think of to get close to her. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Takayuki Yamada, Sei Ashina, (more)
- 2009
Adapted from the outrageous manga by Hiroshi Takahashi, this sequel to Crows Zero continues the story of Takiya Genji, the son of a powerful yakuza boss who transfers to the gang-ridden Suzuran All-Boys High School with one goal in mind: unite the school's many, warring gangs under one banner, and prove to his father that he can handle the family business. Unfortunately, he has some competition in the form of Serizawa Tamao, a gang leader also known as "King of the Beasts." ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shun Oguri, Takayuki Yamada, (more)
Idiosyncratic Japanese auteur Takashi Miike offers another meditation on a violent culture in this teen-themed thriller. Genji Takaya (Shun Oguri) is a teenage troublemaker whose father, Hideo (Goro Kishitani), is a high-ranking member of the yakuza. Genji is a new student at Suzuran Boys' High, a educational facility for juvenile delinquents nicknamed "The School for Crows," and he's determined to make a name for himself as someone who doesn't back down from a challenge in order to impress both his father and his new classmates. Not long after arriving on campus, Genji comes to blows with Ken Katagiri (Kyosuke Yabe), who thinks at first that the new kid is someone else. Genji beats Ken into submission and wins his grudging respect, but when word gets out about the fight, Genji finds every tough guy in the school is waiting for his turn to show Genji who's boss, with the leader of the school underground empire, Tamao Serizawa (Takayuki Yamada), waiting at the end of the line. Kurozu Zero (aka Crows: Episode 0) was the third feature released in 2007 by the prolific Takashi Miike. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shun Oguri, Kyosuke Yabe, (more)
The teenage survivors of a collapsed train tunnel crawl out of the wreckage to make a horrifying discovery that will change their lives forever in this apocalyptic sci-fi-disaster effort from Rasen director Joji Iida. Teru Aoki is returning home on the express train from a school trip when, after entering into a tunnel, the walls come crumbling down around him. Though most of Teru's classmates perished in the accident, Ako Seto and Nobou Takahashi have survived and the three desperately claw their way to the surface only to discover that all of Tokyo has been devastated by an unexplained disaster. As the frightened trio attempt to make their way back to Tokyo, they meet with other survivors and struggle to carry on in a world gone to ruin. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A socially-challenged otaku (Japanese slang for "geek") saves an attractive female from the unwanted advances of a lecherous salaryman while commuting on the local train route, only to become infatuated with the kind and thankful woman in a romantic comedy that takes its cue from a real-life romantic encounter. Densha Otoko (Takayuki Yamada) may not have much experience with the ladies, but what he lacks in romantic know-how he more than makes up for in gentlemanly instinct. When Densha notices an unruly drunk making a female train passenger (Miki Nakatani) uncomfortable, his snap decision to come to her rescue finds the relieved woman requesting his address so that she may send him a gift for his thoughtful display of kindness. Densha isn't the smoothest operator in town though, and in order to make a good impression he soon begins seeking out the romantic advice of his equally inexperienced internet friends. Now, as Densha strives to improve his social skills in order to win the heart of the woman he has grown to love, his romantic journey will find him realizing that there is much more to life than the heady philosophy behind the Matrix Trilogy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Takayuki Yamada, Miki Nakatani, (more)
