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Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler

In the original manga series by Fukumoto Nobuyuki that later debuted on anime television, the story of Kaiji starts shortly after he graduates high school and moves to Tokyo for a job, but the recession causes him to fall into a world of liquor, cigarettes and gambling. After drowning in misery for a couple of years, Kaiji is approached by a man named Endo who is looking to collect an outstanding debt from a co-worker which was unfortunately cosigned by none other than Kaiji himself. With a choice between taking 10 years to repay the debt or boarding the Espoir (the French word for hope) for a night of gambling, Endo cons him into the latter. The film is an adaption of his voyage through a gambling ship as a thirty-year old played by Battle Royale star Fujiwara Tatsuya.

Although the title and foundation of the movie suggest that the primary focus is on gambling, director Sato Toya transforms the film into battle of survival and freedom, illuminating the desperation of society and their willingness to risk their lives because money seems to be their only solution. Had he heeded the importance of responsible gaming, Kaiji wouldn't have ended up in this mess in the first place, as reputable and pioneering website, InterCasino explains that gambling should only be treated as a form of entertainment not a means to make a living from. But of course, that's not how the story of Kaiji goes.

The tension builds as the card players challenge each other in the hope that they would make it off the ship with the enough money to payoff their debt, only for them to discover later that they were intended for slavery. It’s slightly over-the-top for a film, however it does mirror the bizarre events of the series that the manga readers know and love. While everyone is probably aware that Kaiji will make it out of this alive, the cinematic effects are so gripping that for a moment, you forget that this ends well for the main character.

To learn more about the adventures of Kaiji, you can also check out the tv series Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji and the movie sequel Kaiji 2 that was released back in 2011.

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