Possible Spoilers. Takahashi Yamazaki is truly an avid fan of American and Hong Kong Cinema. In his latest feature "Returner", Yamazaki borrows liberally from an array of recent American Sci-Fi and action films, everything from the "Matrix" (1999), to "ID4: Independence Day" (1996), to "MI2: Mission Impossible 2" (2000) and "Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)". While this homage makes for grand spectacle and entertaining "pop-corn", there in lies the problem. "Returner" reads too much like the above films. Yamazaki's previous film "Juvenile" (2000) also had the same problem. This is not to say that "Returner" isn't a good film. With its kinetic action sequences, likeable cast and awesome CGI Special Effects, it is quite possibly the best looking Japanese action film to come out of late. Yet, the story is a hodge-podge of "Hollywood" cliches and ideas lifted from better films. Takeshi Kaneshiro excels in his "Tom Cruise/Keanu Reeves" clone role and emotes the necessary charm and charisma asked of him. Ann Suzuki fares not so well as the time traveling heroine bringing nothing much to the role save the necessary "school girl" cuteness factor. Goro Kishitani is the standout by far as the venomous Mizuguchi. His over-the-top villainy recalls Nicholas Cage in "Face/Off" (1997) and Dennis Hopper in "Speed" (1994). With "Returner", Yamazaki is posed to be a major player in modern Japanese cinema along with the likes of his fellow contemporaries like Takashi Miike, Shusuke Kaneko and Kaizo Hayashi.
