Library Wars: The Last Mission (2015)

Overview
"Library Wars: The Last Mission" is a 2015 Japanese action movie influenced by Hiro Arikawa's light novel series "Library War", and functions as a follow up to the 2013 movie adjustment "Library Wars". Directed by Shinsuke Sato, this movie stars Junichi Okada, Nana Eikura, Kei Tanaka, Sota Fukushi, and Chiaki Kuriyama. Its story focuses on a dystopian Japan where libraries form militaries to protect flexibility of expression from the federal government's censorship.

Plot
The film is set in a future where a Japanese law described as The Media Betterment Act allows the federal government to damage any piece of media considered unsuitable, threatening liberty of expression. As a countermeasure, the Library Defense Force (LDF) is developed as a military group charged with the security of libraries and flexibility of expression. Stress escalate in between the federal government and the LDF, culminating in an armed conflict.

Main Characters
On the one hand, the movie presents the main protagonist, Atsushi Dojo, a sergeant major and instructor in the LDF, played by Junichi Okada. On the other, Iku Kasahara, represented by Nana Eikura, is a rookie LDF member under Dojo's tutelage. The film explores their professional and individual relationships, with Kasahara's aspiration and indomitable spirit being central to the storyline. Sota Fukushi plays Hikaru Tezuka, another rookie librarian and Kasahara's consistent suitor.

Conflict and Resolution
In "Library Wars: The Last Mission", the strength of the dispute magnifies, concentrating on the indirect resistance led by the LDF versus the federal government, specifically the Media Betterment Committee. The plot thickens when an extremist faction within the LDF pushes for a more militant approach, planning on bombing the MBC headquarters. Atsushi Dojo and his team work tirelessly to avoid this threat while keeping their commitment to protecting liberty of expression.

The climax of the movie unfolds as Dojo and Kasahara lead an operation to stop the bombing. As a result, the extremist faction's strategies are thwarted, and the MBC's unfavorable propaganda about the LDF is exposed to the public, resulting in increased support for the LDF.

Decision
"Library Wars: The Last Mission" supplies a special mix of political themes, social drama, and military-style action. The movie's strength lies in its portrayal of a not-too-distant future where the struggle to promote freedom of expression is illustrated through thrilling, busy series, reviewing the significance of libraries and media in a democratic society. While mostly involving Japanese contexts, the main styles resonate internationally, making "Library Wars: The Last Mission" an engaging look for around the world audiences.

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