Hokuto no Ken (1986 movie): Difference between revisions

    From Hokuto no Ken Encyclopedia | HnKWiki
    VisualWikitext
    Line 26: Line 26:


    ==Plot differences from the manga and TV series==
    ==Plot differences from the manga and TV series==
    In a notable deviation from the series, the film finds time to begin with a detailed peek at the Earth as it was before and during the fabled nuclear devastation. Starting with a calm, surreal look at various points of Mother Nature, a brief on-screen message then informs the audience of the imminent calamity, followed by unsettling ''Barefoot Gen''-esque scenes of human life consumed in flame.
    In a notable deviation from the series, the film finds time to begin with a detailed peek at the Earth as it was before and during the fabled nuclear devastation. Starting with a calm, surreal look at various points of Mother Nature, a brief on-screen message then informs the audience of the imminent calamity, followed by unsettling ''[[wikipedia:Barefoot Gen|Barefoot Gen]]''-esque scenes of human life consumed in flame.
     
    The film follows the storyline of the manga from [[Kenshiro]]'s defeat at the hands of [[Shin]] to the first battle with [[Raoh]], although certain liberties were taken to tell the story in a condensed form. For example, [[Toki]], the second of the four Hokuto Brothers, is never seen nor mentioned, while Shin and [[Rei]] are the only Nanto Seiken masters to appear in the film. Although [[Yuria]]'s Nanto heritage is mentioned through out the movie in the Japanese version, her role as the last Nanto General is downplayed. Her fate has also been altered from the original story, wherein this time she is kidnapped by Raoh instead of jumping off Shin's palace to resurface later as the Last Nanto General. She disappears during the final battle and her survival remains ambiguous at the conclusion of the film. [[Mamiya]], Rei's love interest, is never seen, partly because Yuria is the heroine in her place. Raoh serves as the main antagonist, with [[Jagi]] and Shin as the other two major villains. Many other villains from the manga and anime such as the [[Colonel]] and [[Jackal]] only make cameo appearances as minor henchmen with some of the notable fight scenes involving [[Zeed]], [[Heart]], the [[Kiba Daiō]] and [[Uighur]]. All together the order and occurrences of the original story were almost completely rewritten.


    The film follows the storyline of the manga from Kenshiro's defeat at the hands of Shin to the first battle with Raoh, although certain liberties were taken to tell the story in a condensed form. For example, Toki, the second of the four Hokuto Brothers, is never seen nor mentioned, while Shin and Rei are the only Nanto Seiken masters to appear in the film. Although Yuria's Nanto heritage is mentioned through out the movie in the Japanese version, her role as the last Nanto General is downplayed. Her fate has also been altered from the original story, wherein this time she is kidnapped by Raoh instead of jumping off Shin's palace to resurface later as the Last Nanto General. She disappears during the final battle and her survival remains ambiguous at the conclusion of the film. Mamiya, Rei's love interest, is never seen, partly because Yuria is the heroine in her place. Raoh serves as the main antagonist, with Jagi and Shin as the other two major villains. Many other villains from the manga and anime such as the Colonel and Jackal only make cameo appearances as minor henchmen with some of the notable fight scenes involving Zeed, Heart, the Fang King and Uighur. All together the order and occurrences of the original story were almost completely rewritten.
    ==Endings==
    ==Endings==
    There were two endings produced for the film. The original theatrical ending in Japan showed Raoh emerging victorious over Kenshiro, but sparing his life, leaving him to protect Lin. An alternate ending was produced that shows the fight ending in a draw, which was the ending featured in the VHS and Laserdisc release of the film in Japan. The English dub version by Streamline Pictures is based on the theatrical version and thus features the original ending. Many Western fans believe that the "draw ending" was the original ending, but this is a common misconception due to the fact that the original ending where Raoh wins is not featured in any of the official home video releases in Japan. The Region 2 DVD release of the film features both endings.
    There were two endings produced for the film. The original theatrical ending in Japan showed Raoh emerging victorious over Kenshiro, but sparing his life, leaving him to protect Lin. An alternate ending was produced that shows the fight ending in a draw, which was the ending featured in the VHS and Laserdisc release of the film in Japan. The English dub version by Streamline Pictures is based on the theatrical version and thus features the original ending. Many Western fans believe that the "draw ending" was the original ending, but this is a common misconception due to the fact that the original ending where Raoh wins is not featured in any of the official home video releases in Japan. The Region 2 DVD release of the film features both endings.

