Another live action review,humans. Time to take a look at a flick inspired by an alleged true story that happened on the internet. That is the romance involving a Japanese otaku after bravery and luck come his way while on the subway. This is Densha Otoko(train man).
Usually an introverted and quiet young man, our protagonist manages to sum up the courage to fight off a drunkard on the subway from attacking a helpless woman. She exchanges information with him since she wants to give him a gift as reward for his noble deed. Little by little he gets to know her, while at the same time blogging his progress on the internet site 2ch (under the name Train Man). Each step he takes is cheered on by online readers who find him as inspiration, but also give him advice on what to do next. Train Man (everybody is known by an online code name) quickly becomes the hero to geeks who cannot get women.
Densha Otoko is a tale of overcoming the odds and breaking out of your tiny world. Train Man doing something as simple as speaking to anybody is quite a task. It is an even greater leap considering public etiquette in Tokyo is usually to avoid confrontation with trouble makers the way Train Man did .The actor Takayuki Yamada manages to capture the silent, unsocial otaku very well(although a little more hygienic looking than usual otaku). In fact, his voice is spoken so low that it is hard to hear what he is saying. His mannerism fits many quiet actual Japanese males that exist in the real world. He is indeed a man to be sympathized rather than a loser.
The role of the love interest Hermess fall a little a short though. The actress Miki Nakatani herself does a reasonable job as somebody who accepts people for who they are, but the character herself is lacking in her motivations. Hermess looks like somebody would be grateful to someone who saved her but there’s no real reason given as to why she would fall for Train Man. Seeing them hang out doesn’t look very out of place but it could have been done better.
Then we got the colorful cast of characters who post responses to Train Man and give him advice on what he needs to do next. They vary all over the place and include such people as fellow otaku, a salary man ,a nurse, a bored housewife and many others. There’s a lot of good humor seeing them in their own lives and how they respond to our hero’s progress. There are thoughts and antics are told through many fantasy moments.
Love is a battlefield.
These internet friends help shape Train Man’s actions as he becomes dependent on what they have to say (even creating a dilemma this way). It creates a funny dynamic of someone who’s always shy and alone but at the same time is befriended by many people (then again that’s the magic of the internet).
The backdrop gives us a good exploration of the Akihabara scene. They give us a peek at all the little shops where the denizens of this otaku Mecca dwell.
Another enjoyable thing is the use of ASCII art/emoticons in the movie. They are sprinkled throughout the movie such moments when a character is expressing an emotion and even within fireworks.
Whether or not the story it is based is actually true, this still a good watch for those that cheer for the underdog. The film gives us plenty of comedy, romance, and the life of being a geek.
Director: Shosuke Murakami
Starring: Takayuki Yamada, Miki Nakatani
Release: 2005
Running time: 105 minutes
Rating: I am content after seeing it.
About the author: Glitch is a digital demon from planet Fanboy, and is here to teach us humans a thing or two. You can find more of his reviews(and nonsense) over at http://www.youtube.com/takenoutofcontext.