Review of LoveDeath (2006) by Jy S — 12 Jul 2013

Ryuhei Kitamura uses Tsutomu Takahashi's comic 69 as inspiration for this wild action movie known as LoveDeath.The story is short, but the movie is long at 2 hours and 30 minutes. It takes shape at the beginning, but quickly dissolves before getting back on track for the ending.

All the swearing, sexuality, violence, and wacky characters help to relieve some of the boredom in the drawn out middle; however, not all of it.The action has a hint of stylization; unfortunately, there isn't any swordplay.

On the flip side, there is a lot of shooting and the 30-40 minutes near the end is all guns, guns, and more guns.Shinji Takeda is the typical unemotional hero, so it isn't he that stands out. The lovely Nora puts on a good performance and the over the top acting by many of the supporting cast liven up the film rather than annoy.

LoveDeath is one entertaining film, but it is the lack of story and the much too long of a run time that hampers it. Still, fans of Kitamura will want to check this one out.