SYNOPSIS:
Genji
(Oguri Shun) is the new king of Suzuran High after beating
Serizawa (Yamada Takayuki), but the school is more fragmented
than ever. Suzuran's old rivalry with Hosen Academy flares
up again when a former Suzuran student (Abe Shinnosuke) who
knifed a Hosen student to death two years ago is released
from jail. Hosen's leader Taiga (Kaneko Nobuaki) sends out
the boys to get revenge, and Genji unknowingly throws the
first punch, breaking the tenuous ceasefire between the two
schools. It's all-out gang war all over again, but Genji's
fighting on two fronts trying to unite a divided Suzuran against
Hosen.
MOVIE REVIEW:
If Ah Bengs and Pie Kias (the local terms for gangsters and ruffians) were to organize a film festival, Crow Zero 2 would probably swept most of the major awards up. This is like a rock anthem for those who pride themselves in gangs that often choose brawling to solve their problem. It's a movie that will make them feel proud of themselves when most other media and most other people often sees them in a derogatory manner. Even for someone who don't share their lifestyle and perspective, this movie made it easy to see from their point of view and infectious enough to be entertained by their spunk in life. It also raises interesting insights on the depiction on how to overcome difficulties in garnering support / manpower for one's gang (which would make good reference for our local gangsters wannabe).
For folks who are not really interested with a society that uses punches (and kicks) to solve their problem and various ego issues, Crows Zero 2 will satisfy as a form of eye candy with it's barrage of good looking hunks (and a pretty popular Japanese Idol in the form of Meisa Kuroki). Ladies (and perhaps some guys too) could gawk at handsome protagonist played by Shun Oguri (who had already charmed girls with Boys over Flowers) as he hustled to be the top dog of Suzuran High. Folks could also be mesmerized by the charming Takayuki Yamada who played the ultra cool Serizawa (whom IMHO stole the spotlight from Shun Oguri in this movie).
Those who are not impressed with these two actors will have plenty other pretty boys and lean mean manly men to pick and choose from. Besides the "models", there are are clowns to filled up the remaining screen time with their respective amusing antics. Among all the amusing bits, Makise's fumbling attempts to score with the opposite sex stood out as the most hilarious moment in Crow Zero 2. Although there are numerous characters in this Ah Beng flick, they are distinctively and uniquely sculpture to leave a memorable and easy time to remember who they are and what's their role in this movie.
It doesn't matter if one had not catch the first movie as the plot and linkage between the two movies are fairly easy to comprehend. If you wish to know, the first movie focus was on the internal fight for control of the school and the second movie basically dealt with the strife with another school when the protagonist's school bullies still lack unity. However in all actuality, the plot doesn't matter that much as the whole point of Crow Zero series (1 or 2) is the numerous fights that are stack one right after another and their passion for fighting for their goals.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Code 3 DVD contains TV Spots, Trailers and a Photo Gallery.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
This disc provides a decent visual representation of the good looking and not so good looking guys duke it out in a school setting. It also complement it with a decent audio reproduction of all the fights and flying tables and chairs.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Richard Lim Jr
Posted
on 23 January 2010
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