05/01, Cinema Today.
Will Idiot Movies Top the Number One Spot this Year? A Nonsense Movie Release
Saitô Takumi's (L) spoiled image, Director Yamaguchi Yûdai (C), and Sakaguchi Taku.
On the 30th [of April] a short film shoot for the special features of Elite Yankee Saburo, released this February, was open to the public. The film, like the multi-part breakthrough gag comic work of manga artist Abe Shûji, illustrates the story of the trials and tribulations of Saburo, a shy young man with two terribly delinquent older brothers. Along with the television drama version, which aired previously, [the film] with its countless individualistic bad guys and creative gags, and its creation through CG of nonsense locations for its fights, has been faithful to the original and grabbed hold of the hearts of enthusiastic fans. In the short film, the supporting characters Yomiyama Takeshi (Sakaguchi Taku), who wears a hammer-head, and Riki (Saitô Takumi), who is clad in a uniformed short coat, are raised to starring-role status.
Sakaguchi laughed, “This is three-times the fun of the original,” displaying firm appeal, and Saitô Takumi also confidently noted, “The completed script is incredible; I hope that the fun atmosphere that the director has created here at the location will come through [to the audience]. We’ve finished a film that isn’t wasted on this DVD.”
Director Yamaguchi Yûdai, who established himself as a maker of Idiot Movies with such films as Cromartie High: The Movie and who continued to hold the megaphone with this film, said, “I wasn’t going to put out an ordinary delinquent movie; it just couldn’t be helped. Perhaps this won’t fit into the category of delinquent films that have been popular lately; I’m always thinking of how much I can deviate. I want to take things further than this film.” His powerful nonsense style was appealing.
The first-run limited premium edition DVD Elite Yankee Saburo will be on sale from King Record from July 8th.
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