Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7879 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-08-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: French, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
This high-energy Dirty Harry in Japan stars Jean Reno (The Professional) as a maverick Paris cop with sledgehammer fists and a short temper. Promoted to sudden fatherhood when he "inherits" a spunky Japanese daughter (Ryoko Hirosue) he never knew, he becomes her droopy guardian angel, protecting her from an army of yakuza gangsters. Written and produced by Luc Besson, the former fashionista director of Euro-sleek shoot-'em-ups, this colorful B-movie blast is as gritty as an oil slick on a water slide but packed with explosive action. Director Gerard Krawczyk punctuates his gunfights with the Hong Kong school of recoil (bullets blast victims across the screen) and an undercurrent of humor. As long as you don't lean too hard on such niggling details as logic, legality, and the laws of physics, this silly, splashy, family bonding bulletfest is a spirited good time.

Special Features
DVD Technical Information:

• Languages: English, French
  
• Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1:2.35 Anamorphic Widescreen
  
• Colour
  
• PAL
  
• Region Code: 2
  
• Running time: 90 mins approx.

Synopsis
This boisterous crime-cop dramedy is written and produced by Luc Besson and stars Jean Reno. Like THE PROFESSIONAL (the 1994 Besson-Reno film), it is the story of a man with a grim, lonely life and a penchant for violence who finds redemption in a needy, spirited young girl who forces him to have heart and save her from an ugly group of thugs. This time around Reno plays Hubert, a Parisian cop who is handed a forced sabbatical when he accidentally beats up the chief's son. Simultaneously Hubert learns that his one true love Miko has died, leaving him her inheritance. He quickly travels to Tokyo to sign the papers, and learns that he has inherited Yumi (Ryoko Hirosue), his exuberant 19-year-old daughter, who is perpetually shopping, dancing, and laughing. Unfortunately, Yumi is being trailed by a tough bunch of Japanese mobsters who want access to her sizeable bank account. With the help of Maurice (Michel Muller) and an immense cache of weapons--grenades, rocket launchers, giant pistols, and golf clubs--Hubert uses some fancy footwork to bring Yumi to safety. Directed by Gerard Krawczyk with a thumping musical score from Eric Serra, WASABI is a bright, loud, fast-moving film.

Customer Reviews

Jean Reno doesn't disappoint
Very entertaining movie, that is both an action movie and kind of a comedy as well as there are many funny scenes in it. Jean Reno carries the movie, which is set in a Japanese environment with Japanese gangsters and what not. Certainly preferable to any classical Hollowood movie.

Entertaining French Action film
Wasabi is a fun-filled 'Friday night' action film which I especially recommend to fans of Jean Reno who are looking for an alternative to Hollywood popcorn action films.

Luc Besson (of Leon, Fith Element, Big Blue fame) produces and Jean Reno (of Godzilla, Leon, Big Blue, Les Viseteur fame) stars, the two teaming up again in this film, set mostly in Japan.

I'm not going to give you a run-down of the plot because everyone else has, I just need to say that although this is not a great action film, it is certainly an enjoyable one, with a fine blend of comedy moments and action set pieces. Jean Reno is a fine actor and doesn't dissapoint. The editing in perticular deserves a mention as it is truly excellent - the way all action films should be edited.

Worth a watch.

What A Film!!
I rented this film first thinking "another Jean Reno film that won't be as good as Leon". Boy was i wrong. What Leon lacks in humor, Wasabi more then makes up for. Jean Reno is hilarious as a french policeman going to Japan for his long lost loves funeral only to find out he has a daughter ( played by the beautiful Ryoko Hirosue) that the japanese mafia are after. An excelent soundtrack to boot and this should make nayones top ten list of films. Word of warning, don't try real wasabi, it is very hot! :)