Initial D (film)

Last updated

Initial D
InitialD.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese 頭文字D
Simplified Chinese 头文字D
Hanyu Pinyin Tóu Wén Zì D
Jyutping Tau4 Man4 Zi6 D
Directed by Andrew Lau
Alan Mak
Screenplay by Felix Chong
Story by Jay Chou
Produced byAndrew Lau
Starring
Cinematography Lai Yiu-fai
Andrew Lau
Edited byWong Hoi
Music by Chan Kwong-wing
Production
companies
Distributed byMedia Asia Distribution
Release date
  • 23 June 2005 (2005-06-23)
Running time
110 minutes
Country Hong Kong SAR
Languages
Budget US$12 million [1]
Box officeUS$10.8 million [2]

Initial D is a 2005 Hong Kong-Chinese action film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It is a film adaptation of the Japanese Initial D manga series, with elements combined from the first, second, and third stages. The main character, Takumi Fujiwara, is portrayed by Jay Chou in his film acting debut. [3]

Contents

Plot

Takumi Fujiwara is a high school student who has been delivering tofu to the resorts in Mount Akina in his father Bunta's Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86. He also works part-time at a gas station where his friend Itsuki, the owner's son and a high school dropout, aspires to be a street racer. Natsuki Mogi, an attractive classmate, smiles as she walks by Takumi, but she's an escort, who has been secretly going on dates with a sugar daddy who drives a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Street racers Takeshi Nakazato of the NightKids, who drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R VSpec II R32, and Ryosuke Takahashi of the RedSuns, who drives a Mazda Savanna RX-7 Type-R FC, talk about racing each other after they defeat the competition at Akina. When Takeshi visits the gas station to issue a challenge to the racing god of Mt. Akina, Itsuki (with Takumi riding along) arrives to defend that title, but in the ensuing race, Itsuki is embarrassed thoroughly and damages his Nissan Silvia. However, Takeshi is later beaten in an unofficial race by the AE86. Takeshi returns to the gas station to ask who owns the AE86. Yuichi asks Bunta if he has been racing again; he learns that Takumi has been driving the AE86 for the past five years and has been steadily improving his racing skills. Natsuki wants to go on a beach date with Takumi, so Bunta agrees to loan him the car and fill the gas tank provided that he wins the race at Akina.

Takumi defeats Takeshi in the downhill race in front of Ryosuke, Itsuki, and the other RedSuns and NightKids. Natsuki and Takumi enjoy a beach date. Takumi teaches Itsuki how to race a Trueno he has purchased. Halfway down the mountain, Seiji Iwaki of the Emperor Team in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR, taunts them and angers Takumi to the point that he races and defeats Seiji, causing the latter to spin out and damage the side of his Evo.

Takumi discovers that Itsuki's car does not perform like his father's car, which Ryosuke tells him it has been custom-tuned and modified. Takumi agrees to race Ryosuke in three weeks, but on the way downhill, Emperor team leader Kyoichi Sudo in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III RS overtakes Takumi; in the ensuing race, the AE86's engine breaks down. Ryosuke tells Takumi that he will challenge Kyoichi, and offers to lend him one of his cars, but Takumi declines. Bunta tells Takumi that Natsuki is visiting her hometown for two weeks. Bunta and Yuichi have the AE86 outfitted with a new Twin Cam 20-valve SilverTop AE101 racing engine. Takumi struggles with the modified car well until Bunta shows him how to take advantage of its new mechanics.

After seeing Natsuki with the Mercedes driver coming from a love hotel, Itsuki tells Takumi that Natsuki is a prostitute, which angers Takumi and they fight. The afternoon before the race he thinks he sees Natsuki in the Mercedes at a railroad crossing but is unable to catch up to them. He later calls Natsuki, who tells him she is coming back tonight but is with the Mercedes driver whom she tells they cannot see each other anymore.

At the showdown, Ryosuke offers to team with Takumi on defeating Kyoichi, but Takumi declines. During the race, Ryosuke lets Kyoichi pass him and then follows closely. Ryosuke and Takumi use the gutter trick to overtake Kyoichi. Despite the warning messages of a driver going up the hill, Kyoichi's Evo III tries to overtake the two but is forced to swerve off the road from the oncoming car and flips off the cliffside, totaling his Evo III. Ryosuke overtakes Takumi at the five hairpin turns. Bunta explains to the watchers that the FC's tires are losing their grip and that it is up to Takumi to compete against himself and not his opponent. Takumi undertakes Ryosuke on the last hairpin turn to win the race.

Ryosuke offers Takumi to join his new racing team, but Takumi goes to see Natsuki. However, he sees the Mercedes driver drop off Natsuki with a hug. Takumi and Natsuki see each other but Takumi runs away, while Natsuki falls to the ground crying. Takumi tearfully drives away. Takumi calls Itsuki to apologize and then calls Ryosuke to accept his offer to join Ryosuke’s new expedition team (Project D).

Cast

Jay Chou making his acting debut in Initial D Jay Chou in Seoul.jpg
Jay Chou making his acting debut in Initial D

Production

Fujino Store Tofu Shop in Gunma, which was renamed and modeled to Fujiwara Tofu Shop for the live-action film. Teng Yuan Dou Fu Dian  - panoramio.jpg
Fujino Store Tofu Shop in Gunma, which was renamed and modeled to Fujiwara Tofu Shop for the live-action film.

The Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japanese, American and British versions each have different soundtracks.

Release

Initial D was released on 23 June 2005 in several Asian markets including Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China. In the Philippines, the film was released on 12 July 2006. [6] In North America, the film screened at the Chicago International Film Festival on 15 October 2005 [7] and had a limited run at the Imaginasian Theater in New York City on 30 December 2005. [8] [9] [10]

Home media

Initial D was released as a direct to video DVD in Australia on 21 October 2005. It was released in the United Kingdom on 28 April, and the Philippines on 12 July 2006. Tai Seng Entertainment, the distributor of Initial D in the United States, released Initial D on Blu-ray on 22 January 2008. This is an exclusive release for the Blu-ray format which included an English dub.[ citation needed ]

In Japan, the DVD release sold 250,000 units, grossing approximately ¥998 million ($13 million) in video sales revenue. [11]

Soundtrack

The AAA song "Blood on Fire" (2005), the film's main theme song, sold 58,052 single units, grossing approximately ¥29.03 million.[ citation needed ] The Mink insert song "Beautiful" sold 2,786 units, grossing ¥2.93 million.[ citation needed ]

The U.K. release of the film features an entirely different soundtrack composed and compiled by Richie Warren of Fuel. [ citation needed ]

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an approval rating of 33% based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 4.1/10. [12]

Accolades

Initial D won six awards out of 15 nominations from the 42nd Golden Horse Awards in 2005 and 25th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2006.

42nd Golden Horse Awards

CategoryNominationResultRef
Best Supporting ActorAnthony Wong Chau-SangWon [13]
Best New PerformerJay ChouWon
Best Adapted ScreenplayFelix Chong Man-KeungNominated
Best Original Song"飄移" (Drifting) by Jay Chou from November's Chopin Nominated
Best Visual EffectsVictor Wong, Eddy Wong, Bryan CheungNominated
Best Sound EffectsKinson Tsang King-CheungNominated

25th Hong Kong Film Awards

CategoryNominationResultRef
Best Supporting Actor Anthony Wong Chau-SangWon [14]
Best New Performer Jay ChouWon
Best Sound DesignKinson Tsang King-CheungWon
Best Visual EffectsVictor Wong, Eddy Wong, Bryan CheungWon
Best Film Initial DNominated
Best Director Andrew Lau Wai-Keung, Alan Mak Siu-FaiNominated
Best EditingWong HoiNominated
Best Original ScoreChan Kwong-WingNominated
Best Original Song"飄移" (Drifting) by Jay Chou from November's Chopin Nominated

Cancelled sequel

A sequel has been in discussion since the following year after the movie debuted. However, a concrete conclusion could not be reached due to obstacles that include the storyline, filming locations, casts, and safety reasons. In March 2014, director and producer, Andrew Lau, once again reconfirmed in an exclusive interview that a sequel will surely follow but is tight-lipped on the release date. Jay Chou and Edison Chen will reprise their roles. [15] In 2018, Felix Chong, the screenwriter for the first film, stated he and Lau previously had plans to develop the sequel but both have since moved onto other projects, citing production costs being too high due to Lau's insistence on using real cars instead of CGI. [16] In 2020, director Andrew Lau stated that if a sequel is put into production he would likely not be directing it, citing the toll the first film took on his health, licensing issues, and once again budget issues, and also suggesting that Takumi should take on a mentor role similar to his father in the first film. [17] The sequel has been stuck in development hell ever since, and may have likely been cancelled as of 2025.

Works cited

Initial D manga series

^ "Ch." and "Vol." are shortened forms for chapter and volume and refer to the appropriate sections in the Initial D manga:

Initial D anime series

Entire series

References

  1. "Initial D: The Little Comic That Could". YesAsia . 27 July 2005. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  2. "TAU MAN JI D (INITIAL D)". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. BWW News Desk. "AdShare Signs 'King of Asian Pop' Jay Chou". broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  4. "Initial D World - Discussion Board / Forums History of Fujiwara Tofu Shop". idforums.net. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  5. "The Real Life Initial D on Display - Speedhunters". Speedhunters. 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  6. "Opens Today". Philippine Daily Inquirer . The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. 12 July 2006. p. A2-1. Retrieved 27 September 2022. Drifting to Victory
  7. chicagoreader (13 October 2005). "The Reader's Guide to the 41st Chicago International Film Festival". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  8. "Asian Rebels With Cars but Not Much of a Cause". The New York Times . 30 December 2005. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  9. Havens, Edward (17 December 2005). "The Early Report for December 18, 2005: Part Two –". Filmjerk.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  10. "TWI-NY, This Week In New York". Twi-ny.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  11. "19th Annual Business Report". Avex Group. 2006. p. 13. Retrieved 31 December 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. "Initial D (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  13. "42nd Golden Horse Awards winners and nominaees list" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  14. "Hong Kong Film Awards winner/nomination list" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  15. "Jay Chou Wants Edison Chen and Shawn Yue Back for "Initial D" Sequel". jaynestars.com. 28 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  16. "《頭文字D 2》進度曝光! 編劇揭「導演要用真車」給答案 | ETtoday星光雲 | ETtoday新聞雲". 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  17. "經典視角|《頭文字D》續集無望? 導演劉偉強︰再拍係咪想我死". 4 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.