A fun ride, intense where it needs to be and solid in all other areas. Apart from that, I still prefer Miike as a loose gun director, but I can hardly criticize a film like this just because of that. Miike is near perfect in setting the atmosphere for this film, only the music can be a little too much sometimes. The film never slacks and even gives the viewer a nice look into the whole gang structure in between the fights, making it a little more than just another butt-kicking action flick. While the exterior of the film is a little slicker than usual there is still enough Miike weirdness left and some really bone crunching fights to behold. Crows Zero is not Miike's best film, though it will probably become one of his more popular ones. Most importantly, the actors succeed in keeping a lighter tone throughout the scenes without hurting the gritty feel of the film. And I'm always pleased to see Kenichi Endo liven things up a bit. Supporting roles are strong too, giving the film that little extra flair. Acting is strong all round, with Shun Oguri showing off a lot of his abilities. A film like this could've done without them and probably would've benefited from it too. The R&B intermezzos are probably even worse and make the film a little too smooth in some scenes. Though I can live with the J-Rock sound in a film like this, the time spent on concerts and the like is a little too long. The soundtrack is a little less satisfying. It's reassuring to see that Miike should not be limited to working with small budgets only.
The visual timing is spot on, aided by some very solid editing work. The action scenes in particular look stunning, with perfect use of fast forward and slow motion to increase the impact of the punches. There is not too much room for visual silliness anymore (although there is that bowling scene), though Miike makes excellent use of the budget he most obviously received. screen cap of Crows Zero Visually the film looks splendid, but indeed a lot slicker than earlier Miike films. There are no twists and turns so you know what to expect from the movie when it comes down to storyline development. He impresses from the start and is able to work his way slowly to the top, where he will face Tamao to gain ultimate control of the school. The story is pretty simple as newcomer Genji is out to prove himself to his father and is willing to take on the top chief of the school.
Needless to say, there's a lot of posing and looking mean to be admired. The weird dressing sense and crazy hairdos are lifted straight from a manga universe and, while a little silly, add a lot to the coolness of the gangs.
Helping the setting is a typical Japanese J-Rock punk look and sound that gives each of the characters it's unique style. The film itself is based on a manga, for those who haven't read it the film could best be described as a mix of Blue Spring, Volcano High and Cromartie High. While this by itself may sound like a streak of Miike weirdness it's actually not an uncommon theme in Japanese entertainment. Gangs are started and wars are fought without any of the teachers interfering. screen cap of Crows Zero Setting for the film is a notorious high school where the scum of Japan gathers to gain control over their rivals. The film has a solid budget, minimal weirdness and even a pretty linear and well-developed storyline. While this is hardly true (think Koshonin or One Missed Call) it certainly is one of Miike's slickest films gaining such international attention to date. Crows Zero is often cited as one of Miike's most commercial films.
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