INITIAL D (FILM)

'''Initial D''' is a 2005 live-action film based on the Japanese ''Initial D manga'' and anime series. It is directed by famed Hong Kong directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, whose credits include the 2002 smash hit ''Infernal Affairs'' and 1999's ''The Legend of Speed'', a previous street racing melodrama.

Contents

Cast

Plot

Changes from previous versions

Release

External links

Cast

★ Major Characters

★
★ Jay Chou - Takumi Fujiwara

★
★ Anthony Wong - Bunta Fujiwara

★
★ Edison Chen - Ryosuke Takahashi

★
★ Anne Suzuki - Natsuki Mogi

★
★ Shawn Yue - Takeshi Nakazato

★
★ Chapman To - Itsuki Tachibana

★
★ Kenny Bee - Yuuichi Tachibana

★
★ Jordan Chan - Kyouichi Sudou

★
★ Will Liu - Seiji Iwaki (Kyouichi's partner)

★ Minor Characters

★
★ Chie Tanaka - Miya (Gas station girl / Itsuki's love interest)

★
★ Tsuyoshi Abe - Kenji (One of the gasoline boys)

★
★ Kazuyuki Tsumura - Mr. X (Natsuki's "papa")

Plot

Taking place in the Gunma prefecture in Japan, the film concerns a young tofu-delivery driver named Takumi Fujiwara. He has incredible skill in taking on the hairpin curves of Mt. Akina (Mt. Haruna in real-life). The film chronicles his evolution from an uninterested delivery boy into a hardened touge racer.
Takumi drives his father's (Bunta) Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX (AE86). It is seemingly unmodified but is perfectly suited for the downhill corners of Mt. Akina and gains the attention of local street racers all across the prefecture. Some ultimately challenge Takumi to battles on Akina's downhill. Ryousuke Takahashi, a driver of the Mazda RX-7 (FC3S) helps out Takumi along the way by giving him advice. While following the path of a street racer, Takumi must deal with his alcoholic father and his girlfriend who secretly engages in compensated dating.

Changes from previous versions

The movie differs from the manga and anime in several distinct ways. Some changes are significant, while others are minor.

Movie	Anime/Manga/Games
Itsuki Tachibana is the spoiled brat and the son of Yuuichi Tachibana, the Gas Station manager. He is the ''de facto'' leader of the Akina Speed Stars.	Kouichiro Iketani is the leader of the Akina Speed Stars, while Itsuki Takeuchi (as he is named in the original series) is an employee like Takumi at the gas station, and is more of a comic relief.
Bunta Fujiwara is portrayed as an abusive, alcoholic womanizer.	Bunta is portrayed as a wise and often secretive father, who nurtures Takumi's "gift" of touge racing. He likes to drink, but is not an alcoholic.
Team Emperor is portrayed as a Bōsōzoku gang.	Team Emperor is portrayed as a semi-professional street racing team.
Itsuki tells Takumi that Natsuki Mogi is cheating on him after noticing Mogi in another man's Mercedes-Benz driving out of a hotel. Takumi then sees Mogi in the Mercedes on the highway.	In the anime, an anonymous phone call following a number of anonymous notes informs Takumi that Natsuki Mogi is engaging in enjo kōsai. Takumi stakes out a family restaurant and sees Mogi entering the Mercedes together with a middle aged man. In the manga, Takumi sees the two come out of a love hotel parking lot.
Itsuki drives a Nissan Silvia K's (S13) which he crashes and later on he drives an AE86.	Itsuki mistakenly obtains a Toyota Corolla Levin SR (AE85), thinking it's a Toyota Corolla Levin (AE86), in contrast with Takumi's Trueno. Koichiro Iketani drives the Nissan Silvia K's (S13)
The Red Suns, Night Kids, Akina Speedstars, and the Emperors are the only teams portrayed in the movie.	Before Project D, The Red Suns, Night Kids, Akina Speedstars, Impact Blue and the Emperors are portrayed.
Takeshi Nakazato Drifts while racing in his GT-R	Takeshi Nakazato never drifts while racing in his GT-R.

Release

''Initial D'' was released on June 23, 2005 in several Asian markets including Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China, where it topped the box office in its first week. The film made its North American debut at The Imaginasian Theater in New York City. It went straight to DVD in Australia on October 21, 2005. It was also released in the United Kingdom on April 28, and the Philippines on July 12, 2006.

External links

★

★ Initial D - Avex Side live-action cast (Japanese)

★ Anime News Network - Initial D (live-action movie) anime encyclopedia entry