Product Details

• Actors: Renji Ishibashi, Katsuo Nakamura, Teruyuki Kagawa, Etsushi Toyokawa, Hitomi Kuroki
• Directors: Yukihiko Tsutsumi
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: VIZ Pictures, Inc.
• DVD Release Date: December 15, 2009
• Run Time: 142 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002PHVHKS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,285 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

It all begins in 1969 when a young boy named Kenji and his friends get together in their secret fort in a vacant lot and write "The Book of Prophecy." In their book, they write about a future where they fight against an evil organization trying to takeover the world and bring about doomsday. Years later in 1997, Kenji is the manager of a convenience store who has given up his dream of becoming a rock star and leads a simple life as he raises his sister’s baby girl Kanna after his sister suddenly disappears. Then one day, his boring life is turned upside down when his old classmate, Donkey dies mysteriously and then an entire family in his neighborhood disappears.

At the same time, a mysterious cult being lead by a man only known as "Friend" emerges and begins to gain strong influence over society. A series of catastrophic events begin to occur mirroring the prophecies made up by the young Kenji and the greatest fear is the climax of The Book becoming a reality; December 31st, 2000, a terrifying giant virus-spreading robot will attack the entire city of Tokyo leading to the end of mankind. The only people who know about The Book are Kenji and his childhood friends. So who is Friend? One of their childhood friends or classmate? But who could it be? Will Kenji and his friends be able to stop Friend, save mankind, and live to see the 21st Century?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Are you my Friend?, May 10, 2010

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End (DVD)

The three-film live-action adaptation of Urasawa Naoki's (Yawara!, Monster) "20th Century Boys" (Japanese title: "Honkaku Kagaku Boken Manga: Nijuseki Shonen" or "An Actual, Scientific Adventure Comic: 20th Century Boys") is one of the most expensive in Japanese film history, with an overall budget of 6 billion yen and a cast of 300 people. Sometimes referred to as the Watchmen of Japanese comics, obvious care and attention was taken when adapting the series to the big screen.

This first film in the series, called "Beginning of the End" (a direct translation of the Japanese "Owari no Hajimari") covers volumes 1-5 of the original comic series, and shows the life of a group of misfit boys (and one girl!) who had a secret club in elementary school where they played together. The children also worked on a science fiction adventure story, dubbed the "Book of Prophecy," that foretold the destruction of the world by a super villain and the emergence of the club members as a super hero team that would unite to defeat the evil. Now, grown up and middle aged, the members of the club run into each other at a class reunion, and ask each other questions about a mysterious new religious cult that has been gaining in popularity, lead by a mysterious figure known only as "Friend." The symbol of the cult, the eyeball inside a pointing hand, is the exact same symbol that the group used for their childhood secret club, and it seems like somehow the events written in the "Book of Prophecy" are coming true.

Like the comic book, "20the Century Boys: Beginning of the End" moves backwards and forwards in time when telling the story, starting with Endo Kenji (Karasawa Toshiaki, Casshern) as a failed rockstar who now works at a convenience store with his mother and cares for his sister's infant child Kanna. When new members of the group appear, the story flips back to the childhood club, introducing each in tern and slowly leaking clues as to the identity of "Friend" and the events of the "Book of Prophecy." The club members know that the "Book of Prophecy" ends with a stereotypical Giant Robot attack on Tokyo, and they all wonder just how much ability does "Friend" have to realize the story they wrote as kids.

I think calling "20th Century Boys" the "Watchmen" of Japanese comics is fitting in that neither movie lived up to the promise of the original material, but were good in their own right. If I had never read "Watchmen," I probably would have loved the flick and those who haven't read "20th Century Boys" stand a greater chance of loving it. Director Tsutsumi Yukihiko (Happily Ever After) didn't take too many chances straying from the source material, and as we have seen many times when directors try to simply re-create a beloved comic on film it can lack the energy and pacing demanded by a film. The flash-back/flash-forward sequences work well to create tension in the storyline, but sometimes it also just muddles everything into confusion.

