User Reviews

The third in a series about con artists conning every life form in sight (including themselves). This time there is semi-completion (at least initially) rather than the usual team effort to exploit marks and suckers. It involves creating and "finding" the seventh treasured artifact attributed to feudal ruler Hideyoshi (ancient Japan's mythical treasures are always an odd number like 3, 5 or 7) which could have been a tea cup called a "Phoenix" (the bird, not the city in Arizona and duly noted by one of the con artists). As usual, just about every male character gets to make a fool of himself, and all ends in multiple super-contrived happy endings. This same plot line has now become an antique. So has the shtick! The director (and writers) gallantly try to counter the creakiness with jump-cut editing and confusing subplots that sort of work initially. But the movie is way too long and stuffed with fillers (to stretch out the running time) including a tutorial on pottery making and an ending that goes on forever. In the background, Osaka Castle looks as impressive and beautiful as always (it's my second favorite castle in Japan). Initially built by Hideyoshi, it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times; it is the real Phoenix of this movie. Not a funny film, but antics are mildly amusing here and there. Viewed at a JICC Virtual J-Film event. WILLIAM FLANIGAN.