VERSUS

Country: Japan
Release Year: 2000
Genre: Martial Arts / Fantasy
Language: Japanese
Running Time: 119 minutes

[Cast]
Tak Sakaguchi
Hideo Sakaki
Chieko Misaka
Kenji Matsuda
Yuichiro Arai

[Director]
Ryuhei Kitamura



"JAPANESE ZOMBIE ACTION EXTRAVAGANZA!!!"

If there is one thing that I love about movies, the main thing I focus on the most...is its presentation. VERSUS, is that movie. Courtesy of Kitamura-san with his cunning ability in presenting us a smartly directed action flick.
Smart because of the fact that, despite it's low budget production. You are still treated to one of the most spectacular samurai, zombie, action extravaganza.

Everything from the storyline, right down to the cinematography which features awesome dynamic camera angles. One thing you'll notice right away, is how fast the action sequences are.

The fist fights as well as the sword duels, are simply breathtaking. It is definitley Hong Kong Cinema influenced. From the martial arts sequences that echoes Yuen Woo Ping's grace, to the blazing gun fights that shouts that of John Woo's execution. And sword duels that screams both Ching Siu Tung, and Kurosawa.

The plot is simple to follow, and the whole movie takes place in a forest somewhere in the remote regions of Japan. The forest is believed to be a portal to another dimension, that brings the dead back to life. And behind it all is one bad ass who wants to harness its power.

The story jumps back and forth between the old feudal Japan, and the present. There are a number of interesting yet mysterious characters thrown together, and each one is unique. Some are serious, some are hilarious, others are both.

The plot, although serious in its theme, isn't shy about throwing in a few funny scenes here and there. As a matter of fact viewing VERSUS, will no doubt at times make you think you are watching a live-action anime. And throughout the length of the movie, you are kept pretty much in the dark about who these characters are until the very end. However you won't think of that because of the sheer excitement that you get from all the action that is going on.

VERSUS features some of the best editing I've seen, and the soundtrack is awesome featuring a mixture of rock and roll, funk, techno riffs during the action scenes, and a slower more haunting melodies during key moments. The costume design is nothing short of amazing. Not only the characters are different, their fashion sense also speaks their personality. I absolutely love the outfit our hero wears during the feudal Japan scenes.

Another element I enjoyed about VERSUS is the straightfoward story that lies on the surface, yet what you will witness at the very end of the flick will pretty much blow your mind, and will change how you felt towards the characters you've met previously.

So...the old myth of producing crappy flicks because of low budget restraints has just been re-written by Kitamura-san. He proved that by having a vision, initiative, style, presentation, and using old formulas, one can still produce high quality movies. In short, VERSUS is a remarkable, piece of low budget filmmaking. It is a testament of how a movie should be made even along budget restrictions.

Kitamura Ryuhei really took his time in producing this action masterpiece, the design, structure, and foundation of the production truly shines on screen. Not to mention the amazing performances by the cast. In short, you will have one of the most enjoyable viewing experiences of your life, because VERSUS is truly a tour de force in filmmaking. An instant cult classic.