Space Travelers (2000)

SPACE TRAVELERS is a comic thriller about three men (TakeshiKaneshiro, Masanobu Ando and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), orphans all,who decide to rob a bank just before closing time to finance theirescape to a tropical paradise. Plans, as they often do, go southand the trio ends up trapped in the locked-down bank with aneclectic and eccentric collection of staff and customers, each ofwhom corresponds to characters in an anime show adored by oneof the robbers (Ando, the psycho kid in BATTLE ROYALE). In shortorder, the hostages realize their captors are actually misguidedlosers and decide to help them out, adopting character namesfrom the anime and making the growing throngs of cops outsidethink the gang is much bigger than it really is and, in the process,discovering untapped potential and new senses of purpose intheir mundane lives. A fast-paced, often touching piece of work,with extremely well-drawn characters.

This movie was an unexpected gem. It is one of those rare movies where after just a few minutes you forget that it is sub-titled and are fully absorbed into the plot.The film is very funny. The laughs are spread around and there are some great performances. I especially liked "Crusher" who had a dead pan life weary outlook that shone through.I won't go into the plot other than it involves a simple bank robbery where everything goes wrong and the outcome is unexpected.This is a truly wonderful movie well worth watching and great entertainment.

Honestly, I didn't even know what the movie was about when I imported it from Japan; just that the cover looked cool. Let me tell you: this is a must-see. It starts out as a bouncy comedy; you can't really help but side with the robbers when everything goes horribly wrong. It's funny, the cinematography is great, the action is great and funny too. However, like most foreign films, there's a twist ending. I won't say any more since it might give it away but it's worth buying just to see it. The soundtrack is great. Not only is it full of orchestrated pieces by Akihiko Matsumoto, but the use of popular songs like "Now I'm Here" by Queen, and classical like "Requiem" by Fauré, really add to the movie. If you're looking for a foreign movie to see, this is the one.

What a great film this is! The director of Bayside Shakedown returns with this fantastic movie which will bring out the kid in all of us.The film's action sequences are top notch, at times even better than Hollywood. The comedy level in the film is very, very high.Now, it seems for a moment that this is a regular action comedy but guess what - apart from the action and comedy, the film is also a pinching satire on Japanese media, police force and the entertainment industry.I would give this film a perfect 10 if not for the end.The film opens up giving us a feeling that this is one roller coaster ride we'll never forget. But then in the end, the film suddenly goes into a very sad mode. My God - it disappointed me!!!!!!Screw the ending. Check this film out. You'll love it!