Ichi (2008) [Film Review]

Ichi; or, The Tale of Female Warrior
     Those who cannot see... do not know where the boundaries are. We can't see boundaries, like whether it's day or night right now, or where the path we're walking on suddenly disappears. And since we can't see, it's terrifying. Who is good, and who is bad? Where are the boundaries for that?! I don't even know that much! I can't even see for sure whether I'm alive, or whether I'm dead!
Ichi is a 2008 adaptation of a manga series created by Hana Shinohara. Inspired by the Zatoichi figure, the manga centers around the character of Ichi, a blind woman who wanders through Japan in search of her mentor, the man who taught her the art of swordsmanship. Interestingly, the fans of the manga were disappointed with many differences conveyed in the movie adaptation.

Release Info

Directed by: Fumihiko Sori Starring: Haruka Ayase, Takao Osawa, Shido Nakamura

Language: Japanese Original Title: Ichi Runtime: 120 min

Synopsis
Ichi (a m a z i n g Haruka Ayase) searches for her mentor, the master of backhanded, straight-stroke style. While confronting a gang of thugs, she encounters Fujihira Toma (Takao Osawa), a wandering samurai who was expelled from his clan. The two venture into a village that is plagued by savage bandits. Contrary to Toma, Ichi does not want to get involved. Eventually, she faces off against the bandits when discovering that their leader might have some information about her mentor’s whereabouts…

Like Father Like Daughter
I have to admit that I did not read the manga, so I am writing this review from a standpoint of a person who has seen only Zatoichi movies. In this regard, that is Ichi being a modern take on the Zatoichi myth with double twist, the movie works flawlessly. However, I can understand the outrage of manga fans that the screenplay gives little care to the supporting characters.

The secret as to why Ichi works is primarily due to Haruka Ayase’s crazy awesome performance. I have seen the actress previously in such dramas as Hero and Mr Brain, but I have never suspected that she is capable of playing such a complex and kick-ass character. She absolutely owns the movie.

Another great advantage are the fight scenes, which seem to be an improvement over good-looking action set pieces from Takeshi Kitano’s Zatoichi (2003). It is exhilarating to see how Ichi obliterates the bad guys in slow motion.

Additionally, there is a variety of great actors in supporting roles, including Yosuke Kobuzoka as the righteous villager, Akira Emoto as the village leader, Eri Watanabe as the maid, and Shido Nakamura as bat-shit crazy samurai who went rogue.

The only thing that I disliked about the movie is that there are a bit generic villains. The screenplay desperately tries to make them come off as brutal and gruesome, but in reality they are no match for the main heroine.

Recommendations
If you want to experience a Zatoichi story from a different perspective, then Ichi is the movie for you. I’m not going to lie that I fell in love with Haruka Ayase after watching it. Hopefully, I will be able to check out the manga series in the future as well. Ichi definitely deserves another movie or even a drama series.Overall score: 9/10

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Tengoku to Jigoku: Psychona futari (2021) [Drama Review]

Tengoku to Jigoku: Psychona futari; or, Knowing Me, Knowing You

     This was supposed to be me. I hunted him down, handcuffed him. I was going to take credit for it and look back at everyone. I was so close. Why? Why is this happening to me? He's a psychopath, a serial killer, and... a demon.
The beginning of 2021 just could have started better for J-drama enthusiasts. Just a couple of days after the broadcast of the first episode of Tengoku to Jigoku: Psychona futari (Heaven and Hell: 2 Psycho People), the hype reached the heights of a tidal wave! I don’t usually watch dramas live as they air on a weekly basis, but for this show, I decided to make an exception. It is a brilliant crime thriller with a touch of a supernatural element.

Release Info

Directed by: Yuichiro Hirakawa, Takahiro Aoyama Starring: Haruka Ayase, Issei Takahashi, Kazuki Kitamura

Language: Japanese Original Title: 天国と地獄 ~サイコな2人～No. or eps.: 10

Synopsis
Ayako Mochizuki (Haruka Ayase) is a diligent police detective with a strong sense of justice. She looks down on her colleagues who slack off or engage in shady stuff. After the murder of a businessman, Ayako participates in an investigation and types a certain Haruto Hidaka (Issei Takahashi) as the primary suspect. Hidaka is a prosperous CEO of a chemical company and respected personality, but Ayako is convinced that he is a psychopathic killer. Just when she is about to arrest him, the two fall down a street staircase. Upon regaining consciousness, they discover that their bodies are switched… Mochizuki, now in Hidaka’s body, does everything in her power to solve the case.

