Fukkatsu no hi

Plot synopsis:
A film that describes the development of a deadly Virus weapons system by the USA Military during the height of the Cold War epoch during the early 1980's.
A small group of multinational scientists stuck in the Antarctic learn to survive after a human engineered virus knocks out most of earth's population.
The film begins in East Germany where a scientist has been bribed by American agents to provide a sample of the deadly virus developed by the East German government for a reward of 50,000 pounds. Suddenly East German soldiers break into the clandestine meeting and shoot the German scientist but the CIA agents manage to escape in a plane. Unfortunately the plane crashes into the side of a mountain during a violent storm and the deadly virus, called CX114 which is contained in an air tight flask is released when the flask breaks against the side of the mountain. The Virus is highly potent and is spread atmospherically and soon the whole world is infected starting with Siberia, Tokyo, London, Rome and New York as the film shows staggering death tolls for each city.
The action continues a few months later at an American Pathology Laboratory when Colonel Rankin of the US military asks one of the scientists that developed CX114 as to its properties. The scientist remarks to the Colonel that it is a terrifying doomsday weapon as its rate of reproduction the rate at which it multiples reaches astronomical proportions when above the tempertaure of about 5 degrees Celsius.
The scientist accuses Colonel Rankin of making yet another Doomsday wepaon and screams, "How much is enough for you people! We already have enough nuclear weapons to turn the rubble into rubble!"
Colonel Rankin storms out disgusted and has the scientist committed into a mental institution to prevent him from blowing the whistle to the US Senate Oversight Committee for Weapons Development and Research.
The action shifts to the Oval Office where the President, [played by the late Glen Ford] and with a Senator [played by Robert Vaughn] are watching the cataclysmic events across the world as the Virus Spreads. It has been called the "Italian flu" by the media but it is really CX114.
Suddenly General Garland bursts into the Oval Office. He is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the head of the USA military. He demands that the President activate the ARS. An abbreviation for the 'Automatic Reaction System' of the US Strategic Nuclear Triad that will respond to any Soviet Nuclear threat against the West even if the entire hierarchy is dead. Remember that this film was made in 1980 and the Cold War was very much in full swing.
The President says he will think about it while the senator, played by Robert Vaughn, says it is madness and there is no need as the crisis is a medical one and not a military threat. However, General Garland insists when Colonel Rankin walks in already showing the signs of the Virus infection.
The film continues as the President eventually finds out what Colonel Rankin did to the scientist, who, when released from the mental asylum, tells the President the real story of how the Virus has spread. The movie then turns mostly to the Japanese scientists and shows how a few Americans and a UK Nuclear Submarine captained by the late Chuck Connors, make it to Antartica, where due to the cold tempertarues the Virus cannot multiply and reap its destruction. Only about 800 people in the entire world survive as General Rankin activates the ARS which is set off by an earthquake in the capital Washington and not any Soviet attack, thus blasting the entire world with Nuclear Armaggedon as the Soviets respond with their nukes, finishing off what is left of the population that managed to survive the Virus.
Overall a good action post-apocalyptic film with fine performances from Glen Ford and Robert Vaughan as well as Olivia Hussey, Chuck Connors and George Kennedy.

Tags: romantic

Review:
I have always loved this movie since I first saw it in the eighties but have been stuck with the shorter (105 or 115 minute)American versions.
As is the case with most Japanese movies edited for America, from Gojira to the present, they have a tendency to take out the poignant parts and edit so that some of the original plot points are completely lost.
One time, she made her way to the set to watch a scene being filmed and said "hello." She was a breathtakingly beautiful woman, famous for being in Zefirelli's "Romeo and Juliet." This, I'll never forget ( and no disrespect intended): Local Toronto actor Ara Hovanessian was cast in a small part.
I enjoyed the way this movie explores the real-life consequences of such catastrophic events, such as what happens when eight women are shared between hundreds of men, and at some point I'll track down the full uncut version, which I suspect will be even better.
I didn't seem to care at first because it was in Japanese and I don't understand it, but somehow I didn't turn the channel cause the film suddenly showed me these actors like Robert Vaughn in the White House.
But several actors like Ken Ogata (of MISHIMA fame) and Sonny Chiba still had little to do in the long version of this film.
Firstly let me say that this review is based on the full uncut 156 minute version of the movie.After watching this I can see why it was a financial failure when it was released and did not get more publicity.
