**Disclaimer: The following home release review was written before additional allegations regarding larger issues regarding lead actor Tak Sakaguchi came to light; March 3rd thread by Tom Mes. We feel it's important to note that this is Yudai Yamaguchi's film, and his work with action director Kensuke Sonomura should be explored. So we decided to do this to support them and the rest of the cast in their work. **
In the world of movies, there are action stars, and there are also martial arts. Arnold Schwarzenegger (true lie), Sylvester Stallone (tango & cash), Dwayne Johnson (rundown) — These are action stars. Michael Jai White (black dynamite), Donnie Yen (Hero), Sammo Hung (meal wheels) — They are martial artists. Martial artists can become action stars, but they usually don't go the other way. However, it does happen sometimes, and Keanu Reeves (who started learning karate in the '80s) is a great example. From the audience's perspective, there may be little difference between the two, as good choreography, savvy direction, and proper editing can effectively create the illusion needed to sell the performers.This Conversation Is a Key Element of Metacriminal Activism 1% warrior (Originally released as) 1%er) From screenwriter/director Yudai Yamaguchi (Rokuroku Witch's Promise), led by Tak Sakaguchi (Re:Born; prisoners of ghostland) and Togo Ishii, a Jeet Kune Do practitioner. Through Tak, Yudai explores the complex nature of filmmaking and the struggle for authenticity, wrapping it in his package of martial arts action.
If you are interested in learning about 1% warrior Check out our first review of Fantastic Fest 2023, spoiler-free. I'm going to feel free to dive into spoiler territory in the future.
Taku Sakaguchi plays the role of Takuma Toshiro from ONE-PERCENTER. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA and Hi-YAH!
10 years since his last major release reproduction, action star Toshiro Takuma (Taku) is particularly focused on making his films that feature what he calls “real action.” Defining it as stuntless people and cheap tricks, Toshiro is tired of wire work and CG replacing martial arts techniques, and wants something that is not only new and fresh, but that only a few can offer. That's what we're trying to offer the audience. The two go on a reconnaissance trip to a remote island with their disciple Akira (Kohei Fukuyama) and encounter a fight between yakuza, which threatens the life of Maria (Rumika Fukuda), the daughter of the former boss. Rather than running, Toshiro sees this as an opportunity to capture raw footage of his actions that he can use to build the film, with Toshiro as protector and Akira as cameraman. However, by making this choice, Toshiro is challenged in an unexpected way and is forced to question the lines he is willing to cross in the name of “actual action.”
LR: “ONE-PERCENT WARRIOR” Kanon Narumi as Ami, Togo Ishii as Sensei, Norihisa Hiranuma as Shishido. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA.
When you watch it for the first time, it's easy to understand what's going on. This is one of his “last chance” type stories mixed with “wrong place, wrong time,” in which a somewhat stoic protagonist goes through a series of facial expressions leading up to a ferocious showdown at the end. We will face an invisible enemy. This is the setting and delivery of director Yamaguchi's film, and you can easily enjoy it on its own. However, once you get through it the first time, starting over again means understanding the layers of the story and how it shapes your choices going forward. For example, you may notice that some of the character names and codenames refer to Japanese movies and action movies in general. The obvious one is the nickname the bad guys gave Toshiro, “Jackie Chan,'' but if he were given that nickname, Toshiro would say “Bruce Lee'' would be a much better nickname. That's how you name two people who are prolific in artistic action movies. Note that Toshiro, played by Togo, and his opponent each utilize the style of Jeet Kune Do made popular by Lee, thereby making the choice of nicknames telling of how Toshiro sees himself. It is important to do so. And the villain, Shishido (Norihisa Hiranuma), is probably named after the name of “Shishido Jo''. branded to kill (1967) and he has a fighter regiment he names “Team Wesley,” conjuring images of Wesley Snipes (blade) He himself is also training in Shotokan karate. These are all small parts of a larger meta-concept where reality and fiction collide.
L: Taku Sakaguchi who plays Toshiro Takuma in ONE-PERCENTER. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA and Hi-YAH!
