Just watched it on Netflix and was impressed with the whole movie... actually needed to go and do other stuff but could not let it go until the end. My only complaint was the fight over the pistol at the very beginning... what super killer assassin does not keep one in the chamber?

It had Guy Ritchie written all over it.

quote:

Originally posted by Nuclear:
I watched it on a plane, so low expectations. It was a fun action/mystery flick, and I loved it.

Same. I watched it on my recent flight to work. Good entertainment to kill those two hours. Definitely had fun watching it.

I bailed, in 20 minutes.

^^^ I did too.

Given all the positive comments, maybe I'll give it another try.

Watched it last night. I liked it, a fun movie.

It was a good flick, I liked it a lot. Looks and sounds great on a 4K disc.

Kinda fun

Not bad, not horrible but, not a must watch either. I enjoyed it, the senior parental units fell asleep immediately after finishing their desserts.

At times it seemed like it was trying to be rather Tarantino-esque with the drawn out monologues, flashbacks and the foreboding bad guy. Michael Shannon's Russian accent is horrible, if you catch it, there's a few times where he looses it and he starts speaking in American English.

quote:

Originally posted by downtownv:
I bailed, in 20 minutes.

I had the exact same instinct. Glad to see I’m not alone I was in my HT, and at least the PQ and SQ was there so I gutted it out, and regretted it. Just like other shit films during this mess of the last few years, I just stick the 4k disc back into the envelope and mail it back to my rental place as fast as I can. If it’s raining I’d wait until right before the USPS comes. When the disc sucks I march it out there immediately in the middle of the night and say fuck it. If it rains it rains. If a mother fucker steals it they steal it. I didn’t do anything wrong

It seemed off. Why Japan? Why yakuza? Why a bullet train? Does it not work if the story was in Europe or the US?

Elements linked nicely together. Some funny parts. But the parts that are off just detracted from the enjoyment for me. Worth a watch but not as good as it could have been.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
It seemed off. Why Japan? Why yakuza? Why a bullet train? Does it not work if the story was in Europe or the US?

Movie is based off a well received Japanese crime trilogy novel. I'm sure the plot of the story could work in any setting, however the source material is set in Japan.

Ah, okay, got it. That makes more sense. Still makes the movie a little weird but understand the reason. Just some cog dis between the story and the backdrop. If adapting the story, I would have preferred a more western backdrop.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
It seemed off. Why Japan? Why yakuza? Why a bullet train? Does it not work if the story was in Europe or the US?

Elements linked nicely together. Some funny parts. But the parts that are off just detracted from the enjoyment for me. Worth a watch but not as good as it could have been.

I love Japan, and anything with the Yakuza. I even liked The Outsider with Leto.

It has nothing to do with location. If anything that increased my interest. For me it was the script and direction. All the jokes, flat. It was horrible.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Ah, okay, got it. That makes more sense. Still makes the movie a little weird but understand the reason. Just some cog dis between the story and the backdrop. If adapting the story, I would have preferred a more western backdrop.

I thought the overwhelming number of Western or, non-Japanese main characters was more distracting; I get it, these are international hitmen on assignment. Yet, with all sorts of Japanese cultural touch-points surrounding each scene, the actors were existing as contrasting stand-outs...perhaps that was the goal. The clothing each person had was a unique/outrageous outfit.