The cast is somewhat star-studded, and recognisable if you regularly watch J-dramas. Kimura Takuya (whom like some Malaysian actors, look the same regardless which drama or film he acts in) plays the protagonist, Susumu Kodai. The captain of the Yamato is played by Yamazaki Tsutomu (Kurosagi and the Oscar-winning Okuribito), whilst Takashima Reiko (the mom in Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge) plays Sado-sensei.

Kuroki Meisa plays Yuki Mori, the ace pilot for the Black Tiger squadron who finally falls for Kodai. A bit kayu, acting-wise, but I don’t care one. Heh. Interestingly, her role was supposed to go to Sawajiri Erika but she did a Winona[1] in this one. And if you remember my penchant for onscreen kisses, the one she did was electrifyingly (pun intended) good!

For once, this is one live action version of an anime that is well worth seeing. Highly recommended. Really.

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[1]The original premise of the story is that the spaceship is actually built from the wreck of the original Yamato battleship that was sunk in WW2. Pretty much the reason why the spaceship looks like a kapal perang.
[2]Winona Rider was supposed to play Michael Corleone’s daughter Mary in Godfather Part 3, but in the end the role was played by Sofia Coppola.

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