Golgo 13: Kowloon Assignment (Yukio Noda, 1977)

[Neville]

Plot: Renowned killer for hire Golgo 13 and a Hong Kong police inspector pathes intersect when they both go after a foreign diplomat that uses his office as a front for a drug smuggling business.

Comments: So glad I could put my hands on this one... fans will remember assassin Golgo 13 from either the comics or the mean-spirited 1980s anime film. This film is a very different animal, a campy yet extremely entertainning action film. You'll know the kind if you've seen oriental action films from the same era... lots of zooms, minimal dialogue, chases, stunts and firefigths at every turn... if anything, this particular film scores gets extra points for 1) its multiple scenarios (Miami, Macau and Hong Kong, among others) 2) The absurdly high number of foreign (that is, non-oriental) actors dubbed into Japanese and 3) the absolutely hilarious portrayal of Golgo 13 by Sonny Chiba, who spents the whole film with his lips firmely closed and a permanent frown.



I've found out there's aven another, earlier, live action Golgo 13 film, this one starring none other than Ken Takakura, of "The Yakuza" and "Black Rain" fame. Now, if I could locate that one...

[Archivist]

I had no idea this existed, this is amazing. Good old Sonny Chiba, too! I first came into contact with Golgo 13 through the anime in the early 90s, connected with similar series like Midnight Eye Goku. As a bit of trivia, Seiko released a Golgo 13 styled watch in 2013, I think it was a shrouded dive watch with Golgo 13 colourway and branding.

[Neville]

That's some interesting product endorsement... 9/10 contract killers use this watch!

[Archivist]

Oh wow, Seiko released a number of Golgo 13 watches!

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/seiko-golgo-13-watches/

[Neville]

There's also a sequel to the 1980s anime movie and at least an animated series out there... however I don't think they were ever released in my country.

Golgo 13: Queen Bee (1998)

Golgo 13 TV series (2008-09)