The Sinking of Japan

Van has warned me that the “The Sinking of Japan” was poorly rated on IMDB (don’t blame either of us for checking this site before going out for a movie because we don’t know any other more reliable movie critics sites). But frankly speaking, this is the best movie I have ever watched with Z (so far, only 3) and I totally enjoyed it, even more than the Prestige which is quite an average blockbuster this year.

Why?

Not because I have fetish for Japanese movies but it is truly enjoyable.





Firstly, I watched it for free. Anything free is enjoyable at the first place. Thanks Z. You have officially brought me out for movies more than my brother did.

Secondly, The Sinking of Japan is what I call “Diamond In the Rough” although it is not really “in the rough” in Japan where it earns an enormous of tickets sold.

I could understand why the movie is terribly received in IMDB but looking far beyond those flaws, I was delighted to watch closely every minute of it.

As the our green planet is facing the peril of natural disaster and the destruction is becoming more and more deadly year by year, nature’s anger like volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes have come to stay as one of best topics to exploit onscreen. And when all these disasters come in a package, you will have those packages named “The Day after Tomorrow” or newly-launched “The Sinking of Japan”

Before discussing in depth of “The sinking of Japan”, I would like to lay out some noticeable traits and attractions usually found in disaster-themed movies:
1) Ultimate powerlessness: what would you do when a tidal wave comes? For me there are 3 stages;
- Stage of disbelief: “You must be kidding, that thing could never happen here”
- Panic: “Arhhhh!”
- Depression: “What can I do? Death is unavoidable and eventual! Better slow down and wait for the tide to come”
2) The characters are dragged out of the spotlight where as great central focus is on how severe the damage the disaster has caused. The question of what happened is more crucial than who did what to whom. In the end, the Who would predictably die or live on like usual when the What would significantly finish washing off half of the world population.
3) Visual effect is indispensable. How high the tidal wave can reach, how deep Japan can sink and how fragmented the earth can crumble will decide how much the movie can earn.

If “The sinking of Japan” is judged against those standards, the movie could be considered as not belong to this category at all. Firstly, there was solution to stop the disaster at the first place just that no one wanted to do it. Besides, powerful and high-ranking authorities were still able to evacuate to foreign countries like America and England. Only average and poor citizens were left behind and faced the death alone. So survival was the matter of social class rather than time. Secondly, visual effects are awesome BUT it does not portrait the disaster as it is supposed to be in normal disaster-themed movies. It is not disturbing at all. It looks more like a documentary on disasters where no people are observed killed. The only thing we can see is building collapses, then flown away with the tidal wave and buried in the sea of lava. End of the destruction. This “defect” might due to avoidance of cultural taboo or budget restrain. Whatever it is, it should not be forgiven soon when the brighter and more encouraging part of this review comes. Lastly, main characters become the hub of attention that it is fair to say the fate of Japan was placed only in their hand. Of course, this asked for great sacrifice so in the end of the movie, instead of just whining and moaning on how terrible of disaster was, at least, people learn a virtue.
So I think to compare “The Sinking of Japan” to “The day after tomorrow” might not be accurate and compatible at all. “The Sinking of Japan”’ had better said to be the second “The core” with an extra feature. A nice love story!
Ah! It’s time to get moody and emotional. I am no fan of romance but it is urgently needed when the movie is so depressing. Let’s imagine “The sinking of Japan” with no love story. It will be as hard as rock, as dry as my throat after PE and basically a bundle of tensions that I can get in any exam. And this love is so Asian that I love it even more. No sex involved, more precisely, sex is rejected. But that’s not an important point. The important point is that the move has successfully shows the strong desire for a family reunion and happiness that is typical to Asian mindset. This is also when the characters had to struggle in the contemplation between personal well-being and the sake of the others. As I have mentioned before, there is a value in this movie meaning that personal happiness had given in for the principle of Unitarianism, of course, after some twist and turn so that the movie did not become a lecture. The main character took a long time to make up his mind before doing his great deed. He even thought of running away. That’s so natural but still the final sacrifice is predictable and expected. In another words, his runaway did not weaken but strengthen the confidence that the viewers placed in him. After all, people are pleased and thankful to his death. There is no need for tears and pity. His death is glory and pride.
The fact that the movie is a blockbuster in Japan but does not manage to achieve the same success in other countries is also very understandable. This movie has a lot to do with individual’s sense of belonging to the motherland. This movie might not mean much to foreigners but I believe, it is a big deal to Japanese patriot. It is wrong to see a movie as “a warning”. It should be “a call for patriotism in the age of globalizaion”, especially critical to a country with long history and abundant culture like Japan.