Just too close to the truth of what has happened on a smaller scale more than once.Ironic that a virus created by the US that kills almost everyone gets labeled Italian Flu. Do some real research of Spanish Flu that killed millions and you will know what I mean.This is a movie full of big name actors of the time, but you need to see the uncut 156 minute version to do it justice.
All of the big names perform their roles well and while being very bleak the movies gets the story across with appropriate use of subtitles.Do not expect high end CGI or special effects, there are none, just a well put together movie that IMHO stands the test and is worth seeing some 35+ years later.Probably one of the best Armageddon movies you will see if you are prepared to sit thought it.
I just purchased a used copy of the Sonny Chilba Action Pack which includes the uncut Japanese 156m version of the film.
The cut Japanese scenes bring a better viewing experience to fans of this film like me.
all over Japan in 1980,the 1st release of this movie .The Japanese publishing Tycoon Haruki Kadokawa produced several movies and did big success at that time.This is his 1st attempt to international market with some familiar American faces.I've heard several good comments on director Kinji Fukasaku in these days,but we know this is also what he made even if the production was under the influences of tycoon Kadokawa(He also plays one Japanese in Arctic basement).
I saw this 150m.version on satellite Hi-Vision-TV recently, and found out my instinct was right.Top-quality print and Dolby sound don't save this total disaster.Directing is poor, dialogs are ridiculous(even on original Japanese tongue).
These good actors(including US cast) act like hell.Chuck Connors plays British?
Their roles as just little as on 108m-US print.Such big guys like George Kennedy and Bo Svenson and Chuck Connors are chosen only for they are taller and bigger than Masao Kusakari(He's quite tall guy as Japanese).Because they have to treat Kusakari as small and powerless kid as on novel and script.
The film, starring an international cast, isn't your typical Hollywood fare, and they would probably never make a film like this in the disaster genre.The film obviously doesn't have the budget of a Hollywood movie, but Fukasaku makes up for this in terms of plot and performances by the actors.
Considering that he is meant to be the President, this is a major thing in the film, but Fukasaku plays everything downbeat.If this was an American movie, it would have the Americans saving the world from the virus of the title.
Instead the virus wipes out almost the entire population of the world with only around a thousand people left alive.The film has some recognisable faces from American cinema such as George Kennedy who seems to have starred in all the disaster movies that were going.
The film casting is a little silly in parts in terms of casting people like Chuck Conners as a British Naval Captain, but this is only a minor fault.The only drawback that I can find is that the version I watched seems to be heavily edited from the original running time.
Also missing are some performances such as Sonny Chiba's character, who I only noticed once in the films complete running time, which is a shame as he is one of Japans biggest stars..
The American version I did get my hands on was pretty good on it's own....(read more) This is not really a movie about saving the world so much as surviving the numerous apocalypses the world can throw at you, even after the entire world population dies at the hands of a super virus, those surviving in Artic research stations(the virus cannot survive the cold) some 8880 men and 8 women(the scene where the women address how 1 on 1 "relationships" are going to be impossible, is one of the most genuine, poignant, and unique in the film, the Apocalypse doesn't hit home till you realize there's 8000 horny scientists, crawling over each other to play Adam and eve, those not-if-you-were- the-last-man-on-earth scenarios horribly reversed.), still have to deal with the fact that both the Russian and American automatic nuclear missile systems are still in operation, and a coming earthquake is liable to force them to launch, one of which is pointed at the Antartic research station.
A lot of the save the world stuff takes place in the last 20 minutes, the rest is all death and survival.This was at the time of it's release the most expensive Japanese film ever made, and it shows, as we get scenes from Germany, Japan, America, and yes the Antartic, real submarines too.
So I don't know how to give an accurate review, this movie as it is at the 108 minutes I saw it, was decent with a fair serving of 80's cheese, I have a feeling though with a little more time, this might have felt as epic and grand as it intimates in it's best moments.
"Virus" is also a terrible title for this film as well, which has little to do with virus', or bacteriology, it's a good global destruction movie, "The End" is a much better fitting moniker.
"Virus" is a prestigious and massive international co-production that is guaranteed to leave some sort of positive impression on you, whether because of its unique gimmick of destroying planet Earth twice in one movie, the grim and overall very nihilistic tone of the film or simply because it gathers an unlikely all-star cast of versatile nationalities.
Everyone else claims the full & original version of 155 minutes is the only real deal, but personally I won't make any further efforts to track that one down because the shorter version already astonished me enough and I'm not big supporter of long (horror/Sci-Fi) movies anyway.
