City Hunter 2024 Review: A new Netflix movie based on the famous manga City Hunter by Tsukasa Hojo is here, and I am delighted to review it. Let us see how this movie fared compared to the already beloved manga/anime franchise.
City Hunter 2024 Overview
The beloved manga City Hunter, which mesmerized readers with over 50 million copies sold, finally hits the big screen in an eagerly anticipated live-action adaptation. It tracks Ryo Saeba, as he manoeuvres through the tough streets of modern-day Shinjuku, Tokyo, handling risky situations as a top “sweeper.”
Ryohei Suzuki, Misato Morita, Masanobu Ando, Asuka Hanamura, Ayame Misaki, Moemi Katayama, etc, come together to give life to this project. Directed by Yuichi Satoh and produced by Keisuke Sanpei this movie sets the stage for an electrifying adventure.
The ending theme for this movie is “Get Wild Continual” by TM NETWORK (Sony Music Labels Inc.) and the music is by Eishi Segawa.
– City Hunter 2024 Review Contains Minor Spoilers –
City Hunter 2024 Review and Recap – Nostalgia vs. Adaptation
This movie depicts only the segment of how Ryo met Kaori. On the surface, the story is about a mysterious detective who goes by the name City Hunter whom you can approach with only a very special mean. Things go awfully wrong when Ryo and his partner get the request to track the sister of a young woman.
It is definitely true that adapting any manga or anime into live-action is a difficult chore that will likely face criticism from fans for not being too accurate. And this happens because the things that we see in manga and anime are often extraordinary and when somebody tries to put that into reality, it can turn into a farcical mess. But it’s possible to create adaptations that preserve the essence of the original source material while also bringing something new to the table.
In this movie’s case, I would say they got pretty close to making a good City Hunter adaptation but failed because of the timeline difference.
If we consider the positives of this movie, then I must admit that Ryohei Suzuki, as Ryo Saeba, the charismatic and perverted detective is very good. I will say that physically he’s the closest to what you would imagine Ryo to look like in reality. Ryohei managed to pull all the eccentricities of Ryo’s character pretty decently, considering this is a movie of less than two hours. We see his lewdness when he ogles at the breasts of his clients or when he frequents shady establishments, but we also feel his sincerity when he deals with his enemies.
The action sequences are also nicely choreographed and you do consider Ryohei to be a great shooter with impeccable marksmanship just like the original Ryo. Even Kaori, his companion comes off as clumsy but determined when she joins Ryo for a deadly mission. Hence, from the actor’s side, both the protagonists did everything they could in their power to make City Hunter as realistic as possible.
But we must admit that City Hunter was crafted in the 80s, deeply rooted in the Tokyo of that era. Every detail, from Ryo’s car to the locales he frequents, reflects a bygone Japan. Thus, completely overhauling a story from the past to fit the mould of the 21st century might seem abrupt and lacking. Even the mission that Ryo and Kaori were on was not that intriguing and was pretty predictable till the end.
The conclusion of the movie was also not that impressive but at least it hints towards a continuation. You can say that this movie was just the introduction and things ended before the main journey of Ryo could begin. The music was tastefully done and I especially loved how they used a rendition of the original City Hunter opening towards the end.
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Verdict
As a fan of the City Hunter anime, watching this movie was a delightful trip down memory lane for me. Personally, I found it quite enjoyable, especially seeing Ryohei’s portrayal that closely mirrors the character of Ryo. If you’re familiar with the original anime or manga, I highly recommend watching this film for its nostalgic charm. But even if you’re new to the franchise, this movie is still worth a watch, as it offers a decent and entertaining experience overall.
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