Golgo 13

Posted Friday, April 18, 2008 - 03:12 by animesempai

Summary:

A Few bit information: Golgo 13 is a manga created by Japanese mangaka Takao Saito about a fictional assassin, the lead protagonist and title character Golgo 13. It is one of the longest running adult manga in Japan and since its debut in 1968, the series has sold over 200 million copies in various formats, including compilation books. In 1976, the manga won the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award for seinen/general manga. It has 12-episode series. Source: Wikipidea

Story: 7

A terrorist has hijacked a plane and redirected it to Colombia, but there's a chance to stop him while it's refueling at an intermediate airport. The authorities call on Duke Togo (Golgo 13's real name ... perhaps) to come in and snipe the target from a ridiculously long distance right through the airplane cockpit window. No ordinary human could pull off a sniper shot under those conditions—but then again, Golgo 13 is no ordinary human. Now if that's not a hardcore badass plotline, I don't know what is. Unfortunately, it also sounds like the plotline of a bajillion summer blockbuster movies, so your mileage may definitely vary with this one.

Animation: 6.5

The choice of city for an episode in America about taking someone out with a sniper shot is an interestingly (and probably unintentionally?) edgy one, and the episode content relies on some improbable contrivances involving the competence level of SWAT team members and flight rules at a major airport, but that aside, this is a series specifically aimed at adults. No cutesy characters or teen heroes here; this one is all about sexy women and burly, broad-shouldered men. It features sex, graphic violence, and just a touch of nudity, and the closer visuals suggest that the format seen in this episode will be the norm. The animation quality is merely adequate, most of the character designs consist of stern-looking guys, and watching Important Political People discuss the situation in the early part of the episode is a bore. In terms of capturing the spirit of the manga, this show nails it—but whether that spirit will attract new viewers is really a matter of personal taste.

Music: 4.5

What does work in the show's favor is its cool, detached atmosphere—subdued colors, jazz-tinged background music, and the suspenseful pacing that carries all the way through to that final sniper shot. I didnt pay attention on the music maybe because Im to focus on watching on how the main charactes works (sorry)

Characters: 9

Also known as Duke Togo, Golgo 13 has been called a Japanese counterpart to James Bond, except with a darker character, a much more hardcore attitude towards sex, and a complete lack of morality. Golgo 13 is described as a mystery man of undetermined origin, possibility being at least part Japanese, who takes any assignment for any employer (it has been said he has worked for the CIA and the KGB) as long as the right price is given (usually around $1 million for a hit) and will always fulfill his contracts, even if he has two or more opposing contracts at the same time. He is an uncanny sharpshooter, with only one missed shot and capable of lethal trick shooting. He regularly uses a customized, scoped M-16 rifle in his assassinations. He also is a heavy cigar smoker. Despite Golgo's "amoral" status, he seems to take assignments that work with his own ethical logic as the stories are always set up so that Golgo is at least nominally a "good guy" -- his targets are typically criminals or people who otherwise at least partially "deserve" what they get. There are no stories that involve completely innocent people being assassinated. The origin of Golgo 13 is left in complete mystery, his age and birthplace both completely unknown. Some theories state that Golgo 13 is either: Japanese, Japanese-American, Chinese, Chinese-American, mixed Japanese and Russian, or of other mixed Asian descent. Some theories even suggest that he may be of former Manchurian or Central Asian descent, but these are deemed unlikely. The first part of Golgo 13's name has often been related to Golgotha, the hill where Jesus Christ was crucified. Further indication of is evidenced by the use of the first five letters of the hill in question. The numeric portion of his name is a possible connection to the thirteenth disciple known as Judas Iscariot, infamous for betraying Jesus Christ.

Overall: 6.75

Full of ugly middle-aged men and procedural details and starring an amoral killer, this is entertainment aimed squarely at fans of ice-cold espionage thrillers past. The entire episode builds to a single rifle shot, and much attention is given to Golgo's meticulous methodology (he insists his weapons be tested and never gets into cars or elevators before his partners have). The episode's stripped-down momentum is unfortunately disrupted by a gratuitous sex scene and the mafia side-plot, but the payoff as his bullet wings its way over snipers and tarmac to its lethal destination makes everything worthwhile. For those who want to see Blood , action, Sex and hardcore violence this anime series has it all so what your waiting for check it out.........