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Japan Sinks
日本沈没
2006 135 min Japan PG-13 16+
★6.4
Drama, Thriller, Adventure, Science Fiction
Director: Shinji Higuchi
🎭 Based on
«Japan Sinks»
bySakyo Komatsu
Trailers
Description
In the aftermath of a major earthquake, scientists predict that Japan will sink into the sea. As further disasters follow, politicians plead with other countries to take refugees, while scientists struggle to save Japan itself.
Worldwide:
$47.64M
Starring
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
Actor
Kô Shibasaki
Actor
Etsushi Toyokawa
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2007
— Best Visual Effects
Key opinion
Shinji Higuchi’s 2006 adaptation of Japan Sinks is a polarizing disaster film that blends ambitious, localized themes with a structure struggling to emulate Hollywood blockbusters. While the visual effects and emotional resonance of individual scenes receive praise, the film is frequently hindered by a bloated runtime and an uneven integration of melodramatic subplots.
| Cinematography | The disaster sequences and realistic portrayals of geological destruction are visually impressive and effectively capture the scale of the crisis. | |
| Score | The emotional weight of the farewell scenes is bolstered by a compelling and evocative musical score. | |
| Pacing | The film's excessive length and focus on prolonged dramatic subplots create a viewing experience that many find tedious or exhausting. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some appreciate the realistic exploration of Japanese national identity and sacrifice, while others reject it as a collection of disjointed, cliché-ridden tropes that fail to honor the original source material. | |
| Acting | Performances are inconsistent, with some viewers finding the child actors and supporting cast deeply resonant, while the leads are often described as restrained or unconvincing against the green-screen environment. |