User reviews

Hired help, City Hunter, stumbles into a generic sci-fi plot of super-soldier drugs and a secret organization.

I've read and watched City Hunter over the years. And I believe this is the third Live-Action adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo's Manga (with Jackie Chan in 1993 and a rather strange-but-enjoyable French version), only to finally be adapted by Japan around 30-years later!! Personally, any adaptation that properly incorporates the "giant mallet" without feeling forced, gets a pass in my books.

But beyond the average script, there are many likeable elements and an excellent execution. With a good cast that delivers charming performances and keeps a suitable tone throughout. I was expecting more silliness and over the top situations, but it knows how to behave itself. Specially the lead, who is portrayed as a VERY reliable person.. and unrealistically impressive, even! I quite liked Ryohei Suzuki, specially since he is what I'd physically imagine Saeba to be!

So, while the story is barely okay.. the Action more than makes up for it. And while I would have liked to see this as a series with a better plot but all the same parts, what it is is good enough to recommend.

City Hunter is almost 30 years old. For a new audience, the production could have made a one on one adaptation of the manga and/or anime to get new fans. It wouldn't have hurt and the 90s kids (or earlier) would love it. City Hunter is not that hard to adapt IMO. This movie just becomes another action movie.

Besides Kaori, which they changed a little the background, the main characters are from the source. The story is from the principal arc which is good but the introduction is too long to narrate. For a movie of 1h40 minutes, it should have focused on the characters with some small side missions for the 30 first minutes to know them better. It's a miss from the prod. In the end, we don't know what's xyz and don't even know what is City Hunter which is sad truly. City Hunter should be the light for the city of Tokyo. It should brings hope to the needy. But besides that we just get another action movie which is confusing and boring at time.

City Hunter (2024) has missed the mark to get introduced to new fans. It looks just like a fan service of something that is adaptable to a broader audience, but that tells nothing.

The ending sounds like it's open for new parts. If there are not other parts, then this movie is just a pass. It sometimes is too confusing unless the viewers know already the series.

Granted, I've never watched the animated series upon which this 2024 movie is based, so I have no idea how true the movie is to the source material. Nor do I know whether or not you need to have watched the series in order to fully appreciate this 2024 movie from director Yûichi Satô.

Regardless, when I happened to stumble upon "Shiti Hanta" (aka "City Hunter") by random chance here in 2024, of course I needed no persuasion to sit down and watch it. I mean, given my love of the Asian cinema and this being a Japanese action comedy, of course I was interested in watching it.

Writers Tsukasa Hôjô and Tatsuro Mishima managed to put together an enjoyable and entertaining script and storyline. And I was definitely adequately entertained throughout the course of the 102 minutes that the movie ran for. And director Yûichi Satô managed to present a movie that definitely felt like it was spawned of Anime, given the characters, mannerisms, dialogues, etc. So if you enjoy Anime and live-action renderings of Anime movies and series, then you're in for a treat here.

The character gallery in "Shiti Hanta" was good, and there were some very interesting characters. And I have to say that the writers did good jobs on fleshing out the characters and making them distinguishable and memorable on the screen. The character gallery in the movie really added a lot of flavor to the movie.

I have seen actor Ryohei Suzuki and actress Misato Morita somewhere before, I just can't put my finger on where. I have to say that the acting performances in the movie were good, and they definitely had a talented ensemble of actors and actresses.

"Shiti Hanta" looked great, and there is a lot of visual treats to take in throughout the course of the movie. Thumbs up to the cinematography and the wardrobe department that worked on the movie; they really did phenomenal jobs.

There is also a good amount of action throughout the course of the movie, and it was filmed in a very energetic and dynamic way, making it feel like the audience is right there along the actors and actresses on the screen. The acting sequences looked great and added a lot to the overall impression of the movie.

I was genuinely entertained throughout the course of this movie, and it is definitely a movie that is well-worth sitting down and checking out if you enjoy Japanese cinema and Anime.

