Gonin 2

Takashi Ishii's GONIN really blew me away when I saw the dreadful Ocean Shores DVD many moons ago - I think my review at the time contained phrases like "masterpiece" and "hard to fault in any way". I've got the UK DVD (which is hopefully an improvement on the HK disc) waiting to be watched, and am curious to find if it holds up as well as I remembered it, or maybe its flaws were masked by the presentation. I have my suspicions because the other Takashi Ishii movies I've seen haven't been nearly as cool as I remember GONIN being. GONIN 2 being an example.

GONIN was about 5 guys who tried to steal some Yakuza money, GONIN 2 flips the genders but presents a similar scenario. 5 quite different women find themselves caught up in a jewellery robbery, and strange turns of circumstance see them running off with a case full of jewels and the Yakuza on their tails. It's a mixture of feminine bonding experience and nasty yakuza violence.

GONIN 2 shares a certain low-budget feel with BLACK ANGEL, though perhaps not quite as low. It starts off a little slowly and awkwardly, but becomes progressively darker and more perverse as time passes, to the point where it becomes almost inspirational. The 5 girls are all interesting characters (and cute, naturally), each with their own back story that made the act of desparation and possible escape a valid choice for them at that moment in time. The Yakuza on their tales are (luckily for them) mostly quite a thick bunch - but vicious and persistent too. An enigmatic figure with a long coat and a sword also gets entwined in their fate.

The movie has a certain amount of style-on-a-budget charm, and a darkness & perversion that is uniquely Japanese. It takes quite a while to really get anywhere, but develops enough momentum to engage the viewer eventually, and ultimately proves worth watching, if not unforgettable.

Disappointed by the original film, I was hoping that Tadashi Ishii would deliver a better rendition and stark contrast to his stylized and dark feature Gonin with this sequel. The premise was promising. Not only did Ishii replace the five desperate men with five equally desperate women but also added Ogata Ken as a sympathetic male ally to the five `angry women'. I guess I was asking for too much. Gonin 2 is every bit as cruel, blood drenched and gloomy as the first movie. What's more, the Five (Yumi Takigawa, Kimiki Yo, Shinobu Otake, Yumi Nishiyama, Mai Kitajima) are basically underdeveloped characters who are just there to window dress and show off their assets at every opportunity. Fans of the Hong Kong `girls with guns' genre may find this movie interesting but those expecting a Japanese version of Set It Off may be disappointed as I was. Ishii's strong points are his cinematic style and hard edged action sequences but those alone could not save this film. Unlike Gonin, Gonin 2 features no real characters we can understand or care about. Sure, the viewer can sympathize with their individual plights and anguishes but we aren't really given the chance to really care for these characters. Gonin 2 could have been and should have been a much better film, if Ishii weren't so consumed with painting his world with blood and gloom.

Gonin 2 suffers from its narrative's aimlessness and implausibilities; paper-thin, mostly unsympathetic characters; and cinematography, lacking the first film's precision and slickness. Ken Ogata is squandered. Bottom line: Notwithstanding a handful of admirable moments, it's a slightly exploitive crime caper flick that appears insipid and sloppy next to the first.

Gonin 2 (1996), directed by Takashi Ishii, serves as a powerful and intense follow-up to the original film, expanding on the themes of revenge, morality, and personal redemption. The film follows a man deeply in debt who, after his wife is assaulted, embarks on a quest for vengeance, eventually crossing paths with the Gonin thieves from the first film. With a fresh narrative that focuses on loss and retribution, the sequel delivers a darker, more emotional experience while maintaining the suspense and gritty realism that made its predecessor so compelling.

The performances in Gonin 2 are outstanding, with Ken Ogata, Shinobu Ôtake, and Kimiko Yo leading a cast that brings depth and intensity to their roles. Ogata, in particular, delivers a gripping portrayal of a man consumed by grief and revenge, adding layers of emotional complexity to his character. His journey from desperation to vengeance is believable and heartfelt, and it's his performance that drives the emotional core of the film.

Ishii's direction maintains the same atmospheric tension present in the first film, but he takes a more introspective approach with this sequel. The pacing is slower, allowing for more emotional development and providing the audience with a deeper understanding of the protagonist's inner turmoil. This slower pace also contributes to the film's weighty, melancholic atmosphere, which complements the story's exploration of moral dilemmas and the cost of revenge.

The cinematography is as gritty and raw as the first film, using dark and shadowy visuals to reflect the internal struggles of the characters. The film's bleak visual style reinforces its themes of revenge and emotional decay, creating an atmosphere of inevitability that builds toward a tragic conclusion. The use of silence and stillness in key scenes heightens the emotional tension, making the violent outbursts feel all the more impactful.

While Gonin 2 retains the suspense and action that fans of the genre appreciate, it stands out for its more intimate, emotionally-driven narrative. It's a sequel that expands the world of its predecessor while deepening the characters and their motivations. The film may not have the same immediate impact as the first, but its slow burn and exploration of vengeance make it a worthy follow-up.

Rating: 8/10. A gripping and emotionally charged sequel that delves deeper into the characters' psyches, offering a darker and more poignant narrative while maintaining the tension and suspense of the original.

Awful just awful. Some terrible scenes with poor acting bad directing and incomprehensible plot-line. The interesting cohesion between the two plot lines was destroyed by plot flaws in both. Rape scenes and ridiculous pseudo-feminism also add to this movies lack of believability. Awful, just awful.