Product Details

• Directors: Shinji Higuchi
• Format: Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Tartan Video
• DVD Release Date: February 12, 2008
• Run Time: 134 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000Z6GTD6
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,182 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In the aftermath of a major earthquake, global scientists predict that Japan will sink within 40 years due to a collision of tectonic plates to the west. The Prime Minister puts into place a massive plan for the exodus of the nation’s entire population. However, Dr. Tadokoro, the head of a Japanese scientific team, finds out the truth – Japan will not sink in the next 40 years, but in the next 339 days! As the cataclysmic events unfold, Dr. Tadokoro assembles a team of scientists to attempt the impossible – save the nation before it’s too late.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh no! There goes Tokyo!, June 11, 2008

By	Zack Davisson "All Good Things" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Following the popularity of eco-disaster flick "The Day After Tomorrow", director Shinji Higuchi, of Studio Gainax fame and inheritor of the "Gamera" series, hauled out the classic Japanese disaster story "Japan Sinks" and gave it a modern renovation, complete with state of the art special effects and a cast of pop-idols. Starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, of the J-pop super-group SMAP, and Kou Shibasaki, best known in the West as the sadistic killer Mitsuko Souma from "Battle Royale", director Higuchi also peppers the films with cameos from his friends in the anime business. Gainax co-founder Hideaki Anno and "Gundam" creator Yoshiyuki Tomino both make appearances.

"Doomsday: the Sinking of Japan" (literal translation of original title "Nihon Chinbotsu" would be "Japan Sinks!") first appeared as a novel in 1973, and got a film adaptation the same year. An American adaptation soon followed in 1975 called "Tidal Wave". Plot-wise it is a by-the-numbers super-event disaster movie. Through a bit of fuzzy science, a massive collision of tectonic plates rocks Japan with earthquakes, slowly breaking apart the country and sending it sinking into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The populace of the country struggles to survive. Rescue workers show their courage time and again. Against the backdrop of despair and destruction, the flower of true love blossoms. And one plucky young scientists comes up with a plan that just might be crazy enough to save them all, provided a few brave stalwarts are willing to sacrifice their lives to pull it off.

And while the plot is all good and well, the true fun of a disaster flick is the disaster, and "Japan Sinks" pulls that off very well. All of the great monuments of Japan, all the achievements and landmarks that have stood the test of time for thousands of years, get a grand send-off. The Great Buddha of Nara and the magnificent Kiyomizu Temple of Kyoto come crashing down with all the pathos and glory one could hope for. Director Higuchi knows how to breathe life into special effects, and he uses all his strengths.

"Doomsday: the Sinking of Japan" is by no means a great movie. It is pure eye-candy, pure adrenaline and gushing tears. Anyone paying too close attention to the plot is going to hate it, especially how the rest of the World just callously sits by and watches while Japan goes under. But if you are in the mood for a big blow up movie, and get a kick out of watching some of the most beautiful and venerated buildings in the world come crashing down in digital splendor, than this is just what you need.

3.0 out of 5 stars FOR DISASTER MOVIE BUFFS, February 13, 2009

By	H. Jackson "docostrow" (Lafayette, Oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This film should be enjoyable for people who are fans of the disaster film genre. Obviously,special effects play an important part because, by definition, massive scenes of destruction are at the heart of the visuals. the effects are passable, but not the greatest, once you've seen other films of this type, such as I AM LEGEND,and THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW.
I enjoyed it just for the pure fun of it. So pop the popcorn, slide the disc in your player and sit back and enjoy an hour or so of vicarious thrills.