Customer Reviews

Golgo 13 - The Professional [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Golgo 13's one of those movie's that goes around appreciated by only a few. Most of my friends who've seen it either loved it or hated it, depending. I think a lot of the sex scenes turn people off to the film, as well as it's noir setting and odd style of story progression. Perhaps the film's an acquired taste -- I loved it after having seen it once, and even after several years since seeing it for the first time I love it still. Many of the dark elements of the film -- exposing humanity's more negative aspects with no mercy -- I think leaves an unsettling mood in the audience. But, heh, that's why I love the film. In fact, I liked this one better than "Queen Bee," Queenie being the one more people seem to like, I guess, because it has more of a "linear" feel to it than this one.

Anyways, SEE THIS MOVIE. It's artsy, even in the scenes where a head's being blown off ... .

I consider "The Professional: Golgo 13" to be the "Usual Suspects" of anime. It has a developed characters, a fascinating storyline, good action, and a kick-in-the-butt surprise ending. I was blown away by this the first time I watched it, and watched it five times in one night because I was so impressed. The minute I saw a video copy of it at Suncoast I bought it without another thought.

The opening scene of the film shows Duke Torgo (aka Golgo 13) killing the son of a wealthy oil tycoon. Using his money and influence, the tycoon vows revenge. At first you may not care since his revenge seems justified, but as the movie continues you begin to see who the characters really are. Duke isn't a cold-hearted killer as we first thought, and Leonard Dawson, the oil tycoon, quickly stops being the kind of character you want to root for, especially after selling his daughter-in-law off to the perverted hitman Snake in return for services. "The Professional" gives you false first impressions and then reveals the characters slowly through the action and dialogue.

Some complain about the animation, but those people clearly aren't fair as it is more a sign of what time this film was made. For me, the character designs were well detailed and the animation didn't bug me so much because of the storyline and characters. The surprise ending is icing on the cake.

Now I am waiting for the day they release this on DVD. The minute I see it on DVD is the minute I buy it. Even if I have to overdraw from my bank account.

"The Professional: Golgo 13" is the best anime I have ever seen. This came out in 1983, which was between "Fist of the Northstar" and "Vampire Hunter D". The plot is so sophisticated that you will forget you are watching an animated feature. It is about a professional assassin codenamed "Golgo 13", who is trying to survive an onslaught of attacks from the CIA, FBI, and the Pentagon, not knowing who is behind them. He also has to go up against a repusive, biologically-engineered mutant called Snake. My favorite scene is when Golgo 13 and Snake go head-to-head in a glass elevator, each using his own distinct syle of fighting. Snake is the kind of killer that would simply tear you apart, wheras Golgo uses more precise martial arts to defend himself. Some people compare the character of Golgo 13 to James Bond. I disagree. Golgo is more like "The Jackal", played by Edward Fox. He is methodical, cold-blooded, and sociopathic, similar to Tom Cruise's character in "Collateral". However, you do tend to root for him, just like Edward Fox and Tom Cruise, because they are so professional at what they do, and all have a marginal sense of humanity. Golgo 13 is not invincible, contrary to poular belief. He bleeds, feels pain, and requires medical attention and recuperation before continuing on a job. Some people also complain about the sex in this film. If you have ever listened to the audio commentary by Osamu Dezaki during the movie "Queen Bee", you will understand that it reflecting the character's current feelings, and this is how he/she copes with them. Most of the people in the film have their lives destroyed, sans Golgo 13, who remains indifferent, since he is used to dealing with these situations. This is not a movie for kids, but makes a fantastic thriller/action film for adults. It taps into psychology, as well, showing how delicate the human condition realy is.

Based on one of the most long-running manga series in Japan, Golgo 13: The Professional is simply one of the best action films ever made. Right from the start you'll notice that this anime has a huge retro spin on it, with its split-screen effects and such. Golgo 13 is looking good; sharp and deadly. The soundtrack seemed kind of unfitting for me after seeing Golgo 13: Queen Bee, but I found there were a lot of memorable retro songs in the movie. For those who don't care much, the plot is simple, but the analytical can delve as far into the meaning of it as they want- just like in Golgo 13: Queen Bee. Having this quality is definitely a good thing for the story. The Dawson Building finale definitely was the highest point in the movie, outdated computer-animated helicopter scenes aside. The action and intrigue never really stops, and the movies ending provides a rather unexpected turn. Thankfully, Urban Vision has re-released this classic, as it was originally released by Streamline, which is famous for its [bad] dubs. In the dub, people swear constantly just because they can, and it really begins to sound stupid after a while. Lieutenant Braygon yells just about every expletive in the book, at about 20 cuss words a minute. The subtitled version has nowhere near the amount of ridiculous cussing, and better voice actors as expected.

