Golgo 13: Queen Bee

Director
Osamu Dezaki
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Film
Year
1998

Golgo 13: Queen Bee

By Mark McPherson
31st May 04

From established anime director Osamu Dezaki (Black Jack, Space Adventure Cobra) comes the second film of one of Japan's longest running manga titles. Spanning over 200 issues, Golgo 13is the tale of Duke Togo, an international assassin, who works under the codename of Golgo 13. Dezaki is well-known for his testosterone driven anime films and Queen Bee is no exception.

The story takes place in America where a presidential race is currently in progress. Presidential-candidate Hardy is pretty much a shoe-in for the next President of the United States of America. However, Hardy has a few serious problems he must dispose of before he can rest easy. Hardy's running mate, Thomas Waltham, helps Hardy out by hiring Duke Togo, a.k.a. Golgo 13, to take out a cocaine dealer\commando out of Nicaragua under the name Queen Bee. Duke, however, knows that there is more behind this job than just to boost Hardy's confidence. While trying to discover just what Queen Bee is after, Duke is confronted by her with another job to take out Hardy. Once Thomas Waltham hears of this, his military buddy calls in a psychopathic, court-marshaled veteran to take out both Golgo 13 and Queen Bee. All of these events clash at Queen Bee's home base and eventually leads to the campaign trail where Hardy's real problems are made clear. The real question is which job will Golgo 13 take?

What I love so much about this anime is how the drama ties in perfectly with the action sequences. Everything is executed so well. I won't give away too much as you'll have to follow the story closely to get the whole picture. I will tell you to expect anything as there are lots of twisted elements woven into this tale. Also, don't expect to understand the characters instantly when you spot them. Queen Bee may seem like a drug-dealing prostitute at first, but as the story progresses, you discover that she is a very strong woman just trying to put up fight against those who come between her. The animation is pretty good for an OAV. When you've got Osamu Dezaki working on an anime, you can always bet on some great art. He has defined his style with his own method of well-shaded still-shots that are actually animated a few times in this film. The music is a good mix of light techno and jazz to enhance the tone of the movie.

Yes, there is adult content in this film and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 17. However, I can assure you it is 100% not hentai. The contents include violent gun and fist fights, drug addictions, racial profiling, child pedophilia and some sex. However, most of these elements are done tastefully. There is actually some brilliant dialogue during the adult scenes that affect the story and are not just grunts and moans. Granted, not all of the contents can be tasteful. Waltham has a Lolita complex and begins to form a homosexual love with Hardy towards the end of the show, even though he was making love to a woman in the opening scenes. Still, I do believe this was done to make the audience hate Waltham so it was obvious who the real villain is.

Dezaki's well done animation style and interesting transitions mixed with a politically charged plot makes for a great viewing experience. I should mention that this is mostly a down-beat film. It's basically one tragedy after another, but you can't help but wonder what will happen next and how it will end. While it isn't a happy ending like in most traditional action films, it is a satisfying one. Golgo 13 once again proves himself as the manliest man of anime.

Pros: Well-written story of politics, family, greed, scandals and regret; perfect blend of drama and action; great plot twist boost the excitement.

Cons: May be pushing the envelope too far for some in terms of content for some viewers; some parts are become a little predictable.

Grade: B+

-- Mark McPherson 31st May 04

Golgo 13: Queen Bee Images