Mutual (Mis)understanding
Honestly, just summing up the premise of the drama above gave me the chills. Initially, you just think that it is a remake of John Woo’s Face/Off action flick, but Tengoku to Jigoku is so much more than that! It is about distinct personalities of the main protagonists, Hidaka’s painful past, exposing the truth, and annoying sidekicks who turn into unforgettable characters. In my opinion, the best way to describe the drama is to call a mix between Face/Off (1997), Vice Versa (1988), and Memories of Murder (2003).

Evidently, I won’t share any spoilers in this review. Let me just say that each episode is a fast-paced roller coaster with lots of clever plot twists. Just when you think that something is unnecessary or stupid, it gains great importance later on in the story! Huge respect for writer Yoshiko Morishita who managed to come up with such quality content. In fact, she never fails at penning gripping dramas (Tenno no Ryoriban (2015), MR. BRAIN (2009)).

With regard to performances, Haruka Ayase and Issei Takahashi steal this show! It is an amazing experience watching their complex performances as they alternately act out the characters of Mochizuki and Hidaka. The two of them are such brilliant performers.

A word of appreciation also goes to supporting actors, especially Junpei Mizobata, Tasuku Emoto, Takaya Sakoda, and Kazuki Kitamura. I hated you, Kazuki, early on in the series, but you progressively grew on me with each consecutive episode.

Recommendations
On average, the drama pulled in 20% of viewership ratings which is a very good score. It’s been only week since the last episode came out, but I can already tell that Tengoku to Jigoku: Psychona futari is a classic production from TBS station. It is so powerful and touching. I look forward to more such thrilling shows!Overall score: 8/10

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Dearest (2012) [Film Review]

Dearest; or, Love Conquers All

This week’s review will be about the last movie in the acting career of the late Ken Takakura, directed by his frequent collaborator Yasuo Furuhata.

Release Info

Directed by: Yasuo Furuhata Starring: Ken Takakura, Yūko Tanaka, Kōichi Satō, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
Language: Japanese Original Title: Anata e Runtime: 110 min

Plot

The film tells the story of Eiji Kurashima (Ken Takakura), an aged prison guard mourning his wife who has recently passed away. Shortly after the cremation of her body, Kurashima receives a letter in which his wife asks him to scatter her ashes in her hometown in Nagasaki Prefecture. In consequence, Kurashima sets out on a picturesque and phantasmagorical journey through Japan, recalling the memories of his wife, and meeting a variety of interesting strangers along the way.

Something more than just a love story

From the synopsis above, you may infer that Dearest is just another standard melodrama about getting over the loss of a loved one. Well, I beg to disagree. In this picture, Yasuo Furuhata managed to connect together elements of a road film, a drama, and a human interest story. The character of Mr Kurashima is a standard everyman who spent the majority of his life in loneliness until one day, he finally discovered his true love. Yet, after the wife's passing, he goes on a journey that the two always wanted to make; and I’ve got to say that Kurashima’s travel is taken almost straight from the pages of Haruki Murakami’s novels. We not only get an overview of Japan’s most beautiful tourist landmarks, but also meet several bizarre yet extraordinary individuals who are just as lost in their daily existence as Kurashima.

Dearest marks the last performance of Ken Takakura in his acting career (unfortunately, he died in 2014); however, just as in his previous works, he gives a magnificent performance also in this picture. Although it is pretty odd to see an 80-year-old prison guard still on duty and married to a woman in her 60s, Takakura makes it believable and hence adds more reality into Mr Kurashima’s character, making him seem more tragic.

The supporting actors also did a fine job, especially Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Kōichi Satō as Kurashima’s “friends on the road”. Yūko Tanaka as Mrs Kurashima was also convincing, however, she appears only in flashbacks. Even Takeshi Kitano appears in two scenes and gives a solid performance as always. The music score is calm and soothing, but at times forgettable, constituting the only disadvantage of the whole film.

Recommendations

I recommend this film to everyone who would like to spend a quiet evening, see a simple story with a bit of a twist, and have a cathartic experience. I even tend to believe that Dearest outweighs Ken Takakura’s other travel film Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles in terms of screenplay and scenography. If you like Yasuo Furuhata’s other films or the uplifting style of Haruki Murakami novels, Dearest is definitely the movie for you. Watch it and it will leave you in high spirits.

Overall score: 9/10