2
Flawed, but fun action throw-back
This one starts off cliché and over-the-top, so we know what we're getting into from the opening scenes alone. Toss in the film's set-up of men in demon masks butchering the lead's family, and, okay, this is going to be a pretty cool '80s style flick, only set in Japan, right?
And, yes, for the most part, that's exactly what it is.
Queue a time skip, and when the MC starts to fight back, I was wondering if this was turning into some kind of horrifically dark comedy, as the semi-paralysed former assassin manoeuvres his limp body in a scene that reminded me of, Upgrade (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/), but 100x more ridiculous. Thankfully, our star soon regains full control and the film moves back onto the tracks of an action-steam train, voiding my instinct to turn it off.
There are several more clichés that take place (the daughter and all of her actions - including the final scene - I could've sworn I've seen in numerous other titles) but, overall, this is a decent action film that knows what it is and never once strays into pretentious territory (John Wick 4, take note!).
So, while this may not be the best film I've ever seen from Japan, it's definitely worth its running time and, with a few mates around, could likely be even more fun.
And, yes, for the most part, that's exactly what it is.
Queue a time skip, and when the MC starts to fight back, I was wondering if this was turning into some kind of horrifically dark comedy, as the semi-paralysed former assassin manoeuvres his limp body in a scene that reminded me of, Upgrade (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/), but 100x more ridiculous. Thankfully, our star soon regains full control and the film moves back onto the tracks of an action-steam train, voiding my instinct to turn it off.
There are several more clichés that take place (the daughter and all of her actions - including the final scene - I could've sworn I've seen in numerous other titles) but, overall, this is a decent action film that knows what it is and never once strays into pretentious territory (John Wick 4, take note!).
So, while this may not be the best film I've ever seen from Japan, it's definitely worth its running time and, with a few mates around, could likely be even more fun.
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