Having never read the original series, I'll have to go with what's in the movie. Golgo 13 is slow, pretentious and predictable to the point of boredom. Every single character is an off-the-mark stereotype and every single situation is a worn-out trope you've seen in either a 007 or Dirty Harry movie, making the movie a simple collage of scenes you might have liked from other movies (kinda like the recent "Jupiter Ascending"). Throughout the movie, events keep happening "just because", without any regard to personality or logic, and that emphasize even more the "patchwork" aspect of the movie. The movie's only redeeming quality is the visual impact, but the slow pans and masterful lighting effects are overplayed to the point of exhaustion, and do nothing to improve the movie's terrible pacing (though it gets somewhat better). Sometimes in manga the main character is intentionally made shallow and only marginally interesting, to bring out the secondary characters and help the writer focus on their own story (see Hokuto No Ken), however the device here fails miserably, because every single character is just as shallow, often possessing a single character trait. All in all, one of the worst anime I've ever seen: this movie has nothing to offer you.

One of the earliest Japanese animation films I can remember seeing, this film was a perfect introduction to me in how great a textured and visually appealing an anime story could be. Shot like a noir detective film with all the action and speed of a spy thriller, this film set a new benchmark for the sniper/hit-man genre. Duke Togo, while devoid of most emotion, captivates as a steely and ruthless assassin bent on survival as well as completion of his tasks. The stylish and dark film has conspiracies, presidential assassinations, serial killers, sex, guns, explosions and insane escape scenes. The story is straight forward; someone has paid Golgo 13 to assassinate the son of a wealthy business man and oil magnate. Revenge is to be taken on Golgo 13 at all costs, involving crooked cops, serial killers, generals, CIA, FBI, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Special Forces. Basically, Leonard Dawson is taking his son's death a bit hard and feels just a little raw toward Duke.The American translation is passable with pretty good over all emotional tone and great music setting for mood. One of my favorite anime and overall examples of noir style in graphic arts of the 80s if you can ignore that very dated helicopter scene that makes everyone so angry... Personally I didn't think it was bad, just out of place in a film with a perfect fever pitch already. Great ending, great film overall. Well worth a look for anyone who enjoys spy films, hit men or noir.

One of the best in adult anime, this one has it all. A taciturn, near unstoppable assassin, a rich man who want's the assassin dead (and is willing to let one of his paid killers rape his own daughter in law!), a bunch of crazed killers and a dedicated cop out to get him. Golgo 13, Duke Togo is the worlds greatest assassin, but in this, he's the hunted. Very realistic and grim, this is not for children. Watch for the scene when he shoots a guy THROUGH a skyscraper, especially for the shadows thrown by the beer sign he's under! Superb film!

The Professional was an incredibly awesome action film, packed with guys getting gunned down, and lots of chicks in black bikinis. The story in The Professional was much much better than in a lot of those James Bond films. Those animators are good with those pencils; their technique! Wow! Apparently, this movie was one of the first to use computer animation, but it was pretty much squat compared to what they can do now. Still, this movie will persuade you to want to be a spy, because this job has all the extras! Don't worry, all you animal lovers, because no real animals were hurt during the making of this film. It's just a film. For a good time, watch The Professional. It is, like, so cool. Rating: 10/10 ( Anyone else think this movie's disturbing? Just say Golgo if you do.)