Post by cd on Jun 28, 2006 10:22:52 GMT
Azumi
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Year: 2003
Run Time: 142 mins
Classification: 18
Aya Ueto plays a member of an elite team of samurai assassins, raised & trained by their master outside of civilisation in a war-ridden feudal Japan.
They are told that their whole life is for one purpose, one special mission, in which they must assassinate war-hungry villains to end all war for good.
STORY:
The story is excellent, with a fe surprises and plot twists. The plot centres around only a few characters which makes this movie an intimate and undistractable experience.
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
The cinematography is excellent. Acion scenes are bursting with energy, and the composition and, framing and movement of the camera work is a treat to watch. The added aesthetic quality of feudal Japan adds beauty to the picture, with elegant forests, tatami rooms with surrounding shoji & breathtaking countryside settings give the movie an elegance but simple flavour.
SOUND:
The music fits the theme really well, but the sound effects (as usual with Japanese movies) is a little overboard. In a few scenes there is a monkey man who squeaks and shrieks and often makes unusual monkey-like noises whilst he's fighting. I find these moments distracting, unnecessary & unnatural, but that is the only fault with this film.
OVERALL:
It's good old family entertainment. Not too gory, and plenty of action and adventure to keep everyone interested. I don't know why it's rated 18 over here in the UK, it could be enjoyed by most kids I would think.
Rating: 4 / 5
SCREENSHOTS:
