For the second time in the last ten years, the anime film GOLGO 13 has been released in the United States. Is there any improvement this time around?
For those not familiar, Golgo 13 is the code name for high priced hit man Duke Togo. To start the film, we see G13 assassinate Robert Dawson, who was being promoted to run his father Leonard's corporation. Since this happens right in front of him, the powerful Leonard orders every U.S. government resource directed against Golgo 13. They try to sabotage his mafia sanction in Italy and private hit in San Francisco. Leonard also uses his daughter-in-law Laura and granddaughter Emily in nefarious ways to gain vengeance. However, nobody knows why Leonard isn't after the person who contracted the killing in the first place.
Based on the dramatic gekiga (graphic novels) by Saito Takao, the world of Golgo 13 can be a harsh one, filled with violence, intrigue, gadgetry and sex. As you might imagine, most of the stories play out like R-rated James Bond films. The difference is that while Bond seems to have fun, Togo never displays any emotion while carrying out contracts. He remains cold and calculating, never revealing anything personal, though he does reward loyalty to the contacts who give him weapons and information.
Screenwriter Nagasaka Hideyoshi retains these values in this production and keeps them evenhanded while the story flows smoothly. We get to understand Leonard's rage and Laura's terror as the film progresses. However, we also see Togo facing a final pair of adversaries who are a bit too much to believe, but he ends up getting the last word in the end.
I saw this film 12 years ago in raw Japanese and it amazed me as much then as it does now. Character designer Sugino Akio (BROTHER DEAR BROTHER, BLACK JACK) presents some of the most realistic looking people I've ever seen, as opposed to the wild hair and exaggerated features of most anime characters. Director Dezaki Osamu (SPACE ADVENTURE COBRA, TOMORROW'S JOE) brings depth and life to these characters, as shadows and light are drawn in incredibly good contrast, and many moving sequences are articulated well. With tons of sketch lines and pauses for painted pieces, the film literally feels like a moving manga.
Also, it felt like the scenery and background music combined to give the film a style all its own. For example, when Togo takes on mafia thugs, we see their boss go swimming off a cliff while contemporary jazz music is playing. The weapons used by the characters are scaled to sensible proportions. Dezaki also experimented with some computer animation, which worked well in the opening sequence, but plays out rather awkwardly during Golgo 13's final assault. This, however, is a minor grievance.
My major grievance comes from Streamline's work on the film when it was originally released in North America in 1993. I didn't initially like them changing the name to THE PROFESSIONAL: GOLGO 13, but I understood that it made good marketing sense. The male voices were the way I'd imagined they'd sound: generally straight-laced and business-like. At times, however, they were directed to also add profanities, which made the dialogue sound like unnecessarily long run-on sentences.
The women, on the other hand, are just plain unbearable. With the exception of Laura's voice (who gives the best performance of the bunch), these ladies' lack of talent turns dramatic sequences into comic relief. Also (at the risk of sounding like a phone sex customer), I have to say these women don't moan very well. Love scenes become laughable, and the "pull my trigger" line before one scene didn't help very much.
One other thing Streamline did massively annoyed me: the deletion of the opening. The original Japanese movie contained a computer-animated sequence of G13's thorn-headed skeleton logo (symbolic of his code name—Golgo is short for Golgotha, the place of Christ's crucifixion, while 13 is the notoriously unlucky number) amidst gunplay and a soft vocal piece, setting the stage perfectly for the film, even by today's computer standards. Instead, Streamline threw up a cheap masthead and went on with the film. I've never understood that.
When I saw Urban Vision's version, I was hoping the opening would be restored. Alas, I was denied. However, the box packaging is exquisite. Instead of just placing a picture of the character on the front cover, several action sequences are merged together, giving the impression many things are going to happen in the movie. Very eye-catching, and it will most likely attract newcomers to the anime world.
Also in UV's favor is the fact they've released a subtitled version, which I will definitely be acquiring. When I get tired of the demons, robots, pseudo-martial arts and slapstick comedy most U.S. companies tend to import, I enjoy having a regular crime drama to watch. Reminiscent of American noir films, THE PROFESSIONAL: GOLGO 13 is a title worthy to be in anyone's anime collection, despite its flaws.

Released in North America by Urban Vision
VHS, 94 minutes
English Dubbed
UV1046
$19.95
Available now in the USA
Where to buy