I am not that deep into films from the Pacific Rim, but I have been known to keep an eye out at my local video store for some of the more unusual and outré films. That's how I saw "Testsuo" and "Stalker", and "Fist Of Legend", none of which ever made it this far inland. This one caught my eye with its bold and iconic poster design and the rave review excerpts while I was doing such a sweep, and I decided to give it a try.
I have to hand it to our Tokyo counterparts: when they go for frenetic physical humor and quirky characters and over-the-top action, they don't hold back. While many of the story elements, structure, and acting conventions might confuse or jar the sensibilities of the typical American Multiplex attendee, "Versus" will win you over if you give it a chance.
As I implied, you probably won't find this kind of story told in a Hollywood style production, not even in the action or horror genres: Yakuza gangsters confront supernatural forces (including zombies) in a primordial forest, while an escapee from a futuristic prison slowly tries comes to terms with his 'real' reincarnated identity and powers before an ancient entity destroys him and the world. And anyone in Hollywood who tried to tell a story like this would leave out the most important element: they couldn't possibly make it as 'cool' as the director does it here. (Well, maybe the Wachowski brothers, or the Coens).
That's what drives this story and makes it stand out: every scene, every frame, every costume and firearm and major prop in this movie, absolutely oozes atmosphere, fatalistic attitude and macho 'cool', in the same way that video-games like 'Metal Gear Solid', 'Devil May Cry' and 'Splinter Cell' leave you itching to get your hands on a real stealth suit or a katana. The main 'villain' is even better than the movie's protagonist in this regard - he might rip your spine from your back if he needed to (and you couldn't stop him), and he'd smile while he was doing it, but not in a sadistic way...more in a 'what fools these mortals be' way. On 2nd thought, MAYBE a bit sadistic, but also wry and self-amused.
I am not familiar enough with Japanese acting standards to be certain, but it seems to me that every actor here is giving what the director wanted from them - the characters they play are all cyphers and stereotypes, but these actors are a hell of a lot of fun to watch. The blocking, the stunts, the 'stage business', the gun battles, the sword fights are all lively and visceral. Again, not subtle, but plenty cool.
I was very glad I got to see "Versus", and while I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who can't think outside the mainstream Hollywood 'box', I think devotees of the quirky and unusual will find much to enjoy.
I have to hand it to our Tokyo counterparts: when they go for frenetic physical humor and quirky characters and over-the-top action, they don't hold back. While many of the story elements, structure, and acting conventions might confuse or jar the sensibilities of the typical American Multiplex attendee, "Versus" will win you over if you give it a chance.
As I implied, you probably won't find this kind of story told in a Hollywood style production, not even in the action or horror genres: Yakuza gangsters confront supernatural forces (including zombies) in a primordial forest, while an escapee from a futuristic prison slowly tries comes to terms with his 'real' reincarnated identity and powers before an ancient entity destroys him and the world. And anyone in Hollywood who tried to tell a story like this would leave out the most important element: they couldn't possibly make it as 'cool' as the director does it here. (Well, maybe the Wachowski brothers, or the Coens).
That's what drives this story and makes it stand out: every scene, every frame, every costume and firearm and major prop in this movie, absolutely oozes atmosphere, fatalistic attitude and macho 'cool', in the same way that video-games like 'Metal Gear Solid', 'Devil May Cry' and 'Splinter Cell' leave you itching to get your hands on a real stealth suit or a katana. The main 'villain' is even better than the movie's protagonist in this regard - he might rip your spine from your back if he needed to (and you couldn't stop him), and he'd smile while he was doing it, but not in a sadistic way...more in a 'what fools these mortals be' way. On 2nd thought, MAYBE a bit sadistic, but also wry and self-amused.
I am not familiar enough with Japanese acting standards to be certain, but it seems to me that every actor here is giving what the director wanted from them - the characters they play are all cyphers and stereotypes, but these actors are a hell of a lot of fun to watch. The blocking, the stunts, the 'stage business', the gun battles, the sword fights are all lively and visceral. Again, not subtle, but plenty cool.
I was very glad I got to see "Versus", and while I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who can't think outside the mainstream Hollywood 'box', I think devotees of the quirky and unusual will find much to enjoy.