Ritana (2002)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Takashi Yamazaki

Writers:

Kenya Hirata (writer)
Takashi Yamazaki (writer)

Release Date:

31 August 2002 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Who cares about the future?

Plot:

A young woman from the future forces a local gunman to help her stop an impending alien invasion which will wipe out the human race.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Alien Invasion | Dodging Bullets | Murder | End Of The World

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Takeshi Kaneshiro	...	Miyamoto
Anne Suzuki	...	Milly
Kirin Kiki	...	Xie
Gorô Kishitani	...	Mizoguchi
Yukiko Okamoto	...	Dr. Yagi
Mitsuru Murata	...	Mizoguchi's Henchman
Kisuke Iida	...	Karasawa, Mizoguchi's Henchman
Kazuya Shimizu	...	Murakami, Mizoguchi's Henchman
Chiharu Kawai	...	Liu's Interpreter
Dean Harrington	...	Dr. Brown
Xiaoqun Zhao	...	Slave Merchant
Masaya Takahashi	...	Liu Laoban, Chinese Godfather
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ahmad Ali	...	Future Soldier
Ari Andres	...	Future Technician
Byron Baron	...	Future Soldier
Bernard Beardsley	...	Future Soldier
Buruna	...	Future Soldier
Francisco Gala	...	Future Soldier
Ryan Hill	...	Future Technician
Kanata Hongô	...	Young Miyamoto
Hoshi Ishida
Semenov Ivan	...	Future Technician
Kenji Motomiya	...	Mizoguchi's Henchman
Misako Nagashima
Shûgo Oshinari	...	Shooter
Kristie Protacio	...	Future Technician
Eric Robinson	...	Future Technician
Sean Ryan	...	Future Soldier
Steve Ryan	...	Future Soldier
Soltane M. Salah	...	Future Soldier
Nejat Shanino	...	Future Soldier
Laura Windrath	...	Future Technician (as Laura Windrash)

Also Known As:

Returner (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence. (also edited version)

Runtime:

USA:116 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Mandarin | Japanese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (video rating) | UK:15 | Malaysia:18SG | Malaysia:U (cut) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Himeji, Japan

Company:

Amuse

Trivia:

The handgun Milly uses through out the movie is a Walther P99.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the highway chase when the car is blown into the air and falls back down, the cable that was used by the crane to lift the car up into the air so they could drop it again is visible as the vehicle crashes to the ground.

Movie Connections:

References Gorgo (1961)

Soundtrack:

Dig In

Short but descriptive

An excellent movie, with a lot of Japanese clichés, like transforming robots, ningas, and strange new technology. I swear, this must have been the best bullet time I've ever seen. It's even better than The Matrix. No only do you see the bullets, but also the streamers of air coming off of them, and they can be moved if something passes through them. Also, it accurately shows bullets going though flesh, and many other cool things in bullet time. The ending was strong, and tied up many plot holes and paradoxes. The ending was very surprising, yet touching. Overall, excellent film, with unique storyline, cute aliens, realistic special effects, and believable action.