Movie Digest
The movie takes place during Christmas Eve. During this joyous time of the year, a television station broadcasts a sinister threat. A video demands a conversation with the Prime Minister or a bomb will go off in Tokyo.
The Feel-Good Part
The graphic of the bombing is spectacular yet realistic. As it is based on a novel, the director does justice to the writer’s imagination. The film has a positively anti-war message.
The Disappointing Factor
The movie was not made in consideration of today’s world. Many of the messages are difficult to comprehend in current times. The current global scenario was not mentioned. The main character is slightly bland. On the other hand, the more interesting character did not get much screentime. One of the characters is shown to be so suspicious that it becomes obvious that he is not the villain. It has tried to mash up two-time frames together in a subtle way and it just doesn’t seem to work out.
In-Depth Analysis
The movie has a surprise twist ending. The way citizens did not take the threats seriously and went about their lives is a metaphor for how people acted during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is based on the novel And So This Is Xmas by Takehiko Hata. As it is shown in the promotional poster, there is a Christmas present in the middle of the ruins of a city. This seems to be a good foreshadowing of the plot of the movie. The movie is based on a book that was written during a different political landscape, which is evident in the film. Politics plays a significant role in the film and you can gain an insight into the working of the Japanese administration.
Star Power
The movie stars Alice Hirose, Kai Inowaka, and Yuriko Ishida. It is directed by Takafumi Hatano.
Overall Opinion
While the premise and story are good, the movie did not live up to its potential. There is room for improvement. Fans of Die Hard will like this movie and its graphics. It did not live up to expectations.
