K-20: Kaijin niju menso den (K-20: Legend of the Mask) (The Fiend with Twenty Faces)

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62%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,149
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Movie Info

A good man takes on the guise of a bad guy to expose evil and help the needy in this period action-adventure story based on the manga by Soh Kitamura. The story takes place in 1949, in an alternate reality in which Japan stayed out of World War II and the nation is ruled by a handful of wealthy and uncaring aristocrats while most of the citizens have become mired in poverty. A villainous criminal genius known as K-20 (Kaijin Nijumenso-den) targets the powerful, though he's more interested in his own well being than in justice for the impoverished. Heikichi Endo (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is a talented circus performer who is chronically short on money, and when the publisher of a scandal sheet asks him to get photos of the secret wedding of well-known police detective Kogoro Akechi (Toru Nakamura) and Yoko Hashiba (Takako Matsu), the daughter of a wealthy business magnate, he eagerly takes the assignment. But K-20 pulls a daring raid at the wedding party, and Heikichi is blamed for the crime. Determined to prove his innocence, Heikichi breaks out of jail and sets out to expose K-20 by becoming a white-hat version of K-20, using an arsenal of gadgets created by his elderly friend Genji (Jun Kunimura) and his own acrobatic skills. Directed by Shimako Sato, K-20: Kaijin Nijumenso-den (aka K-20: Legend of the Mask received its North American premiere at the 2009 Santa Barbara Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Cast

Takeshi Kaneshiro
as Heikichi Endo
Takako Matsu
as Duchess Yoko Hashiba
Tôru Nakamura
as Det. Kogoro Akechi
Takeshi Kaga
Reiko Takashima
Kanata Hongô
Yuki Imai
Jun Kunimura
Toru Masuoka
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Critic Reviews for K-20: Kaijin niju menso den (K-20: Legend of the Mask) (The Fiend with Twenty Faces)

All Critics (3)

  • ... a mix of Japanese manga, forties adventure pulp and silent movie serial surrealism, set in an alternate reality where World War II was averted...

    May 29, 2010 | Full Review…

    Sean Axmaker

    Parallax View
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Audience Reviews for K-20: Kaijin niju menso den (K-20: Legend of the Mask) (The Fiend with Twenty Faces)

  • Mar 17, 2016
    That poster is a lie.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Jun 02, 2011
    A entertaining comic style action film from japan concerning K-20 a master criminal who steals inportant and valuable items, to get attention away from him during his latest event, he frames a young man as K-20, here we see the man getting into a adventure to clear his name and restore the piece, and of course future bad things when what is revealed could have dire consequences on everyone.. a great lively look to it, and comicbook feel throughout. its japanes setting, a future set in a time ww2 dident happen, when action kicks in its lively, and although it does settle down a lot for talking heads, its engageing, so minor problems that dont spoil to much, and overall a entertaining film, from japan.
    scott g Super Reviewer
  • Mar 31, 2010
    K-20 is a lighthearted adventure movie starring Asian superstar Takeshi Kaneshiro. The plot was ridiculous, the action was OK and the performances were a little flat. I'm sure kids would like it but for me I found too dull, with not enough action or humour.
    Jonny C Super Reviewer
  • Dec 28, 2009
    The kind of movie hollywood has no idea how to properly make anymore. It doesn't try to be something it shouldn't be, it's always fun, always smart enough but gladly doesn't try to push too much anything that could interrupt the fun. There's action, adventure, good stunts, a wise use of CGI, a good cast, comedy, and gladly no pointless romance. If only cinemas had these kind of movies every weekend it would be a joy to go and watch them. It's pop corn cinema done right.
    Tsubaki S Super Reviewer
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K-20: Kaijin niju menso den (K-20: Legend of the Mask) (The Fiend with Twenty Faces) Quotes

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