Sky High (2003)
Genre: Horror / Fantasy
Duration: 122 minuten
Country:
Japan
Directed by: Ryuhei Kitamura
Stars: Takao Osawa, Yumiko Shaku and Shosuke Tanihara
IMDb score:
6,0 (1.541)
Releasedate: 5 December 2003
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Sky High plot
Death is not the end, especially for those who died in violent circumstances such as murder or suicide. At the Gate of Revenge, which is between Heaven and Earth, they have a choice between three paths. Either they accept their death and move on to the next life. Or they refuse to leave the Earthly and wander like ghosts. The third path is that of revenge. But killing a living one damns their souls to hell...
Actors and actresses
Mina Saeki / Izuko
Tatsuya Kudo
Kohei Kanzaki
Kyoko Aoyama
Kazuo Kishi
Sayuri Toyama
Maya Ito
Shuho Kamiina
Izuko
Reviews & comments
bioscoopzaal
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- 2805 messages
- 4325 votes
Unfortunately a somewhat lesser film from Kitamura. The traditional combination of action and fantasy is present again, but this time the ridiculous plot does more harm than good. Especially in the second half of the film, the story is overflowing with idiotic twists and credibility is long gone.
Fortunately, the film looks fantastic, as usual with Kitamura, but after yet another obvious plot twist, you actually have to wait a bit for the credits. Better luck next time.
2.5 stars
Translated from Dutch · View original
sinterklaas
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- 11821 messages
- 3321 votes
Nice film by Kitamura. From the same year he produced Azumi.
And those two films have quite a bit in common; especially when it comes to sword fighting. However, Sky High is set in the present and is a fantasy.
It all comes out well. The combination of fantasy (alternative reality/heaven/hell) and a police thriller would make it too heroic. We follow detective Kudo as he mourns the death of his wife, whose murder method is the same as the methods that the police case is now increasingly confronted with. The hearts of the murdered women are removed. Who is behind this? What kind of killer are we looking at now... or is it something else?
Yes, it is a supernatural force, something that is hard to believe in the case itself. Until they meet a clumsy forensic expert who also appears to believe in the same unbelievable story. At least to the outside world.
This turns out to be a creative work, in which supernatural forces, melodrama, action, dry humor, cool characters, slick editing, but also cool sword fights form a hallmark. In the long run it is also interesting if Kudo's opponent is actually a fellow sufferer. The presence of the ghost of Kudo's wife also came out well and fortunately did not become too sentimental.
Kitamura has also done a nice job here. A belated Asiamania title in my DVD collection.
But better late than never...
4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
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- 11421 messages
- 6719 votes
Director Ryûhei Kitamura has delivered absolutely top work in the field of entertainment, but also great botch work of which Sky High is an example. Chaotic mess with bad acting and sparsely energetic camera tricks to create something beautiful. The cinematography looks bare and the ideas are numerous, but not at any moment complementary to the other. The first half hour is fortunately still manageable, but within a running time of 122 minutes that is almost a requirement. Very tiring and sometimes downright childish cinema that I can do nothing with.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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