Yakuza Law is an anthology that portrays three different stories abot organized crime in Japan. The three stories are presented in chronological order as they take place during the Edo period, followed by the Meiji period and finally present-day Japan when the movie was released. The title is quite ironic since the three tales portray that the common laws don't matter to organized crime syndicates and that they even break with their own conventions when conflicts are at hand.

This movie has aged quite well since the three tales portray their respective periods in authentic fashion. The cinematography is quite vibrant with dynamic cuts and zooms. The film's pace is frantic without lacking depth. The three different tales offer suprisingly profound conspiracies with a few intersting twists and turns. This movie is also quite violent as all tales end in sinister confrontations. This shouldn't come as a surprise as the opening credits already portray grisly torture sequences.

In the end, Yakuza Law finds a surprisingly timeless balance between brutal special effects, intelligent plots and dynamic cinematography. Veteran director Ishii Teruo offers one of his most concise films that features numerous skilled veterans such as prolific actor Sugawara Bunta and television star Miyauchi Hiroshi. If you like brutal gangster movie without wanting to sit through the extensive length of contemporary Western cinema, then you should certainly give this overlooked gem a try.

Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji is a chanbara film which means a sword fighting movie. Released sixty-five years ago as we speak, it has become one of the most influential films of its genre even though it has been overlooked by audiences from abroad for much too long. This movie has a particular vibe since the sword fighting only occurs during the last ten minutes of the film which makes for a surprisingly brutal finale.

Before this unexpected conclusion, this movie could rather be categorized as a drama that quietly and cleverly criticizes social conventions and restraints. The film follows a group of people who travel from the country side to Edo. We meet a desperate father who sees no other solution to pay his depts than selling his daughter into prostitution. There is a traveling single mother and her daughter who earn a very modest living by dancing and singing at festivals. The film introduces a master who likes to socialize with his servants instead of keeping his distance. All these characters and events are connected to the protagonist of the movie who is a spear carrier with a remarkable sense of duty. He wants to help people in need, encourage those around him and even develops a tender romantic relationship on his journey. Just as the movie seems to conclude with a happy ending, a dramatic turn of events leaves the audience on a most sinister impression.

This intelligent movie convinces in many departments. The characters are profound, interesting and diversified. The numerous side stories are sometimes serious, sometimes humorous but always entertaining. The locations varying from busy town streets over traditional inns to beautiful country roads bring traditional Japan to life in an authentic manner. The camera work is calm and careful and rather observing than flamboyant which fits the tone of the movie.

The film isn't without its flaws. The numerous side stories can't hide the fact that the movie is missing a precise guiding line. The locations end up being somewhat repetitive. The movie's slow pace hasn't aged particularly well. The fact that the movie only contains a few minutes of sword fighting scenes contrasts the rather gruesome and misleading title.

If you are however prepared to watch an intelligent drama criticizing social conventions in feudal Japan instead of an intense sword fighting film, you are certainly going to appreciate this hidden gem with its unusual storytelling.

While everbody seems to be going crazy over Christopher Nolan's new science-fiction epic Tenet, I must admit that I have prefered Chinese historical military drama The Eight Hundred a little bit more. The movie tells the story of a few hundred Chinese soldiers who desperately attempt to defend a warehouse against Japanese invaders. While national and international spectators idly observe the relentless battle from the other side of Suzhou Creek, the desperate soldiers realize that they are all alone on a suicide mission to defend their position, city and country.

This epic movie convinces on numerous levels. The story is overall historically accurate which isn't the case for some other recent Chinese movies that depict their own people as unbeatable heroes and their opponents as relentless criminals. The realistic characters in this movie feel refreshingly human and have flaws and strengths. Some soldiers try to betray their brothers in arms to save their lives, secretely escape from the warehouse or simply try to hide to avoid fighting. However, it's great to see that even the oldest cowards, youngest deserters and stupidest egoists end up facing their deadly challenges and fighting for a better tomorrow. The character development in this film is excellent and it's easy to empathize with several of the diversified characters, varying from disillusioned children over overambitious military personnel to nostalgic elders. The locations look incredibly authentic and bring Shanghai in the late thirties to life in a visually stunning way. The contrast between dead bodies, destroyed buildings and dirty battle equipment on the north side of the river and ladies with fancy make-up, elegant casinos and contemporary vehicles on the south side of the river is truly captivating. The big-budget sound and visual effects are gripping and should be enjoyed at your local cinema as even the best set-up in your living-room couldn't bring the dramatic battles to life. Despite a length of two and a half hours, the film has great pace and especially the first three quarters go by very quickly.

This movie would have been excellent if it weren't for its last quarter. The movie suddenly jumps back and forth in the timeline and focuses on redundant discussions and lengthy speeches that add patriotic pathos but considerably slow down the film's excellent pace. The final forty minutes or so could have been told in fifteen minutes and been much more impactful.

Despite that minor flaw in the film's final quarter, The Eight Hundred is one of the best military dramas in recent memory. The story is mostly historically accurate, the sound and visual effects are impressive, the characters have depth and development and the acting performances are accurate, diversified and empathic. It might even be a great idea to transform this intriguing story into a television series at a certain point. Don't hesitate to watch this movie with English subtitles at your local cinema as The Eight Hundred is definitely the best movie of the year so far.

Assassination Classroom: The Graduation is the second and final part of the science-fiction live action duology that had started with Assassination Classroom one year earlier. The transition between the two movies is very fluid and it's mandatory to watch both films in order to understand the entire story even though this second part starts with a short summary of the first film. If compared to the first film that included numerous spectacular action scenes and quite a lot of eccentric humour, this second installment has a more serious tone and could be described as a drama. The story still revolves around the mysterious creature that had apparently menaced to destroy the Earth after having caused an explosion on the Moon. The monster that is called Koro-Sensei still teaches a group of juvenile delinquents and undesirables from an elite junior high school who are tasked to execute their teacher. However, the monster slowly changes the difficult students for the better and they start seeing their strange teacher as a mentor rather than a menace. When they learn more about the creature's fateful past, they plan on fabricating a medication that could heal the monster and prevent the destruction of the Earth. However, the students don't realize that the government is tricking them and planning on intervening to kill the creature by any means necessary.

On the positive side, the story takes a few unexpected turns in this sequel that will keep the audience on the edge of its seats until the very end. The movie doesn't simply follow the strong predecessor but develops its very own charm with a more dramatic, mature and serious tone. The characters develop some depth with the help of flashbacks and especially the intriguing past of the monstrous teacher is finally revealed. The movie's conclusion is quite emotional and leaves a lasting impression. The epilogue convinces with a fitting idea and leaves no questions unanswered and has no need for a potential reboot or successor.

On the negative side, some of the flashbacks overstay their welcome and slow the movie's pace down a little bit. The flashbacks should have been shortened or cut into different sections interwoven at different moments in both movies. The action scenes in this film are less impressive than in the first part and especially the final battle is less spectacular than anticipated. Since this second movie is rather a drama than an action film like the first installment, potential viewers should have an open mind and expect something different to fully enjoy this flick.

In the end, both movies convince for different reasons and complement each other splendidly. The first film is quirky, humorous and dynamic while the second movie is sinister, mature and dramatic. These charming live action movies might even convince me to discover the source material which only few films of this kind ever managed to do. Both movies are highly recommended to fans of Japanese culture in general and to teenage and young adult audiences who like creative science-fiction cinema in particular.

Rurouni Kenshin: Origins is the first of three live action movies based upon a popular manga and anime series around a former assassin turned wanderer named Himura Kenshin. Two more live action movies are scheduled to be released early next year in Japan. Out of the three already existing live action movies, this first film is certainly the best. It convinces with fascinating characters, stunning locations and a coherent plot that doesn't overstay its welcome or features any cliffhangers. This is certainly the best way to start discovering this franchise that mixes action, drama and thriller elements in a historical setting.

The titular hero had been employed by Imperialist forces to fight the shogunate. After the decisive victory, the young swordsman abandons his katana and swears to never kill again. He even procures a reverse-blade sword that can only be used for defense but not fatally strike an opponent. Haunted by his bloody past. Himura Kenshin lives as a loner and arrives in Tokyo eleven years after the final battle. Someone is murdering people, acting like a public avenger and claiming to be Himura Kenshin. The philosophical wanderer needs to clear his name and find the real culprit. He gets assisted by the owner of a martial art school, a young but resilient student, a fugitive doctor who had been forced to make opium, a vicious street fighter and a grumpy police officer. However, the mastermind behind the grisly murders is an influential businessman supported by conservative minds who want to bring back the shogunate.

This first entry in the live action franchise convinces on several levels. The settings are colourful, detailed and realistic as they bring the nineteenth century to life. The locations blend in splendidly and vary from bloody battlefiels over modest dojos to luxurious mansions. The characters are particularly charismatic, diversified and unique with tough street fighter Sagara Sanosuke being my favourite. The story offers an eclectic mixture of action, crime and drama as the titular hero must save his reputation and life while facing off against a powerful enemy and his numerous associates.

If you like Japanese martial arts movies, Rurouni Kenshin: Origins is a contemporary highlight that deserves its attention, praise and success. Despite an unusually challenging length of two hours and fourteen minutes, this movie entertains from start to finish and mixes fantasy and history fluidly. The other movies of this live action franchise aren't essential but this first strike here is a genre highlight that justifies its hype no matter if you are familiar with the source material or not.