Electric Dragon 80.000 V

Electric Dragon 80.000 V (エレクトリック·ドラゴン 80000V, Erekutorikku doragon 80000V) is a 2001 Japanese film written and directed by Sogo Ishii. The comic-book style story stars Tadanobu Asano and Masatoshi Nagase as electricity wielding super-heroes.

Electric Dragon 80.000 V
Directed bySogo Ishii
Produced byTakenori Sento
Written bySogo Ishii
StarringTadanobu Asano, Masakatsu Funaki, Masatoshi Nagase
Music byHiroyuki Onogawa, MACH-1.67
CinematographyNorimichi Kasamatsu
Edited byShuichi Kakesu
Distributed byDiscotek Media
Unearthed Films
Release date
  • 2001 (2001)
Running time
55 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Plot

As a child, Dragon Eye Morrison undergoes electro-shock treatment for his aggressive behavior. The levels of sheer energy absorbed by his body over the years allow him to channel and conduct electricity. Now an adult, Morrison works in the city as a reptile investigator and has learned to channel his rage through the performance of aggressive guitar-based noise. Meanwhile, Thunderbolt Buddha, a TV repair man turned vigilante, who has the same electro-conductive powers after a childhood accident, goes after crime bosses and gangsters. When both men learn of each other's existence, Thunderbolt Buddha challenges Morrison to a final showdown on the rooftops of Tokyo.

Cast

Production

Filming occurred in February 1999 using black and white film, and lasted three weeks.[1] It was produced in tandem with Ishii's other film Gojoe, and both films cast the same two lead actors.[2]

Soundtrack

Sogo Ishii's industrial noise-punk outfit MACH-1.67 provided the film's propulsive music. The film would subsequently be used as a visual backdrop during the band's live performances.[3]

Release and reception

The film debuted at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2001.[4] It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival[1] and the Busan International Film Festival.[5]

Variety's David Rooney wrote, "A return from his more structured thrillers like Angel Dust and Labyrinth of Dreams to the punky kinetic anarchy of his early work, Japanese maverick Sogo Ishii delivers a wild ride."[6] Mark Schilling of The Japan Times described the film as "a black comedy for hipsters and works well on that level, though it overstays its welcome,"[1] and IndieWire's Edward Crouse wrote that "the film nails a certain sci-fi madness."[7] Tom Mes wrote on the website Midnight Eye, "A 55-minute hyperkinetic descent into electro-charged punk madness, set to an eardrum-shattering industrial punk/noise soundtrack, Electric Dragon 80,000 V transcends film to become an overwhelming, all-immersing experience."[2]

Electric Dragon 80,000V and its companion film Gojoe were commercial failures and ultimately caused their production company Suncent CinemaWorks Inc. to go under.[2]

References
  1. Schilling, Mark (29 August 2001). "A bolt from the past". The Japan Times. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  2. Mes, Tom (24 July 2001). "Electric Dragon 80,000V". Midnight Eye. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  3. Player, Mark. "Post-Human Nightmares: The World of Japanese Cyberpunk". Midnight Eye.
  4. "Electric Dragon 80,000 V". International Film Festival Rotterdam. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  5. "Electric Dragon 80000V". Busan International Film Festival. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  6. Rooney, David (4 March 2001). "Electric Dragon 80,000V". Variety. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  7. Crouse, Edward (1 February 2001). "Rotterdam 2001: Blood, Guts, Bullets, and Kids; Asia's Tidal Wave". Retrieved 13 January 2020.
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