My rating of "Shiti Hanta" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Based on the anime of the same name (itself based on the manga of the same name), 'City Hunter (2024)' tells the origin of its source material's focal detective team. After a tragedy, a sex-pest private eye is hassled by the sister of his ex-partner until he agrees to help her find out who is responsible for the death that has torn her world apart. The film is definitely a live-action anime, and it feels like something ripped straight from two-dimensions in the best possible way. Although I'm not familiar with the specific anime it adapts, it definitely reminds me of a lot of other anime that I've seen and you can tell that its idiosyncrasies all lovingly stem from its inspiration. Because it's being told with real people yet operating on a cartoon logic, it has this distinct unreal feel to it that makes it seem quite unhinged at times. That's not a bad thing, though, as its off-kilter atmosphere goes hand-in-hand with its inventive filmmaking to absolutely nail the aesthetic it's going for. It's really fun, despite being rather rough around the edges and featuring a protagonist who's as creepy as he is good with a gun. The narrative is all rather rote (although it does have a fairly big surprise towards the beginning) and the character work is done in the broadest of strokes, but the flick is typically enjoyable and is often rather funny as well. It features some excitingly well-choreographed, highly stylised action set-pieces, too. You can tell it's a bit of a low-budget production (it is Netflix, after all), but it wears its heart on its sleeve and it's hard not to like on at least some level. It may not be groundbreaking, but it's definitely entertaining enough for what it is.

"City Hunter" is an exhilarating, action-packed ride that brings the beloved manga to life. Ryohei Suzuki shines as Ryo Saeba, perfectly capturing the charismatic private detective's humor, charm, and high-octane action skills.

The film's entertaining storyline, witty banter, and thrilling sequences make for a thoroughly enjoyable watch. Director Yuichi Sato masterfully balances action, comedy, and drama, staying true to the manga's spirit.

_Highlights:_

• Ryohei Suzuki's standout performance as Ryo Saeba
• High-energy action sequences and impressive stunts
• Faithful adaptation of the manga's tone and style
• Strong chemistry between Suzuki and Misato Morita (Kaori Makimura)
• Vibrant, neon-lit Tokyo setting, perfectly capturing the manga's atmosphere

_The Action Unfolds:_

The film's action scenes are expertly choreographed, showcasing Ryo's impressive martial arts skills and quick thinking. From high-speed chases to intense hand-to-hand combat, the pacing is relentless.

_Comedy and Heart:_

Beyond the action, "City Hunter" also delivers on humor and heart. Ryo's banter with Kaori and other characters adds a lighthearted touch, while the story's emotional moments resonate without feeling forced.

_Verdict:_

"City Hunter" is a fun, action-packed movie that will delight fans of the manga and newcomers alike. With its lighthearted tone, entertaining plot, and impressive action, it's a great choice for those seeking a thrilling ride.

"CITY HUNTER" IS A MUST-WATCH FOR:

• Fans of Ryohei Suzuki
• Those seeking a fun, action-packed movie night
• And mokkori dance number lol.

Accidently came across this title on Netflix. I think I read some City Hunter manga and never really got into it. The movie was confidently made and Gun-fu sequence was kinda meh. It does feel a bit like live anime with uneven pacing. Love seeing the comic book hammer coming into the real life movie. The homage to the manga and anime was a lot better than I expected. Loved the actor who plays Ryo and dynamic of other characters in the comic book, but I can totally see the producer aiming for sequels. Max like TV series would have been great. Gun-fu portion was weirdly likeable and just dumb at the same time. I hope Gun-fu gets fleshed a bit better in sequels. Worth watching it as long as you are okay with some uneven pacing and some plot gaps. I was going between 5~7 ranges for the movie and it landed on 7 out of 10.

Had never heard of City Hunter but other reviewers date it back 30 years or so. For its campy nature, I found it to be fun and enjoyable The antics, though a bit far out, are pulled off well enough to allow the "hero" to really shine. I rather liked his talented character.

If you have any taste for Oriental films I think you'll find this suits the pallet.

As for the storyline, some might find it to be over the top. With all that happens without public knowledge I think parts of it are within the realms of reality. When money and power get mixed one can practically count one someone getting burned, be it an insider or the public.

Give it a whirl.

I first started watching this anime in my early 20s, and it became the 'go-to-anime' for me and my siblings. Comprising of humour, action and great music, the anime continued to be great to watch even these days. This movie, captured the essence of the anime. They didn't try to change it much from what we all know aboy Ryo (a perv), and surpasses Jackie Chan's ridiculous, yet funny version of the great 'City Hunter'. If Netflix is pursuing anime-live action remakes, then this is definitely a model for the upcoming remakes - stick to what we love about the show and try to keep it as close as possible to the anime/manga. Great watch! 8/10.

