R0BTRAIN

I really liked Versus, but Azumi totally blew it away for me. While not the life changing experience that Seven Samurai was, Azumi was the most fun I'd had watching a film for some time. I am elated the Samurai film is back in a big way. This film, Kitano's Zatoichi, The Last Samurai, Samurai Fiction and to some degree Kill Bill and the Princess Blade are all part of a wave of Chambara finally making its return. No longer relying on the Kurosawa and Zatoichi epics of old to get my Samurai fix, These new films are a welcome change from Bruckhiemer and Joel Silver crap. Chambara is undoubtedly my favorite genre and I'd put Azumi in the same class as the Lone Wolf and Cub epics of the 60's and 70's. Not elegant like Katsu's Zatoichi or beautiful like Ran, Azumi simply means to entertain. It has a hyperkinetic energy that's missing from so many modern action films from Hollywood and even Hong Kong. Japanese film has completely captivated me here recently with films like this, Battle Royale, Ringu, Versus, and Audition. Its too bad that former action capitol Hong Kong can't put out the same caliber films like in the heyday of John Woo and Tsui Hark. Bottom line is that Azumi is just a cool movie with tons of sword fights and blood letting. This film also features one of the most ridiculous and wonderful beheadings I have ever witnessed. This film gets a very high recommendation to fans of sword fights and just having fun while watching a movie.

The third installment of the Zatoichi series is the best one I have ever seen. While not as exciting as some of the other action packed entries (Chest of Gold, Zatoichi's Revenge) in terms of character development this film had the most impact on me. The stakes just seem to be higher in this entry than in most. Make no mistake, Ichi's life is on the line in EVERY other installment, but this centers on how Ichi really wants to quit his swordsman lifestyle and take a wife. To live the rest of his days in peace is all he wants and that is taken away from him. Ichi is forced to not only see how terrible the people he trusts can be, but how much he brings upon himself. This film really drives home how much Ichi loses each time he takes a life. A new friend, a new aquaintence or a new lover is almost always instantly taken away from him, either by an enemies hands or by his own. But the single greatest scene in this film is not any of the sword fights, like in other entries, the best scene is the evens/odds scene in this film. If you're a fan of this series at all please see this entry.

Action films are a dime a dozen. Many really suck. A few stand out. Of all the action fims I've ever seen in my life, this one held me as much as any not directed by John Woo. The gun battle toward the end of the film is exhilarating. Any action fan that thinks "Matrix-style" slow motion bullets are the end-all, be-all of effects should check "bulletride" effect at the end of this film. And to its amazing credit, this film was made without the help of Hollywood digital effects. I haven't even mentioned CHOW YUN-FAT. He is AWESOME in this film. The man is as bad-ass as Mel Gibson any day. "Full Contact" is based on the same book as "PayBack." Let me tell you this film runs ring around payback in areas of acting, directing, violence and coolness. There is no substitute for Chow Yun-Fat. If you're dying for a style filled actioner and have exhausted your John Woo collection, then check out "Full Contact."

This is possibly the worst movie ever made. It is at least the worst movie I've ever seen. Not only were most of the scenes unfunny, but they hurt me to watch them. "Dark Comedy" or not, this film belongs in the genre of "Bad Comedy."