But nowhere is this conflict stronger than in the relationship between Toshiro and Akira. Akira is a cameraman, apparently named after Akira Kurosawa (Rashomon; seven samurai; dream), Toshiro as an action star is named after Toshiro Mifune, who worked with Kurosawa on films such as . blood throne, seven samurai, Rashomon, and many more. The two are a linked pair in film history, but director Yamaguchi goes a step further and makes them one and the same, with Akira becoming the main character of Toshiro's broken reality, who lost much of his career and discipline during his hiatus. It is concrete. reproduction (itself a reference to Tak's own) Re:Born). The two are inseparable, with Akira being able to say things he can't say to Toshiro and ultimately trying to force Toshiro to do things that the action star isn't necessarily ready to do. . Throughout the movie, we talk about Toshiro's techniques, his desire to reach the title of One Percenter, and his desire to become a martial artist at the highest level, yet always set back when fighting bad guys. The last thing he wants to do is Toshiro putting a bullet into a person's spine, using a wrench to squeeze and break both the collarbone and Achilles tendon, and punching and breaking every bone he can get his hands on. This is demonstrated by the method of incapacitating everyone. Practice without actually killing people. After all, he's an actor, not a murderer. And it's a distinction that prevents Toshiro from unleashing the kind of violence that audiences are used to seeing on screen. So when Akira is shot in the head and killed by Shishido's twisted daughter Ami (Kanon Narumi), what we expect is for Toshiro to take the next step. What we don't expect is for the entire set to stop and Toshiro to be shown actually working on the movie, and then to be told that Akira isn't real. But in reality, this is a part of himself that Akira created in order to stay alive, and everything that Toshiro did on the island, while very real and not a movie, is a part of himself that Akira created in order to stay alive. This is another trick by Yamaguchi to show that Everything happened without Akira. Therefore, the question arises whether Toshiro had the right to respond to any violence. Should he have pushed it further? What do we, the audience, expect from action stars? And is the method Toshiro used against his opponent okay?
Togo Ishii plays the teacher in ONE-PERCENT WARRIOR. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA.
1 percent “'' is full of great fight scenes, with the highlight being the one-on-one between Taku and Togo. Not only because it includes some movie quotes, but because it's the best kind of fight where the opponents respect each other as fighters. It's also a great moment when Shishido barges in, berates these two for not appearing in the movie, pulls out a gun and shoots Toshiro, only for Togo to jump in front of the bullet. The execution is comical, and it's also a clever use of meta-comment, reminding the audience that the real stakes are at hand. Now, if you enjoyed this sequence and all the others on the home release, he only has one real feature, and that's his 25-minute feature titled “The Making of.” 1%er”, first Tak and then Togo talk about the process of making the film. From Tak, we hear about his belief in “real action” and “combat action,” and how conversations between actors listen and respond during filming, rather than traditional choreographed performances. Learn about what's being done. He also talks about Taku's thoughts on the lines Toshiro won't cross and the cruelty that comes from not crossing them. While talking about the people who influenced the film, including Chan and Lee, he began talking about bringing Togo into the project and their specific battle. Shortly after, Togo appears and talks about his first filmmaking experience, what he expected, what it was like working with Taku, and more. Among the insights from both actors, you'll see various clips from the film that mention what they're talking about and behind-the-scenes footage. So when Tak talks about filming the fight against Togo and using drones, he can actually see some of that block. Interestingly, even though this feature is set up so that the talking head interview focuses on one person, he always has music playing in the background, adding to the conversation more than a normal interview. It gives you emotion.Most of all, we feel the effort that both parties put into the production 1% warriorany martial arts fan will dig this.
LR: Taku Sakaguchi who plays Toshiro Takuma and Togo Ishii who plays Sensei from ONE-PERCENTER. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA and Hi-YAH!
Usually you don't expect their action movies to have any kind of depth, but that's partly why 1% warrior stand out. The overall narrative execution is simple, but there's an incredible style utilized to bring it to life. It certainly helps that the action director is the wonderful Kensuke Sonomura. hydra (2021), bad city (2022), and both baby assassins And that Taku is surrounded by other talented fighters like Togo and his second appearance partner Masanori Mimoto (baby assassins/bad city). All of this comes together in an action-crime story that's unforgettable and easily rewatchable.
1% warrior Special features:
- English dubbing
- how to make 1%er (25:23)
- Trailer (2:01)
- Three Well Go USA previews
Available on Blu-ray and digital from March 12thth2024.
Available on Hi-YAH! April 5thth2024.
For more information, visit the official Well Go USA. 1% warrior web page.