Some really awesome names were involved in this production, often just to nonchalantly through the screen and disappear again, like Sonny Chiba, Bo Svenson, Edward James Olmos, Glenn Ford, Robert Vaughn, Henry Silva and the indescribably beautiful as always Olivia Hussey.
VIRUS (1980) does illustrate the effects of a global catastrophe in frightening levels, yet despite the big budget of a Japanese movie, it lacks the kind of rage that we must strongly accept.
(however, take note, his long and varied career also included the sublimely silly 'The Green Slime'...) Now the DVD I watched was the short American version with over 45 minutes(!) of material cut out, including I think Sonny Chiba, who I don't recall seeing in it at all.
One would think it would be close to impossible to be able to make a boring movie about the destruction of civilization (apart from a few hundred survivors), a story which includes not only an unstoppable lethal virus but also the threat of global nuclear annihilation, but here it is folks.
Look, maybe the full Japanese version of 'Virus' is something special, but I really fail to see how.
The little known, seldom heard of film known here as 'Virus' hit the UK shores on DVD in my local supermarket bargain bin for the grand total of three quid.I took a chance and bought it..Actually this is surprisingly a very good story with an impressive cast list that must have been desperate for the cash although Chuck Connors as a British Royal Navy Captain does take a bit of getting used to!
The story line is a well thought out scenario carefully planned and I am wondering what extra interest lurked in the reportedly missing 40 or so minutes of the full Japanese edit.It was a pity therefore that this effectively straight to video effort was let down by some really bad editing, poor picture quality, duff soundtrack, too many stock images of icebergs and cities and an occasional bit of duff dialogue.It does however keep running along nicely and unlike many examples of this genre, avoids getting bogged down in unnecessary scenes or throwaway dialogue with the possible exception of the rather bizarre ending.With a bit of rewriting, some careful cast choices and a decent budget as well as modern effects, this excellent story could be remade to a standard of excellence that would put many of the big budget CGI laden super thrillers that seem to clog up cinemas these days to shame.Now, is there a movie mogul prepared to take the gamble and put his cash on the line to give this story the proper treatment it deserves?.
get original version.or you can watch it online at stagevu type in Virus aka Day Of Resurrection 1980.the USA version sucks balls chop up a good movie cause they can.i seen USA verson when i was 12 liked it but i could tell stuff was cut out lastnite finally seen the original version and it was a lot better.
In any case, "Virus" is a pretty good apocalyptic thriller--the opening 30 minutes in Washington, DC were especially gripping, and the subsequent action at an Antarctic outpost (where remaining world officials are holing up) was fittingly bleak (not to mention talky at times).
The film contains an impressive cast of pseudo-familiar faces (Glenn Ford, George Kennedy, Chuck Connors, Olivia Hussey, etc.) that sell the story due to their 'every(wo)man' appearance.
The version I had was in pretty good shape and runs around 110 minutes (which I think is still a little short of complete).
To make matters worse, this two and a half hour epic was badly butchered by American distributors, who cut roughly 45 minutes out of the film.A plane crash in the Alps gets the grimly serious plot ball rolling with an electrifying bang, unleashing the East German conceived MM-88 virus, a highly dangerous, contagious and impossible to curtail mutant DNA strain designed for chemical warfare purposes which both mimics the symptoms and exacerbates the severity of other more common and controllable sicknesses.
Alas, there's still a dire threat to be found from a fully operative doomsday device activated by a hawkish US general (ripely overplayed to the fire-breathing hilt by Henry Silva), which will be set off by an impending earthquake and destroy the few remnants of human life on this planet in an infernal blaze of nuclear holocaust glory unless it's shut off in time.Director Kinji Fukasaku, who also graced us with "The Green Slime," "Message from Space," and both "Battle Royale" films, builds on the heart-crushingly grave, uncompromisingly dark and downbeat tone with terrifyingly effective results, skillfully creating and sustaining a fiercely dour, distressing and disturbing all-hope-is-lost sensibility that's equally fatalistic and nihilistic in its depressing implications on mankind's self-destructive warmonger nature and desperate desire to keep on going in the absolute worst of situations.