I didn't expect much when I was watching this movie. It's a typically Japanese action filled crime thriller. The action was quit well done, the story a bit generic. The humour mostly funny. The sidechick was unnecessary and super annoying. I mean really annoying! That's why I wouldn't watch it for a second time. It all looked quite stylish. I'm sure there are better action movies. The acting was also mostly average and didn't really look professional. But the camera, edit snd music was great. If you're a fan of Japanese manga adaptations than you probably will like this movie. I don't have much more to say about it.

I would've put a zero if I could ; I will pretend that one star is adressed to the title and the great manga it's based on.

The adaptation is catastrophic; anyone who loved the original should look into the French version, which truly honors the name, the great work, and the huge fan base of City Hunter.

There is no humor, it's not inspired at all. The movie feels like an independent film; without the title, it would be hard to guess it's City Hunter. It doesn't even follow the main storylines of the original.

In summary, it's garbage, a huge waste of time, and a desecration of a work that painted our youth.

I can't base this review on the shows or films of time gone by as I have not watched them so its purely based on this film alone and I pretty much enjoyed this as a whole. This film follows ryo, his a bit of a playboy but has a good heart when it comes to his job. Him and his partner are pursuing a young girl who seems to have superhuman abilities thanks to a mysterious blue substance. After a run in with a truck and one of these people his partner dies leaving ryo to join forces with his sister Kaori in order to track down the people responsible, something that they dont yet relise will test them. Great cast and a good plot shiti hanta is a great japanese action film overall.

This is a frenetic, Japanese, cartoonish martial arts action adventure. It has many good elements, like the violent and exciting martial arts action scenes and gun play. Much of this is clearly influenced by the first Matrix film. It has a lot of Japanese tropes and much of the comedic Japanese style. The problem with the film is that it is just too confusing. There is realism and then superhero, cartoon sequences and violence. The story is very hard to follow about an outbreak of Japanese violence, possibly, caused by the impact of an injected, illegal drug. The fight choreography is pretty good.

You can tell Ryohei Suzuki is a diehard fan. This was absolutely amazing. Every part of the film feels like it had been made with care and love for the source material.

All main cast were excellent, with Suzuki being the obvious standout. He is Ryo Saeba, and he put in the work. His execution of the hand-to-hand combat and gunplay is phenomenal. He truly makes Ryo feel like the most formidable man you have ever seen.

The comedy, too, has been updated to modern times. Ryo is still as lecherous as ever, but he never puts his hands on anyone without their consent, which is a welcome change.

This film sets a new standard for adapting manga and anime right. I am very hopeful for a sequel.

I want to love it because I do enjoyed the original City Hunter and the Jackie Chan's movie (I'm watching it right now again).

City Hunter was huge back in the 80s and 90s. The pervy part of Ryo came from that era (these pervy protagonist probably won't work anymore in the current era), and even though he is pervy, he is actually great at his works and kind.

I think the casting choice for Ryo was really good. He nailed the character and his body was great lol. I enjoyed the Mokkori scene. The comedy was great too but I felt let down by the overall production.

I wanted it to have more artistic side of it, especially in its colour and cinematography. The opening scene was great, that part where Ryo used the soapy land cushion was funny af, but after that, it felt like a B movie production, especially during the cosplay scenes.

The action sequence and the bullet shooting was great. It didnt have to be so realistic, but I just wish the cinematography was more interesting. It just felt like a normal Japanese drama instead of a great production. Should have looked at how the Korean did on Parasyte Grey. The colour palette was at least something different.

If you know City Hunter, watch the movie. You won't regret it. The casting is great and it is a true joy to watch an animation come to live. Better than One Piece live action, which was superb.

If you don't know the anime, watch a few episodes first, before you get on the movie. The artwork, soundtrack of the first seasons and movies, is like a stepping stone of what made anime today. This show was along the time of Ranma 1/2, Saint Seya, and all that other good stuff.

I collected all the manga and cd's in the 90's and 00's, big fan of the show. Now in my 40's I just enjoy watching an amazing live action translation that does the show justice.

This is one of my favorite animes. I'm not a radical or biggest anime fan, but I do appreciate some like any other genre and know some of the classics.

The popularity of this series peaked in the 80s. The humor and sexual sensibilities was something very difficult to translate into 2024's audiences. And especially coming from the Netflix brand. I was bracing for a Cowboy-Bebop-live-action-sized disappointment.

