20th Century Boys 2
Yukihiko Tsutsumi

Wedged between the creepily atmospheric set-up in part one and the big reveal to come, this feels like a 21/2-hour trailer for part three.
At the end of the first instalment, the masked, mysterious and malevolent cult leader Friend had wreaked mayhem and destruction in Tokyo via a virus-spewing giant robot on Dec 31, 2000.
He was bringing to terrifying reality the events described in The Book Of Prophecies, innocently concocted by Kenji (Toshiaki Karasawa) and his mates back when they were school kids in the summer of 1969.
Part two focuses on events taking place in 2015. Friend plots to ascend to godhood as events unfold according to The New Book Of Prophecies. Hope for humanity rests on Kanna (Airi Taira), Kenji’s niece and Kenji’s mates who survived Bloody New Year’s Eve.
The source material is the beloved sci-fi manga series of the same name which has sold more than 250 million copies.
With the film trilogy budgeted at six billion yen (S$92 million), there are impressive set-pieces but the overlong part two sorely misses the likeable Karasawa as the reluctant hero. Taira, stuck in a one-dimensional role as the earnest heroine, is no replacement for him.
The good news is that Karasawa will be back in the concluding chapter and viewers still hanging on should finally be rewarded with the unmasking of Friend.
(ST)