I step on the Wind and Fire Wheels, drifting through youth
We in the story are living out our own lives...
The monster 86 that tears up Mount Akina returns to the big screen after 20 years!
It's hard to believe how time flies; in the blink of an eye, "Initial D" is already a 2005 manga-to-live-action racing film. Those long-gone school days of idolizing Jay Chou, which had slowly faded with time, seem to be reawakened by the roar of the engine. Even after 20 years, this remains the one and only live-action movie—no sequel, and no rival.
The quiet sound of rain, the whistling of the wind... We're not just watching our bygone youth, but also yearning for those passionate memories. With this 1:24 scale model kit from Aoshima, I used a makeup sponge for a simple paint job, roughly finishing this classic Panda-colored Toyota AE86 that was deeply etched into my childhood memories.
Revisiting this film as an adult, without the rose-tinted glasses of idol worship, some of the stylistic choices of its era take some getting used to. For example, in terms of editing, the frequent use of freeze-frames in certain places creates a sense of interruption that really disrupts the viewing rhythm. Also, the deliberately arranged comedic scenes (like being drunk and bleeding from the head while still snoring, the repeated vomiting of milk, the Heimlich maneuver to induce vomiting of a bun) are, looking back, just a little bit awkward.
However, the looks of the main cast back then were truly at their peak: Jay Chou, who played Takumi Fujiwara, delivered a performance that was essentially him playing himself. But compared to the aloof and reticent Takumi of the early source material, Jay Chou's youthful exterior couldn't hide his inherent 'I'm the man' arrogance. Edison Chen, as the White Comet of Akagi—Ryosuke Takahashi—was incredibly cool and charismatic. And Anne Suzuki, who played the female lead Natsuki Mogi, showcased the unique freshness and innocence of a girl in the prime of her youth (or did she?).
What's more puzzling is Anthony Wong's portrayal of the father, Bunta Fujiwara. Although he was already an exaggerated character—a dad who would wake his son up at dawn, train him to drive without a license since middle school, and place a cup of water in the cup holder to teach him how to deliver tofu smoothly—the movie adaptation took it even further. Bunta not only became a complete alcoholic but would also beat Jay Chou's youthful body black and blue when in a bad mood. This made the father's personality seem completely out of place during the later flashback scenes of preparation and father-son dialogue before the final battle. One can only say that Jay Chou's father, both in the movie and in real life, has to bear the stereotype of 'Dad, I'm Home'. It must be tough.
As for the supporting cast, Chapman To's Itsuki Tachibana condenses the roles of the gas station trio, giving him more screen time and a larger role in driving the plot. However, I personally feel it's a shame that Iketani didn't make an appearance. After all, his tragic, unresolved romance with Mako Sato in the anime is just too classic. Not seeing it on the big screen is nothing short of a regret. Other characters are merely fleeting appearances, like Shawn Yue (who replaces Keisuke in being overtaken by Takumi) and Jordan Chan, who only joins in for the final battle. The rest mostly serve as foils to Jay Chou's protagonist halo, leaving little lasting impression.
If there's one character important enough to stand alongside Takumi, it's undoubtedly the AE86, personally tuned by Bunta. Unlike the anime, which used CG, most of the racing scenes in the movie were filmed with real-life, practical car stunts. The heart-pounding drifts and gutter-run cornering, paired with the piercing screech of tires echoing through the mountains, let you feel the undying speed and passion of a wild youth (By the way, did you glue the engine parts on backwards?).
Watching the same movie at different stages of life can bring about different feelings. I remember being young and naive, not understanding why Natsuki got into that Mercedes-Benz back then, when driving the 86 was all it took to get a taste of Natsuki's sweetness...
Speaking of which, the market value of the 86 today is nothing like it used to be. But from beginning to end, the one person who influenced Takumi's life decisions was always Natsuki! It's only after growing up that I've come to understand the sorrow behind 'All the Way North'. But in the end, you have to wipe away the unstoppable tears, because a street racer doesn't need a woman...
Rage your dream 続く果てない道を
Rage your dream on this endless road
愛も過去も振り向かず
Without looking back at love or the past