    Revision as of 22:03, 15 April 2010

    Fist of the North Star
    Hokuto no Ken (1986 movie pamphlet).jpg
    Theatrical pamphlet distributed in 1986
    Directed by Toyoo Ashida
    Produced by Toei Animation
    Written by Susumu Takaku
    Narrated by Taro Ishida
    Starring Akira Kamiya
    Music by Katsuhisa Hattori
    Cinematography Tamio Hosoda
    Editing by Masaaki Hanai
    Studio Toei Animation
    Distributed by Toei
    Release date(s) March 8, 1986
    Running time 110 minutes
    Country Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: convert: command not found  Japan
    Language Japanese
    Gross revenue ¥1,800,000,000

    An animated feature film version of Fist of the North Star was produced by Toei Animation, which premiered in Japan on March 8, 1986.([1]) The movie was intended to be a big-screen treatment of the manga, and avoid the watering-down of violence that came with the TV series. An English-dubbed version produced by Streamline Pictures was first released in 1991 in the USA and 1994 in the UK and Australia by Manga Entertainment. A New Zealand release was never scheduled by Manga Entertainment so it never had an official release there.

    Plot differences from the manga and TV series

    In a notable deviation from the series, the film finds time to begin with a detailed peek at the Earth as it was before and during the fabled nuclear devastation. Starting with a calm, surreal look at various points of Mother Nature, a brief on-screen message then informs the audience of the imminent calamity, followed by unsettling Barefoot Gen-esque scenes of human life consumed in flame.

    The film follows the storyline of the manga from Kenshiro's defeat at the hands of Shin to the first battle with Raoh, although certain liberties were taken to tell the story in a condensed form. For example, Toki, the second of the four Hokuto Brothers, is never seen nor mentioned, while Shin and Rei are the only Nanto Seiken masters to appear in the film. Although Yuria's Nanto heritage is mentioned through out the movie in the Japanese version, her role as the last Nanto General is downplayed. Her fate has also been altered from the original story, wherein this time she is kidnapped by Raoh instead of jumping off Shin's palace to resurface later as the Last Nanto General. She disappears during the final battle and her survival remains ambiguous at the conclusion of the film. Mamiya, Rei's love interest, is never seen, partly because Yuria is the heroine in her place. Raoh serves as the main antagonist, with Jagi and Shin as the other two major villains. Many other villains from the manga and anime such as the Colonel and Jackal only make cameo appearances as minor henchmen with some of the notable fight scenes involving Zeed, Heart, the Kiba Daiō and Uighur. All together the order and occurrences of the original story were almost completely rewritten.

    Endings

    There were two endings produced for the film. The original theatrical ending in Japan showed Raoh emerging victorious over Kenshiro, but sparing his life, leaving him to protect Lin. An alternate ending was produced that shows the fight ending in a draw, which was the ending featured in the VHS and Laserdisc release of the film in Japan. The English dub version by Streamline Pictures is based on the theatrical version and thus features the original ending. Many Western fans believe that the "draw ending" was the original ending, but this is a common misconception due to the fact that the original ending where Raoh wins is not featured in any of the official home video releases in Japan. The Region 2 DVD release of the film features both endings.

    Cast

    Character Japanese version English version
    Kenshiro Akira Kamiya John Vickery
    Yuria Yuriko Yamamoto Melodee Spevack
    Raoh Kenji Utsumi Wally Burr
    Jagi Chikao Ōtsuka Dan Woren
    Shin Toshio Furukawa Michael McConnohie
    Rei Kaneto Shiozawa Greg Snegoff
    Lin Tomiko Suzuki Holly Sidell
    Bat Mie Suzuki Tony Oliver
    Airi Arisa Andō Barbara Goodson
    Ryūken Junji Chiba Jeff Corey
    Zeed Hidekatsu Shibata
    Heart Junpei Takiguchi Dave Mallow
    Fox Takeshi Aono Carl Macek
    Jackal Hiroshi Ōtake Michael Forest
    Uighur Daisuke Gōri Greg Snegoff
    Kiba Daiō Takeshi Watabe James Avery
    Garufu Jōji Yanami Tom Wyner
    Old Man Kōhei Miyauchi Steve Bulen
    Colonel Kōji Yada Dave Mallow
    Z Punk Banjō Ginga
    Nunchaku Man Yūsaku Yara
    Saw Head Shigeru Chiba Kirk Thornton
    Z Punk Ryōichi Tanaka
    Yasuo Tanaka
    Masayuki Katō
    Masaharu Satō
    Ikuya Sawaki
    Kōzō Shioya
    Michitaka Kobayashi
    Old Woman Reiko Suzuki Catherine Battistone
    Dying Woman Yōko Kawanami Lisa Michelson
    Narrator Tarō Ishida Jeff Corey

    References

    1. ↑ "Hokuto no ken (1986)". Imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-14.

    External links

    Retrieved from "https://hokutonoken.wiki/en/index.php?title=Hokuto_no_Ken_(1986_movie)&oldid=5937"