"Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler" is an exciting psychological thriller starring Tatsuya Fujiwara as Kaiji, man forced to enter a deadly gambling competition aboard a cruise ship, to erase a large financial debt. Based on Nobuyuki Fukumoto's hit manga series which has sold over 11 million copies, Kaiji is a 26 year-old job-hopping bum who suddenly finds himself riddled in debt after a shadowy loan company informs him that he is responsible for a loan taken by his friend (who has since gone missing) and whom he casually co-signed as a loan guarantor for!"
-The cards, if you look closely it is rock, paper, scissors. A simple harmless game, but they added a slave card which doe not look friendly or pleasant at all. It tells the audience that this simple game is taken to a whole new level. From the slave card, on how brutal it is, it tells the audience that there maybe some horrible things happen and may include death.
Also within some cards it has picture's of people, scene from the film. By the clothes the people wear it shows what class they are in, for example the bottom right hand corner, the boy is wearing simple clothing. Showing that is he is normal civilian. While at the top left card, the guy is in a suit, he is more likely a higher class person, such as a successful business man.
The way the cards falls down and the images expression within it, it gives out the feeling of tension and the fact that its all over the poster, the cards plays as the mcguffin. Especially the Slave card, since you normally don't get that within rock, paper, scissors. So the fact that the guy is holding it, it must mean something and must be important.
-The way the three people are displayed, it shows who is the most important ones and the ones you should focus on. It makes people wonder as the only person with the card is the one in the middle, the protagonist Kaiji, since he is the only one with the cards, he can either be the one playing the game or the one controlling the game. The other guy is in a business suit, is he the bad or good guy? Then on the right, it is the girl, who is she? Is she Kaiji lover or also another bad person. Creating mystery and questions within them, such as how are they linked within the story and what is their roles. As their facial expression does not seem relaxed, but more towards serious, tense, concerned and fearful of what could happen and what will happen.
-The colour used, red and dull machine like colour. Red is known as a angry colour, yet it can also mean prosperity and joy. I personally think they chosen to use red in the background, is to match the slogan "LIFE or DEATH...on the turn of a card!", the red can be represented as blood from the deaths of others or it simply can represent the victory of the survivors. The colour red also gives out the feeling of glamour or royalty. To me, the way they colour worked together and the way it is layout, it makes me think that this game event will be held within a rich glamours place. Where it will be filled with rich people, for their entertainment, and the poor civilians will be the entertainer. Something bad will happen during the event and it won't leave people happy or in peace.
The dull machine like colour used, makes me think of industrial. Such as this game event is held in a secure, out of touch location, where anything you can possibly imagine, can actually happen.
-The typography, the style and colour of it, it gives out a atmosphere that a sign like that would be seen in some club or casino. To show it is a lively glamours place to be, giving out a welcoming message. To fit in within this poster, the thriller side would be that this film is a entertainment within a place, but by the way their facial expression is, it is not a simple game and it may contain some gruesome scene's. Which is pretty much creating theatre of the mind, making the audience question on what it would be like. How a simple game of rock, paper, scissors and a extra card can do to people and how it can be taken dead serious.
-The age rating, 12. People would assume it would not be that bad and probably just a drama film. Until you see the slave card, on how horrible the picture it is. It makes the audience think, is something cringing going to be shown. With the slogan to match it, it would make the audience think twice about this film. Along it would make the audience want to see the film as they want to know what would happen and how would they die. Along how is this simple game of rock, paper and scissors be transformed into something never been seen before.
-Overall when I see this poster it gives me the feeling that this is no ordinary friendly rock, paper and scissors game. It shows that this game is important, such as if you take the risk, you pay the price with your life. Along I should prepare for some horrible scene's, as within the film, the game means serious business and it should not be taken lightly.
