I've had the opportunity to see the original Ashita no Joe anime, which ran for a staggering 126 episodes from 1970-71 and 1980-81. It's a great anime, if not oddly paced at times, and the respective finales for both parts are epic in their own right. It's easy to see from the anime (and the manga that it was based upon) that this series was iconic in the minds of the Japanese. Even in present times it ranks rather highly in "most favorite anime" lists. It's basically Japan's Rocky.
I saw the idea of a live action adaptation of Ashita no Joe with a bit of hesitation, because adaptations of such lengthy works to around two hours on the big screen tend to have problems. Somewhere along the way, a character, plotline or piece of character development is going to be lost. And in this film, that kinda happens... but it's not that bad.
The film distills the story of Ashita no Joe as simple as possible, adapting the first part of the manga (or the 1970-1971 anime.) Joe Yabuki is a drifter and vagabond who occasionally gets into fights. One day, while eating at a restaurant in the slums he grew up in, he gets into a fight. Danpachi, a former boxing trainer, witnesses his potential and offers him a chance to be a world class boxer. Although not at first, Joe accepts, mainly thanks to the presence of a rival: Rikishi, a pro boxer Joe meets in prison. Both then head towards a dramatic conclusion as they face off in the ring.
Yamashita Tomohisa, formerly of the Johnny's group NEWS, is Joe. He has the unfortunate reputation of some fans to be the Kirsten Stewart of Japan, but at least his acting is a bit improved in comparison to his other roles. The problem is for a character that tends to stick out in the world, Yamashita's Joe tends not to. Yusuke Iseya, on the other hand, steals the show as Rikishi. There's a bit of nobility and confidence in him that exudes in every scene. And in preparation for the role, you can see the man lost and gained weight like a boss. The supporting cast is also good.
Fumihiko Sori is no stranger to sports movies, having directed Ping Pong, which is a highly recommended film. His style and composition shows in the action and fight sequences, where effective use of slow motion and camera movement makes the fights flow really well. But adaptation decay does set in, and the film can only do so much to cover the cracks.
Despite some disappointments, Ashita no Joe remains a fun mainstream big budget film, especially if one is familiar with the source material. If you've watched this film and aren't afraid of looking up old retro anime, give the anime series a try.
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