In association with

Wasabi [2001]
from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
starring Jean Reno, Ryoko Hirosue, Michel Muller, Carole Bouquet, Yoshi Oida
directed by Gérard Krawczyk

Features:

• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

This high-energy Dirty Harry in Japan stars Jean Reno (The Professional) as a maverick Paris cop with sledgehammer fists and a short temper. Promoted to sudden fatherhood when he "inherits" a spunky Japanese daughter (Ryoko Hirosue) he never knew, he becomes her droopy guardian angel, protecting her from an army of yakuza gangsters. Written and produced by Luc Besson, the former fashionista director of Euro-sleek shoot-'em-ups, this colorful B-movie blast is as gritty as an oil slick on a water slide but packed with explosive action. Director Gerard Krawczyk punctuates his gunfights with the Hong Kong school of recoil (bullets blast victims across the screen) and an undercurrent of humor. As long as you don't lean too hard on such niggling details as logic, legality, and the laws of physics, this silly, splashy, family bonding bulletfest is a spirited good time.

DVD Technical Information:

• Languages: English, French
  
• Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1:2.35 Anamorphic Widescreen
  
• Colour
  
• PAL
  
• Region Code: 2
  
• Running time: 90 mins approx.

This boisterous crime-cop dramedy is written and produced by Luc Besson and stars Jean Reno. Like THE PROFESSIONAL (the 1994 Besson-Reno film), it is the story of a man with a grim, lonely life and a penchant for violence who finds redemption in a needy, spirited young girl who forces him to have heart and save her from an ugly group of thugs. This time around Reno plays Hubert, a Parisian cop who is handed a forced sabbatical when he accidentally beats up the chief's son. Simultaneously Hubert learns that his one true love Miko has died, leaving him her inheritance. He quickly travels to Tokyo to sign the papers, and learns that he has inherited Yumi (Ryoko Hirosue), his exuberant 19-year-old daughter, who is perpetually shopping, dancing, and laughing. Unfortunately, Yumi is being trailed by a tough bunch of Japanese mobsters who want access to her sizeable bank account. With the help of Maurice (Michel Muller) and an immense cache of weapons--grenades, rocket launchers, giant pistols, and golf clubs--Hubert uses some fancy footwork to bring Yumi to safety. Directed by Gerard Krawczyk with a thumping musical score from Eric Serra, WASABI is a bright, loud, fast-moving film.

From writer/producer Luc Besson – the legendary action filmmaker behind such adrenalin-pumping classics as Leon and The Fifth Element - comes this hilarious high-impact adventure starring Jean Reno (Leon, Mission Impossible) as a burly French cop travelling to Japan to settle an old debt.

With his old-school tactics and pit-bull disposition, police detective Hubert Fiorentini (Reno) is all business. But his routine existence is disrupted when he learns that the only woman he ever loved is dead. Summoned to Tokyo to settle her estate, he soon suspects that her death was no accident. When he discovers that he is the father of her spirited teenage daughter, things get really complicated!

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Jean Reno doesn't disappoint
  Very entertaining movie, that is both an action movie and kind of a comedy as well as there are many funny scenes in it. Jean Reno carries the movie, which is set in a Japanese environment with Japanese gangsters and what not. Certainly preferable to any classical Hollowood movie.

• Lots of good bits that keep getting better
  I loved it on first viewing - it's one where the good bits get more enjoyable each viewing (I've now seen it 6 - 7 times) . Don't forget - a man's nose can be very important. Listen up - you'd better be exactly sure how long it's been since his love left him. Hooolle - Are you kidding? A Frenchman giving an English lesson to a Japanese speaker - charming in all the languages. Would I play golf with this guy? I don't think so! But I'd sure like him protecting me. Being in almost every scene he must have the... more info

• Excellent action movie with lots of humour & a dash of cute
  I have watched this movie a few times and it doesn't dissapoint. It's not exactly deep but it is great for a bit of unchallenging entertainment. Jean Reno is excellent and Ryoku Hirosue is a lovely new discovery. She is expressive and very convincing, one minute bouncy bundle of cuteness and next minute all tears. I bought the Japanese film Poppoya after seeing her in this. Slapstick action, funny humour, funny sidekick guy, charming Ryoku - it's a keeper. The only downside is the high price of french films... more info

• What a film
  mae no reviewer he, "Moshi Moshi" to iu yo... baka!! - This film is Amelie with violence. What more is there to say?
  Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. Biggest plus is that it stars Ryoko Hirosue!!! kore desu kara 5 star no eiga desu. Although she is a little young in this film and not as hot as in Ren ai Shashin, she is still cute... kawaiiiiii yo. Yes, Japan has suddenly learnt to speak French, but put that aside and you have a great film... after all it was not made to be serious.

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