Actor Toyokawa Etsushi (Hula Girls), playing club member "Otcho, steals most of his scenes playing the lone wolf and dangerous member of the group who runs a business rescuing captive Japanese business men who are being blackmailed for their "exploits" in poorer Asian countries. Toyokawa is a great tough guy, and brings some realism to the fight scenes. Takako Tokiwa (Brave Story) playing the only female member of the club Yukiji is a little bit wasted as comic relief, and the romantic tension between her and Kenji never really feels authentic.

The whole "Cast of 300" kind of worked against "20th Century Boys," as there are too many famous faces popping in for cameos and then disappearing. If you are not really familiar with Japanese actors this won't be a problem, but having Takenaka Naoto (Ping Pong) pop up for a few seconds to flash his trademark grin just comes off as distracting and takes me out of the storyline. (Seriously, I love the guy but it seems like it is almost illegal to make a Japanese film without giving Takenaka Naoto at least a bit part anymore...)

The big budget, however, was well-spent. Staying true to Urasawa's claim of an "Actual, Scientific Adventure Comic" the way they deal with the Giant Robot attack is fantastic. It is not all science, however, such as when Friend appears at the end astride Okamoto Taro's "Tower of the Sun" from the Expo Commemoration Park in Osaka. I have to admit, this scene gave me an extra thrill as I lived in Osaka for many years and have stood before that bizarre sculpture many, many times (I even have a miniature version that I bought sitting on a shelf at home). I would always comment how the tower looked like it would come to life and do battle with Godzilla, so it was very cool to see that almost happen on film.


There has been some confusion as to what exactly happens at the end, and you have to remember that this is a three-volume series so don't expect to get a complete story here, but all I can say is hold on and wait for the next film. Not that everything will be explained totally, but it does make more sense overall.

While I think the "20th Century Boys" comic is superior, overall I didn't enjoy this movie adaptation as much as I enjoyed both Death Note and "Death Note II: The Last Name." Both of those movies knew when to deviate from the comic to tell a story that worked well for film, and unfortunately that didn't happen as much with "20th Century Boys." While still an excellent movie, "20th Century Boys" just ever so slightly misses the mark.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly Surprised!, December 31, 2009

By 

Dr. J. Ruscheinski "Johannes" (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End (DVD)

After really enjoying the manga versions of the story and not being too optimistic about video adaptations I still gave this a chance. And, am I glad that I did. I can say without reservation that this was just as good as the manga and well worth my money. The only thing wrong with it is how long I will have to wait to watch the next installment of this story! :) Btw., I can also recommend the Monster and Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka. In fact, I will try anything created by Urasawa-san.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Japanese Manga brought to live action actually done right., December 31, 2009

By 

Asian Mack "Art" (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End (DVD)

As with the stellar live action versions of "Death Note" and "Death Note: The Last Name" courtesy of Shusuke Kaneko, once again Japanese Manga is brought to live action with stunning results. The "20th Century Boys" films are great entertainment and very thought provoking. I could not wait for the domestic releases though. I ordered the import Hong Kong BLU-RAY versions of "20th Century Boys Chapter 1: The Beginning Of The End" and "20th Century Boys Chapter 2: The Last Hope" months ago. I have watched both films in 1080p at least twice. I am waiting for the blu-ray version of the final chapter to be released. It is a shame that local stores in my area do not even carry the dvd version of "20th Century Boys Chapter 1". But they have a ca-zillion copies of Teen Movie, Meet The Spartans and other crap. I could not find the live action version of "Blood The Last Vampire" or other films like "Re-cycle", "Chocolate" or "CJ7" on blu-ray in local stores either and I am talking "major" retailers. The only foreign dvd films I found recently in local stores was "Big Man Japan", "Hair Extensions" and "The Machine Girl" and on blu-ray: "Let The Right One In" and "Death Trance". THANK GOODNESS FOR AWESOME WEBSITES LIKE AMAZON!!! The "20th Century Boys" films are huge in Japan. These are not films to think about buying or putting on a wish list. BUY THEM RIGHT AWAY!!! They are that good!!!