It isn't half as bad, fortunately. It leaned much more on what is considered normal or acceptable for Japanese audiences, but it might ruffle some western feathers if unfamiliar with the series. Be advised.

Ryo's actor, Ryohei Suzuki confessed fandom showed throughout the movie. He was able to portray the duality of the character. From pervy "mokkori" to serious "sweeper". Although it did seem like something was a bit off or lost in between. The transition didn't feel organic enough. More bipolar than actually the more complex character Ryo is in the series. It didn't come as confident and vulnerable at the same time as the animated series, but this is probably a really tough act to pull off with a live action adaptation.

Still, his overall tone was actually just enough for us to not forget this is City Hunter. Also worth mentioning is his impressive action choreography, both fighting and handling guns. I learned he also learned to drive a manual transmission only for this role.

Kaori's (Misato Morita) had in general a good Kaori likeness, but her two "big" scenes come out as an overly Asian-soap-opera-dramatic weep-to-scream, and pull me so far away from the original character I almost started hating seeing her on screen in the later half of the movie.

It feels as off for Kaori or CH as most of the humor in the movie. Speaking of, the mokkori dance is absolutely cringe-worthy. Ryo's horse cosplay and it's use for the action sequence was the only original element I found actually funny in the whole movie.

The film only really shines properly both in tone and visuals in the minute of epilogue as the actual Ryo Saeba that fans will remember. I wish this had been the case for the whole movie.

I'm aware it would've felt much more "animey" and silly to be like this for a full feature film, but maybe that's the issue when adapting a very episodic series into a full length movie.

Still, it was a bit all over the place tonally with some of Ryo's antics with the otherworldly shooting and fighting, as well as the McGuffin drug making regular people behave like superheroes, when mixed with overly serious/realistic/overly dramatic moments, and very goofy or even B-movie bits, like the cosplay parts. It all felt very messy and uneven.

It's trying to go in too many different directions. I blame the director for not being strong enough in his vision, if he ever had one.

Technically the movie is just held together with a few interesting lighting and effects. The action set in the cosplay set with all the audience as they fight is original and entertaining. But sometimes the whole movie feels very cheap, mostly due to the camera angles and lens used, or how they utilize the sets. For instance the area were all the cosplayers initially are, or were the final showdown illuminated with purple lights. They both belong in a cheap TV series and don't feel, or make the movie feel big at all.

The usual Netflix trope of the gratuitouslly graphic violence is present. The baddies once not useful to their organization, they have exploding bombs implanted in the back of their necks, similar to Battle Royale's necklaces. This has a couple of very graphic kills that could've been less gory. There's a particular kill near the end that feels really unnecessarily bloody. This feels so off for City Hunter it's almost infuriating.

The character Ryo is protecting spends half the movie being a puppet and/or scared, so we never really care for her. She feels like a cog in a mess of characters that aren't well explained or developed for those unfamiliar with them.

The story overall is barely serviceable for its purpose. But sometimes feels too contrived to put in some elements that are not moving the story forward, or are felt only three for exposition. I wish this had been put a bit more effort instead of playing it so safe and simple. But then again, I might be asking more than what the average person would expect from this type of movie.

Overall, it misses the tone. It feels a bit of a crime when the French movie got that right without many actual elements of the City Hunter universe. Even if the French movie wasn't in Tokyo, and neither have the amazing City Pop soundtrack (except the Netflix one, but only for the end credits). It was much more entertaining, fun, wacky, colorful,... it was charming. The characters felt like the originals better than this adaptation. So there's definitely room for something that feels more aligned with what the original brought.

At least it's not as different from the source as the Jackie Chan version from 1993. There was another City Hunter live action adaptation in between Chan's and the French, but outside Ryo's physicality, there wasn't that much to enjoy from it.

Still, this version is watchable if your expectations or knowledge of the manga/anime aren't too high.

I really hope there's a second or even more of these, just so we can see more of what we had literally on the last minute of this film. It's what this cult 80s series really deserve.

