Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10376 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-07-03
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: Cantonese Chinese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 109 minutes

Synopsis
Based on a popular manga by Shuichi Shigeno, INITIAL D is a high-octane film about the world of downhill mountain racing. Takumi Fujiwara is an average high-school student who has honed his driving skills while making late-night deliveries for his father's tofu restaurant. When he has an inadvertent run-in with one of the area's top racers, Takumi finds himself thrust into the world of mountain racing and is soon duking it out for top honours in a series of daredevil downhill races. A thrilling and adrenaline-fuelled film.

Customer Reviews

Not one of the great car race movies, but better than expected
After raising the bar with their uncut remastered versions of Hong Kong Movies, Hong Kong Legends sister label Premier Asia seems to be determined to go the Miramax route. Having re-edited Musa/the Warrior and Seven Swords, this comic-book inspired car-racing movie from the makers on Infernal Affairs has been given an inferior new score that sounds like a late-night obscene phone call ad backing track for no apparent reason. While the DVD does include the original soundtrack option as well as a strong transfer, not only are the subtitles incompatible with widescreen TVs but it has the worst audio commentary in DVD history - with two loud-mouthed Mockney idiots talking loudly over each other pretty much ignoring the film in a failed attempt at laddish humour, it's like being stuck at a table with two pub bores for two hours. Still, the 2-disc version does have plentiful interviews with the cast and crew and an okay puff piece about the making of the film, although the deleted scenes from the Asian release are missing.

The film itself is a bit better than The Fast and the Furious but it still has that constant modern problem that no-one these days seems to have a clue how to film a decent car chase. The constant running commentary from the supporting players over the film's two main race scenes explaining tactics (possibly because they didn't get all the shots they needed) is also fairly irritating. Watchable and stylish but forgettable.

better than tokyo drift?
better? YES. I just finished watching this amazing film and to be honest, it was quality fromt he start. I love tokyo drift, but this had something over it, it seems origional, made using raw passion and now just purley to make money. Its a piece of art work from start to finish, i pused it many times to create a back ground for my laptop. the story is good, the acting is good, and ok, you do have to read subtitles but that does not take anythng away from the story.

with an awsome soundtrack to match, i would put this as the best car film out at the moment, its a real shames it seemed to pass british cinema!

my only issue with it which was soon resolved was the type off shooting involved in it, but, as soon as i realsied this film was trying to imitate the comicit all made sense. A perfect follow up to the comic/manga creation it is based on.

I rate this 10 / 10.. brilliant.

initial d
I wasn't sure about this film at first using Hong Kong actors playing Japanese characters but the way the film was done it was great. The race action was fast and no use of CG. I've read some of the Initial D manga and the film follows the manga storyline well. After watching the film, it makes you want to drive fast in your own car!!!!!!.I cant wait for the sequal.