two dumb puppies (Hachiya and Sagane) smack into each other, into other yakuza, and fall headfirst into wild shit they are unprepared for and have no business messing with when their first reaction to seeing a cat while on patrol is an extended cuddle party

they are so, SO stupid and bring out the stupidity in each other but my god I can watch these mfs all day. this one still has Director Asao's pet themes (and tackled sincerely) but in a way that's incredibly fun. a full bore charm offensive from Motomiya and Yamaguchi who improvised the hell out of multiple scenes.

V-cinema rules because you'll sit down thinking "aight this one's more serious, I'm ready for more old men shouting at each other in boardrooms" but then you start feeling a sense of dread after every plot beat because wow does Director Asao lean into the bleaker side of his pet themes of brotherhood and the futility of yakuza chivalry.

I finished this film feeling like I got punched in the heart and I need to stare at a wall for an hour to cope

man this is a nicely done fun movie

i love midbudget joseon period films because all the money goes into sets/props and costuming and they have $15 for makeup and non-gisaeng wigs and $40 for vfx

Iconic. 42 year old men pretending to be teen delinquents for a flashback. A budget of approximately 50,000¥. The cameras are from 2001. Aikawa Sho is as bemused as we are.

Few things are funnier than a bunch of “kids” playing at yakuza and putting up a clan plaque made of plywood for their office.