Reacap: In a near future Japan, the feared Takemikazuchi-clan act as assassins only. With no regard or concern, if you pay - they kill. Interestingly, in a world were guns and rifles rule, they still use their swords and skills in martial arts. One young member of this clan is young Yuki, about to turn twenty. One night she is sent to hunt down a former clan-member that decided to run. The clan regards any member that leaves them as a traitor that must be killed. On this mission Yuki meets Kuka, who reveals the secret she is living. Her mother was the former leader of the clan, but the present leader Byakurai murdered her. Yuki now challenges Byakurai, but fails and flee. Now she is the target of her clan.
Comments: In my opinion this differs a bit from other Japanese action (samurai or ninja) movies. This movie is almost subdued, especially compared to many other such movies where the dialog is screamed, overacting the common practice and 10 meter jumps natural. This is nothing like that. Instead, the dialog is almost quiet, the colors are dark and grey is very prominent. The lead character, Yuki, is very withdrawn. The fencing and fighting is not subdued though, and this is the one place were Yuki excels. If you like Japanese fencing, you will surely enjoy these.
Unfortunately this movie lacks in some other areas. It is supposedly set in a futuristic Japan, ruled by a monarchy. But this is mostly just alluded to and not really explained or used. Yuki meets Takashi, who evidently is in the middle of a rebelling terrorist-group, but this is also not a prominent feature in the story. Surprisingly it is introduced into the move, and some controversy within the group is shown. But the sub-plot is never really used or developed, it's seems just to be a way to pass time. But it is important to the ending, and therefore it is a little surprising it is not shown more, and frankly it is a little confusing. The movie is not that long, and the time could easily been taken to develop this plot, and weave it into the main plot with Yuki (as it alludes that it is connected to it). That effort would have been very welcome, and should have been great for the movie.
As it is
7/10
Comments: In my opinion this differs a bit from other Japanese action (samurai or ninja) movies. This movie is almost subdued, especially compared to many other such movies where the dialog is screamed, overacting the common practice and 10 meter jumps natural. This is nothing like that. Instead, the dialog is almost quiet, the colors are dark and grey is very prominent. The lead character, Yuki, is very withdrawn. The fencing and fighting is not subdued though, and this is the one place were Yuki excels. If you like Japanese fencing, you will surely enjoy these.
Unfortunately this movie lacks in some other areas. It is supposedly set in a futuristic Japan, ruled by a monarchy. But this is mostly just alluded to and not really explained or used. Yuki meets Takashi, who evidently is in the middle of a rebelling terrorist-group, but this is also not a prominent feature in the story. Surprisingly it is introduced into the move, and some controversy within the group is shown. But the sub-plot is never really used or developed, it's seems just to be a way to pass time. But it is important to the ending, and therefore it is a little surprising it is not shown more, and frankly it is a little confusing. The movie is not that long, and the time could easily been taken to develop this plot, and weave it into the main plot with Yuki (as it alludes that it is connected to it). That effort would have been very welcome, and should have been great for the movie.
As it is
7/10