The performances are uniformly superlative: Glenn Ford as the stalwart, pragmatic president, Robert Vaughn as a regretful senator, Chuck Connors as a steely, intrepid British naval submarine captain, Olivia Hussey as a resilient pregnant woman, Sonny Chiba as a South Pole base commander, Bo Svenson and Masao Kusakari as a dynamic pair of mighty fighting men who go into action to prevent a second catastrophe, Cecil Linder as a diligent doctor, Edward James Olmos as a hot-tempered Latino country leader, and George Kennedy as the fatherly admiral in charge of the Artic base all essay their roles with laudable conviction.
Movies that depict disasters are plentiful so if you have time to view only one chose Virus (Fukkatsu no hi).
The international cast adds to the flavor of the film.In a world where governments try to stay ahead of each other in developing weapons (armament and biological), Virus gives us a look at a situation that could happen in our lifetime.The above reasons are why I rated it 8 out of 10.
I came across "Virus" on DVD at the dollar store recently, and though I'd never heard of it, a quick look at IMDb revealed that the film had a pretty decent rating so I risked a buck on it.
After further research I learned that there are several different cuts of this movie available and that the DVD I purchased is in fact the shorter U.S. cut, which is missing almost an hour of footage (mainly featuring the Japanese characters and their back stories).
Despite that, I still found "Virus" to be a pretty entertaining (if a bit depressing) film and I'm interested in tracking down a copy of the "true" version of the film.Apparently "Virus" was the most expensive film made by a Japanese company at the time of its release (1980), featuring a large cast of both Japanese and Western actors.
The American cast (who are featured more prominently in the cut I saw) are all genre stalwarts who appeared in a lot of similar disaster films around this same time period -- Glenn Ford as the President of the United States, Robert Vaughn as his Senatorial foil, Henry Silva as a crazed Army general, and so on.
(Perhaps the Japanese producers figured "Screw it, we're just going to dub over him with a Japanese actor anyway.") It does tend to be a bit talky, could've used some more action scenes, and obviously its Cold War era politics are now out of date, but overall "Virus" was a pretty decent little end-of-the-world/apocalypse saga.As the movie opens, some cloak-and-dagger types meet in an East German hideaway and exchange a vial of a new biological weapon known as MM-88.
VIRUS is a film I first saw in the early 1980s and didn't think too much of it at the time .
That and the fact it's a Japanese film and we all know how the Japanese feel about nuclear missiles especially when they're being pointed by Americans Actually this is the confusing bit .
Had the movie been a hit, it would barely have been out of the theaters before it was out of date.The third serious mistake was casting actors well known for action films.
After all, this movie was made nearly ten years after "The Andromeda Strain." However, the most laughably absurd element is expecting us to believe the Japanese scientist could escape on foot from "ground zero" of an all-out nuclear war and find, several thousand miles later, a colony of two dozen or so people, when he hasn't a clue where they are going to settle.
This is a matter-of-fact tale of the apocalypse, showing what would really happen if a killer virus was unleashed upon the world's unsuspecting population.The Japanese production values are top notch and in particular the post-apocalypse sequences are expertly staged: a desolate world indeed is built up after the calamity that unfolds.
This is a matter-of-fact tale of the apocalypse, showing what would really happen if a killer virus was unleashed upon the world's unsuspecting population.The Japanese production values are top notch and in particular the post-apocalypse sequences are expertly staged: a desolate world indeed is built up after the calamity that unfolds.
Following in the best 'disaster film' traditions, an all-star American cast delivers the goods, from a particularly affecting Glenn Ford as the doomed president to Robert Vaughn as his trustworthy adviser and Henry Silva as a war-mongering general.
Following in the best 'disaster film' traditions, an all-star American cast delivers the goods, from a particularly affecting Glenn Ford as the doomed president to Robert Vaughn as his trustworthy adviser and Henry Silva as a war-mongering general.
Add in Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Edward James Olmos, tough guy Bo Svenson and even a cameoing Sonny Chiba and you have pretty much the movie-lover's dream cast.Of course, given that this is in reality a Japanese film, the acting honours really go to Masao Kusakari, playing an ordinary-guy scientist who undergoes tremendous ordeals and feats of bravery by the time the film ends.
Add in Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Edward James Olmos, tough guy Bo Svenson and even a cameoing Sonny Chiba and you have pretty much the movie-lover's dream cast.Of course, given that this is in reality a Japanese film, the acting honours really go to Masao Kusakari, playing an ordinary-guy scientist who undergoes tremendous ordeals and feats of bravery by the time the film ends.
At the end of the movie, the main character comes in a church (presumed in South America) and has a mute conversation (subtitled in Japanese) with a Christ in a dropped cross, and with two corpses.