Review of Sakuran (2006) by Rick R — 14 Jan 2015

Sakuran (2006).

This Japanese movie is not yet available on DVD here in the U.S. and is often compared to Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). I personally feel that Sakuran is a lot better movie. Perhaps director Mika Ninagawa's amazing visuals are due to the story being based on the Manga, versus Memoirs' being based on the novel.

Also, Anna Tsuchiya's character Kiyoha, is a loud-mouthed broad that isn't afraid to tell you what she thinks of you, versus the typical female-playing-victim that we get here in American chick-flicks. Not that she doesn't get her fair share of abuse from the men she meets. She can dish it out as well as she takes it.

The movie also is romantic and even a little sentimental. I didn't fully appreciate the more modern mix of music in the soundtrack. It really didn't fit the movie well and was slightly distracting. But, other than that it was an excellent movie and I highly recommend it.