The 2024 Japanese live-action City Hunter movie is a triumph, setting a new standard for adapting beloved franchises. Masterfully balancing comedy, heart-pounding action, and nuanced character development, it captures the essence of the original manga and anime while feeling fresh and modern. The lead actors embody Ryo and Kaori with uncanny precision, their chemistry electric. Stunning cinematography and inventive direction elevate even the most outlandish scenes. In comparison, the 1993 Jackie Chan film feels like a pale imitation. This City Hunter adaptation is an absolute must-see, a love letter to fans that will also win over newcomers. It's the gold standard for bringing treasured stories to life on the big screen.

Why are females treated like they can barely tie their shoelaces in some films?

I was enjoying this until the meow meow cosplay madness started, the women have a lower I. Q. than a Pikachu plushy from a claw machine, and it's getting boring.

I got to a point where I want to shake the women awake, gently, to ask why they are acting like schoolgirls when one of them looks well into her 30's I think the smart actor was the guy who got offed in the first half hour.

This had a lot of promise it's a shame it's so poorly done, I love a good Japanese film, but not this it is pretty awful, even Nic Cage would have refused a role in this.

City Hunter came out 40 years ago when my parents were young. When I told them that there is a new City Hunter movie just came out and they were really excited. We watched it together last night and man it did not disappoint! My family, 4 of us watched it together and we absolutely love it! It really perfectly restores the feeling of Japan's Bubble Economy era in the manga, the feeling of decadence at the end of the century, the fashion, the prosperity, the feasting, and the feeling of a modern metropolis where people are drunk and lavish. Ryohei Suzuki definitely fits the role and he did a perfect job. His fighting scenes are superb. His figure and muscles, his movements, and postures, switching guns and ammunition scenes, everything has perfectly restores from the manga. The only thing is, because it is only a 1 hour 40 minutes movie, there are a lot of background stories cannot be fitted into this movie. I just hope that there will be a City Hunter 2 coming. But even so, for younger generations who have not seen the manga or watch the anime or have not heard of City Hunter before, they still will not be disappoint by this movie.

Story straight out of late 70s and 80s, Ryo Saeba also known as City Hunter is a ladies man, a sleazy one at that. He and his partner are on a case to find a missing girl, simultaneously there are random cases of people getting super strength, acting strange before dying. The missing girl they are searching for too has super strength and soon it is revealed that she is a victim of human trial where Angel dust drug was experimented on her. With the police struggling to get anywhere close to solve this case, it is upto City Hunter along with a new partner to save the girl and also bring the baddies to his own form of justice.

I had fun watching the Jackie Chan version of City Hunter when I was a kid. Now, I am not much of a fan and neither I am any aware of the Manga series. This film belonged to the 80s and setting the story in the current time simply doesn't work for it. The action choreography is decent enough but being self aware alone is of no help as the film jumps from being corny to silly to cringe throughout. This one is strictly for the fans of source material and for the rest, it barely provides any engaging story to get invested in.

Prepare yourself for a cinematic journey through the bustling streets of Tokyo with "City Hunter." This Japanese film not only takes us on a tour of the urban landscapes of the capital, but also uses the city as a character in its own right. From narrow alleyways to gleaming skyscrapers, Tokyo is more than just a backdrop; it's a crucial piece of the narrative, pulsating with life and energy in every scene.

But let's talk about the true shining star of this masterpiece: Suzuki Ryohei. This man is not just an actor; he's a force of nature on screen. His performance as the protagonist is nothing short of phenomenal. He manages to switch between hilarious moments and tense moments with enviable ease. And when it comes to action scenes, he simply shines. His movements are so fluid and precise that it's like watching a deadly ballet.

In summary, "City Hunter" is an explosion of action and comedy that takes us on a visual journey through Tokyo. With an exceptional performance by Suzuki Ryohei and a refreshing approach to the dynamics between genders, this film is a true gem of contemporary Japanese cinema.

Based on the manga and anime films and series of the same name, this live-action version of "City Hunter" is as silly as the original source material, but lacks the endearing quirks that made the franchise fun.

I think a large part of the problem is that in this 2024 Netflix version, the main character Ryo Saeba has been very much toned down in his womanizing and lecherous ways. The original Saeba was a product of late-1980s Japan; this new Saeba is tame and uninteresting by comparison.

The story itself too is not as interesting. Nearly the first 20 minutes is devoted to a part of Saeba's back story that could have been better done in another way. That's about 25% of the total runtime of the movie. Such a bad choice and a waste.

Sadly, the live-action versions have never been any good. I recommend sticking to the anime movies and series.