SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Paul Magne Haakonsen When I bought "K20: The Legend of the Black Mask" I believed it to be a Japanese superhero movie, but usually Takeshi Kaneshiro is great in movies, and that was the main reason for buying it, plus it was a live-action Manga movie, so what could possibly go wrong here?"K20: The Legend of the Black Mask" is not a superhero movie, not by a long shot. And the black masked person known as K20 wasn't even the actual main character. The movie is about Heikichi Endo (played by Takeshi Kaneshiro) who is a circus performer getting framed for the crimes done by K20. Out to prove his innocence, Endo teams up with the police in order to take down K20 and clear his name. The story takes place in Japan, and World War II haven't taken place, which was an unusual approach to the story, but in overall, that fact actually didn't reflect much in the story. There were German words seen here and there, such as Polizei and the writings on the Tesla contraption, and they had changed the atomic bombs exploding to another disaster (though still an atomic disaster).The story is actually quite good, and it is well written and well directed. And the people cast for the various roles really did great jobs in fleshing out their characters and making the story come to life on the screen. And the way the story is told is in a manner that keeps you riveted to the chair wanting to see what happens next. There is a lot of action in the movie, but also a lot of character development, which is really nice."K20: The Legend of the Black Mask" really surprised me, and it turned out to be much better than I had initially anticipated. And it was a great thing that it wasn't a superhero movie.The effects used in the movie were really great, believable and in your face. That worked well for the movie. And the props and costumes were also nicely made, lots of nice touches and details, which I like."K20: The Legend of the Black Mask" is a great action movie, and it has a lot of entertainment value right from the very beginning. If you like Japanese movies with lots of action, then this movie is well worth checking out. And it is one of those types of movies that actually have enough entertainment value to be seen more than once.Thumbs up for this movie! Great fun! Great entertainment!

thisissubtitledmovies excerpt, more at my location - Japanese cinema is known for producing many things from classic monster movies (Godzilla; 1954) to even more classic samurai epics – Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954), Throne Of Blood (1957) and Yojimbo (1961), to name just three – and most recently, supernatural J-Horror such as The Ring (1998), The Grudge (2002) and Dark Water (2002). However, Shimako Sato's latest feature (her first in over ten years) is none of these, and offers a very different vantage on an increasingly popular national cinema.K-20: The Legend Of The Black Mask is ultimately a disposable, yet highly enjoyable romp: think Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) made as a costumed action-adventure serial. Deep down, there's nothing particularly new here but the film works on sheer bravado, nostalgia and entertainment value alone. Worth a look.

hopeisfree This is possibly the first Japanese movie I have seen that isn't anime and I was very happy with it. I really enjoyed the story that is basically a Japanese version of a Marvel superhero movie. The movie felt like an anime made into a live action film. It was really funny, there was plenty of action and drama and it had a solid story with a great twist.The special effects and 3D graphics were fantastic and much better than I expected. I didn't think it looked tacky or fake. It is a high quality movie. The characters were really likable and the soundtrack really added to the movie.For the parents out there, it had a bit of violence, a couple (2-3) of swear words and a couple of sexual references but overall it was very mild compared to most movies out today. It was refreshing to see such a clean movie that I would be happy for my kids (probably age 10+) to watch.Overall it was very entertaining and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

Harry T. Yung Clocking in 138 minute and 162 minutes respectively, K20 and Watchmen constitute a very interesting comparison. Both are adapted from popular comics. Both are long, but for entirely different reasons. Watchmen has quite a few stories to tell, which it does using current style of movie-making, with deft editing and temporal scrambles, among other things. K20 has a relatively simple storyline (but with good suspense and twists) and employs the traditional way taking its good time in developing plots and characters. Both are well made. I have already commented on Watchmen. Here is a brief report on K20.Just as Watchmen uses the backdrop of an alternative US, K20 happens in an alternative Japan, one that has avoided WW II but degenerated into a rich-getting-richer and poor-getting-poorer unjust society. Enters K20, a mysterious mix of Robin Hood and Batman that has become the curse of the police department. But when K20 stoops to setting up and framing top-notch circle magician (but still poor because his profession is considered to be at the bottom of the class structure) Heikiche Endo in one of his burglary jobs, the hero's integrity becomes questionable. The main plot follows the fugitive Endo's quest in trying to clear is own name so that he can return to the circle that is like family to him.I wouldn't indulge in the sub-plot and details but would just say that this movie, which tells a human story, is rich in contents, with both comedy and poignancy (although the tone is generally light). There is a good variety of interesting characters (well acted) and an ultimate conspiracy of global scale. There is a "National Treasure" type of puzzle, as well as a few twists that are more than just acceptable. The stunt work is exciting and beautiful to watch. Special effects, wisely not overused, are impressive when they appear.Takeshi Kaneshiro, arguably the number one lady killer in Asia, delivers in that role but also in a comical persona when required. Takako Matsu ("April story", "Hidden blade") brings a delightful touch to her character, taking her own good time in exploring its many possibilities. The supporting cast is excellent. K20 is the sort of movie that may seem to start slowly (especially if you are on regular Hollywood staple) but grows on you. By the time you reach the satisfactory conclusion, you'll be hoping for a sequel. There is a good chance that there'll be one. I certainly hope so.