Crying Freeman

As a Korean, I am very surprised to see how well foreigners understand the special culture of Chinese and Japan.

The idea that some Buddhists established an legendary organization and trained a legendary assassin called "freeman" and whenever China was in trouble, the organization helped to avoid or overcome the trouble situations. so it was given respect by Chinese is to come from the traditional chivalry story of China. in fact, the movie "First of Legend" acted by "Jet li" has the same context with this. "Crying Freeman" also reflects the culture of Yakuza Organization in Japan well. for example, Yakuzas like to have a dragon tattooed upon their bodies and if the boss died, the successor married the boss' wife. and so on.

I felt as if I was seeing the movie produced by Chinese or Japanese. and I could enjoy it even more interestingly than other foreign movies.

Some spoilers may follow.

"Crying Freeman" is one of my favorite movies ever. I can watch it again and again many times. This movie is first of all a work of art. It is uncanny beautiful, in every small detail. Almost each episode I can watch through as if it were a picture of a talented artist. Graceful, elegant, very aesthetic - CF is a masterpiece of visual art. I fell in love with it when I first saw the starting credits: a wonderful katana sword turning and revealing the title in a flash: "Crying Freeman". And the rest of the credits, no less beautiful. I thought that if the creators of this movie could make the opening title so stunningly beautiful, then the movie itself would not disappoint me as well. And it didn't. But besides visual beauty, CF has a marvelous plot, actors and... Well, I'll simply say the whole blend of all things that make a movie is perfect in the "Crying Freeman". And again, when I try to describe my impression from some part of the movie, I can think of only one word - beautiful. No, even "fair". Yo Hinomura, deadly and elegant, as a katana blade. Beauty of death. And his another side - soft and artistic. Beauty of art and poetry. Emu O'Hara, fair and tender. Beauty of peace and modesty. Lady Hanada. Even she has the beauty - of pride and honor. Beauty can be found in every detail.

And deep layers that accompany each Christophe Gans' movie... You might watch "Crying Freeman" a hundred of times and on the hundred and first you'll something you haven't seen before.

I am very grateful to all the people that made the creation of "Crying Freeman" possible.

This film received such an unfortunate review in my TV guide that I would not have chosen to watch it. I was sitting in bed with a book, completing the wearisome process of taking my medication when my partner changed channels. I said 'I know what this movie is' & provided him a synopsis. (He went to sleep.) I was hooked from the opening scenes on the cliff. The style of the film still seems somewhat simplistic but neverless has enormous impact. This film hits on a far deeper level than outright action. Perhaps it is the trapped feelings of the lead characters which forms the basis of interaction for the viewer. I still don't know but I find that I must buy the dvd. This film made me feel and that is so rare nowadays.

"Crying Freeman" is a great movie. I've seen the movie at least 10 times & I still feel like I'm watching it for the first time. Fortunately, for me I've got the movie on tape format.

The actions in the movie are a bit annoying to some, but it is to intensify the plot. There's no obvious funny/comedic elements in the movie, but I have found some scenes that amuse me. It's not obvious but it is logical to the plot. And the fun of it comes naturally. The romance between Yo & Emu is poignant. It always get me blushing through the movie. An old fashion yet evergreen kind of romance. For rating, 11/10. Though I do know that's not 'legal'. But in my book, it is!!

Marc Dacascos is well cast in this role. he has a Manga like face that seems very perfectly symmetrical and too innocent to be a killer. Which adds to the legend that the Freeman is simply a hermit artist, a potter who keeps to himself and, were it not for the Sons of the Dragons, would have stayed that way.

The movie is a close adaptation to the Manga without trying to do the inimitable. Marc Dacascos is an acknowledged martial artist and acrobat which adds only to the credentials he brings to the movie. Of course, as all avid manga watchers will know, there is always a perverted dimension to the Manga movies. This is not so apparent in this movie adaptation, but suffice it to say that the romantic interest in this movie, has a face which seems so beautiful and tender, it could have come right out of a Japanese novel.

Superb watching. I recommend it to anyone who liked the Manga.