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<\/div>\t\t\t\u201cD\u201d For Drift<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Netflix has the Japanese mountain drift movie Initial D<\/em> available for streaming<\/a>. If you liked the original animated series, the full-length picture<\/a> is definitely worth adding to your watch list. Initial D<\/em> (the \u201cD\u201d meaning drift) is a Japanese street racing manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This live-action film, released in 2005 by Japan\u2019s Avex Inc. and Hong Kong\u2019s Media Asia Group, was directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Initial D <\/em>is a wonderfully approachable movie showing how the love for cars is universal. The whole of the film \u2013 boys with fast cars, rivals with their fast cars, wary parents, authority figures, The Love Interest \u2013 is also similar to what you see in American car movies. Watching the same thing, only with Toyotas and RX-7s and drifting, is enjoyable and comforting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The longer I watched Initial D<\/em>, the more I realized it\u2019s a familiar story because we gearheads are familiar people, no matter what country we come from. Put another way: all car people are connected through a mutual love of cars, no matter which cars we love most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Takumi Fujiwara (Jay Chou) is a high school student who works as a tofu delivery boy around scenic Mount Akina. He drives his father\u2019s \u2013 Bunta Fujiwara \u2013 Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86. Yes, the AE86 so beloved by drifters the world over, and the car known as a Corolla here in the USA. Maybe Initial D <\/em>and other movies like it are responsible for all this love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takumi also works part-time at a gas station with his friend Itsuki Tachibana (Chapman To), an overall nutball and walking annoyance. Itsuki\u2019s dad, Yuichi, owns the gas station and has a past with Bunta from back in the day. There is also Natsuki Mogi (Anne Suzuki), Takumi\u2019s attractive classmate with romantic designs on our hero, despite her ongoing secret relationship with a mysterious sugar daddy who drives a Mercedes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two other <\/em>friends, the street racers Takeshi Nakazato (Shawn Yue) of the NightKids, driver of a Nissan Skyline GT-R, and Ryosuke Takahashi (Edison Chen) of the RedSuns, driver of an FC Mazda RX-7. They want to race each other, but only after <\/em>they defeat the mysterious \u201cracing god of Mt. Akina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yuichi and Bunta get involved because Bunta was the king of the mountain when he was young. Soon, more threatening bad guys, like Seiji Iwaki (Will Liu) of the Emperor Team in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV, show up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who will win the final climactic race? Will Takumi get the girl? Will anyone get hurt? You get the picture \u2013 shoot, you\u2019ve already seen <\/em>the picture. Take out Takumi and Natsuki and the tofu shop, and put in Fabian, Annette Funicello, a Boss Mustang, and a hamburger stand in Malibu, and you\u2019ve got a similar movie. Or Brian O\u2019Conner, Mia Toretto, and tuna on white, no crust, and you have a similar film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides the Japanese signatures in a film like this (goofy fat guy, for example), parts of it come across as oddly American and readily familiar, as we discussed before. But you know what is <\/em>different, and surprisingly so? The lack of aggression. There\u2019s none of that mannish-boy posturing, no testosterone-fueled BS that \u201cthreatens to spill over\u201d onto the track. There are no fistfights over the girl or insults directed at someone\u2019s car. None whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even when the main antagonists are talking about their respective cars, driving styles, and win\/loss ratios, it is always done with a foundation of respect and deference not found in American car movies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When our hero Takumi first meets and talks with Takeshi of the NightKids, for example, there is an air of mutual respect and curiosity about each other. \u201cNice AE86. Thanks, works for me. I bet it does.\u201d Stuff like that.<\/p>\n\n\nInitial D Tells Familiar Story In a Good Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Takumi](\"https:\/\/www.automoblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Initial-D-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Setting The Stage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Race Is On! <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Initial](\"https:\/\/www.automoblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Initial-D-Cover-4-1024x772.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nInitial D Stands Out From Other Movies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Initial](\"https:\/\/www.automoblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Initial-D-Cover-4.jpg\")
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