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August 18, 2004

Azumi

Azumi is a Japanese summer blockbuster, done Hollywood-style. But done in Japan. Director Ryuhei Kitamura obviously loves big action movies, and he's staking a claim to the action movie that has been dominated by Hollywood imports.

Azumi is one of ten young warriors raised in seclusion by a sword fighting master to be assassins. Based on the eponymous manga, it's a tale of young warriors finally graduating into the life for which they've been trained, and how they deal with it.

As a manga adaptation, it is by necessity over the top. That's half the fun--and the villains of the story are richly over the top. But the lead character is played straight. Pop star Aya Ueto's portrayal of Azumi is strong and grave. It provides a emotional anchor to the movie which keeps it from descending into camp.

The action sequences are fast and furious, with sword thrusts and spurting blood aplenty. The action direction is pretty good, and director Kitamura adds his signature flair.

All in all, an enjoyable, fun romp of an action movie.

August 18, 8th Annual Asian Film Festival
Four Star Theater, San Francisco.
945pm

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