tkdlifemagazine

Don't Miss Baby Assassins 3. Baby Assassins 3 is the latest release from Well Go USA Entertainment to come out of the Japanese market, and it is fast and fun conclusion of the Baby Assassins trilogy.

We wrote in our review for the sequel to the original Baby Assassins, "Akari Takaishi and Saori Izawa continue to delight as the young assassins who are faced with trying to balance "normal" lives with their careers as professional assassins". This continues to be true in this powerful installment in a unique and memorable martial arts and action trilogy.

In this installment we find the Assassins faced with silencing a sociopathic, freelance killer that proves to be a formidable opponent. To compound their troubles, the ladies are now under the strict supervision of two senior, highly skilled members of their agency, making their unorthodox style and behavior, potentially, a career ending liability.

One of the strengths of this movie is that it defies a strictly formulation approach to a beloved and successful franchise. Many similar vehicles simply recycle the same old gags and tropes, with a slightly altered plot, to capitalize on a successful history. Baby Assassins 3 does not do this. The third installment successfully breaks new ground in several areas.

This film is far more serious and gritty than its predecessors. Not that it doesn't have the signature "joy" that only the Baby Assassin duo can bring to the screen; it does. However, it has more than that as the nature of their foe and the subject matter has become more mature, as they have. While this was a risk on the part of the filmmakers; it pays off. The tone of this film is really engaging.

Additionally, the film raises a point that was never really explored in the first two installments, "What is the difference between these hired assassins and an ordinary murderer?" The characters are so likable and the execution so much fun that the viewer may get lost to the fact that they are hired killers. In Baby Assassins 3, the girls come face to face with someone who does what they do, but does it with a sadistic pleasure. The film, right or wrongly, draws the distinction between two professionals that are in the business of killing, and someone who is killing to fill a depraved void. We see, in some of the film's deeper moments, that, particularly Saori Izawa, is pondering this very question. This self-reflection works well with the film's more somber tone.

The film's Direction, by Yugo Sakamoto; its tight editing, and unique cinematography really work in this one. The fight choreography continues to be unique and highly watchable, with Akari Takaishi, taking on more hand to hand action in this installment. The final fight choreography by Sonomura Kensuke is as good as you will see in a martial arts and action film. I would venture to guess the final fight scene between Saori Izawa and Sôsuke Ikematsu will make our best fight scenes list for 2025.

You do not have to have seen the first two installments to enjoy this movie; however, I highly encourage watching them. They are terrific films.

If the filmmakers are going to continue the franchise I hope they are as thoughtful in their approach to the characters and storyline. Nothing worse than filmmakers simply recycling content with no regard for the sensibility of their core audience.

Note: Baby Assassins 3 was formerly titled Baby Assassins: Nice Days

I highly recommend this film.

The film is subtitled.

I kind of felt like everything that could be said about this case was said. I have become convinced that Maurice Terry's theory that there were multiple killers was pretty sound. This documentary does a good job of telling the story and showing the historic looks at NYC in the late 1970's and of making you think David Berkowitz was a more calculated and manipulative lone killer than I had previously thought. I also had no idea of the connections to Scorsese's Taxi Driver. It is really good documentary. I am not sure of the conclusion and may go back and watch Sons of Sam again.

I never even heard of this movie. Maybe the reason is because it is not, particularly, special. It is good in many ways. The true story of a, down on his luck Philadelphia man, who finds $1.2 million dollars in lost Federal Reserve money, is watchable. The cast is tremendous with John Cusak, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debbie Mazar, James Gandolfini, Benicia DeToro, and Michael Rappaport. The recently deceased Michael Madsen plays the Detective on the case. The script is decent. The direction and filming leave something to be desired. The biggest issue I have is the consistent attempt to have the characters seem like they are from Philly, when they clearly are not. It is good, overall.