Hydra

I watched "Hydra" after a fellow fan of martial arts films recommended it to me based on the strength of the fight scenes. While the sparse action scenes are indeed much better than the garbage that passes for fight scenes in the John Wick series, they are pretty lackluster and amateurish compared to classic Hong Kong cinema or more contemporary film like The Raid.

Unfortunately, the weak action scenes are still more interesting than the hackneyed, generic plot.

Brisk and straightforward flick about a retired killer trying to make amends for his past deeds being forced back into the game. You won't find huge set pieces, slow-mo/ fast forward bs or shaky-hand footage cut endlessly; just very well choreographed, very kinetic fights, shot wide so you can actually see what's happening and where it's happening. The combatants are so skilled with the blade that it makes you feel that the slightest mistake can and actually becomes lethal, raising the stakes. That aspect reminded me of the last fight in The Raid part 2.

Give this smaller flick a try, at 72 minutes you'll be glad you did.

I was trying to remember the name of this movie for the last month or so and serendipitily came across it in my Prime Video feed.

It was not as good as I remembered unfortunately. There are maybe three action scenes and while they are different than the usual fare they aren't spectacular. This movie is 65 minutes of boringness, 10 minutes of action and 5 minutes of credits. The story is a bit muddled and it is hard to figure out what is happening. It seems to be either a pilot, a vanity project or a pilot for a TV series. If you want something with a similar plot try 'The Killer' or 'The Man from Nowhere' both movies from Korea (2022 and 2010 respectively)

As far as low budget independent Japanese action films go, it doesn't get much better than this. This little gem is the directorial debut of stuntman/actor Kensuke Sonomura. Sure it wasn't perfect, but rookie filmmaker mistakes aside, it was a really well put together film. The mere 77 min runtime flew by even with the slow pacing, mostly due to the fact that each scene was relevant to the narrative, and just the right length to fill in the necessary back, current and upcoming sub-plots. I actually would've wanted more runtime to fill in some backstories more, and better character development in some of the characters. As an action film, there's really only two action scenes, but man are they choreographed and filmed exceptionally well, and are executed lightning-fast. I sure hope this little gem has some sequels in the works, because I do want more.

When I saw the title, I thought we were in for another Marvel origin movie - this time about the evil organization the Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D. spend their lives fighting. Not the case. This one's a subtitled Japanese crime flick that's long on action and short on everything else. The fight scenes will justify the time for any martial arts junkies who remember to set the rest of their expectations on low.

First-time director Kensuke Sonomura, who also appears in a substantial role, has 75 stunt gigs under his (presumably) black belt. That history allowed him to choreograph a couple of the most exciting, unique fight scenes in the genre. No wires or CGI pyrotechnics. Just a couple of foes squaring off in gritty matches of speed and agility with normal-people weapons. These scenes are akin to the cherished chase scene in Steve McQueen's Bullitt - exciting for their atypically bare-bones staging.

The plot centers around a disenchanted hitman who has secretly dedicated himself to protecting the daughter of a deceased colleague. When trouble arises from some local gangs, it's time to get back in the saddle. The details matter little, and, frankly, could have used the hand of a skilled editor to bring them into a more cohesive narrative. As it plays out now, timelines, characters and motivations are rather muddled, isolating the fights as the main, if not only, attraction.

Stunt men can ripen into outstanding directors. Clint Eastwood and Hal Needham come quickly to mind in that regard. Sonomura might get there. He's still young. If he surrounds himself with skilled storytellers to balance his wealth of action knowledge, he could be a contendah.