Sure, it can be over the top sometimes, but, as they say, Golgo 13 makes the impossible possible. Go see it.

This video is the best action packed anime ever exist. The story is simillar to " Professional by Luc Besson", and the tone can be compared to John Woo's films. But basically, Golgo 13 is the Japanese answer to Coppola's " Godfather". Most of the action animes are coming from the roots of " Yakuza Flicks". And that's why the animes are so Japanese. But "Golgo 13" is built on the American ground and touched by French perfume. So this is the real international anime which anybody can enjoy. If you get bored by Disney World, you better start on a journey into Anime World by picking up " Golgo 13", I insist.

Duke Togo, aka Golgo 13, is a professional assassin. He never misses a deadline, and always finds a way to hit his target. For example: When Golgo 13 must dispose of an Ex-Nazi murderer in a lavish (bullet proof) penthouse surrounded by the police, he calmly fires ten rounds from a beer sign two blocks away, through a window of an office building, down the hall, exploding a water cooler, out another window, and lined up into the bullet proof glass until one makes it through and into the head of the sadistic Nazi killer! And believe me, I gave nothing away. Please see this incredible movie.

This is an anime classic, with lots of action and an interesting storyline. It had some very good graphics for its time! The film focuses on a killer named Duke Togo, code named Golgo 13, who one of the trained proffesionals that works as a hitman. It has at least 10 F-bombs, and that's okay. The violence is brutal, and there is nudity. The animation was [bad], though... But it must have been amazing to see 20 years ago. Anyway, it was a great action/thriller.

Straight from the very popular Japanese adult graphic novel series by Takao Saito,the ultimate assassin for hire,GOLGO 13.Golgo 13 has got to be one of the coldest,most methodical and enigmatic characters to have ever been put to print or film.
Top notch animated action drama.The bodies begin to fall and the body count rises when Golgo 13 gets into action.Truly one of my all time favorite animes.I have been a huge fan of Golgo 13 for many years and hope to see more Golgo 13 anime in the future...

This is one of the best anime bloody drama killer flicks I have EVER seen. Golgo is an assissin that never lets a contract expire under any circumstance, not even when they know he's coming. He takes on an assignment that calls for him to kill the son of a oil billionare who has extensive financial influence on the U.S. goverment and all of it's intelligence agencies. In turn the father gets the FBI, CIA, Pentagon to hunt down this invincible killer. The pentagon produces one of thier secret BLACK-OPS project, Snake a bio-enginered apauling creature with purple skin that knows martial-arts and has a knife yo-yo that slits your throat from twenty feet away. The FBI sent two cannablistic, demented prisoners who participated in a secret experiment in which forty death-row prisoners were sent into the congo without food, water or weapons and had to go against jungle beasts, canabils, and various tribes practiclly barefoot. After seven days only two were left, and that experience left them psycotic (cant even speak), and immune to pain, these two are Golgo's last obstacle. The ironic ending in the best when Golgo makes it through the impossible gauntlet beat-up with gunshot wounds, broken ribs and to the father's surprise the son hired the assissin himself... I call him superman because he is just one man going against mutants, armies, and enhanced psyco-paths while still fulfilling contracts killing for his clients... This, to me was one of those flicks that remains superior to it's sequal. Queen Bee (Gollgo part two) failed to keep me attentive, and terribly lacked plot as in contrast to it's predessor. You may not like this anime if you're female :)lol

I always knew if there was going to be a live-action film of the infamous assassin GOLGO 13,Sonny Chiba was the perfect man! As a die-hard fan of the GOLGO 13 anime movies and comics and Sonny Chiba as well,this was great to watch.Sonny Chiba as the no-nonsense assassin is doing what he does best...killing.Every fan of GOLGO 13 must have this film.