I don't normally like gangster movies, but this is definitely an exception. I saw it twelve years ago and was very impressed. And having bought it on DVD recently, it is just as good today.
The quality of production is excellent considering the amount of money they spent on it. The action scenes are tense and well constructed. The scene in the van with the Japanese music is hilarious. Every scene in the movie is meaningful and progresses the story nicely.
On the downside, I felt that Viggo Mortensen's character didn't have that much to say for himself, his dialogue could have been improved, for example, when he first joins the Yakuza, you would expect him to have questions.
I won't spoil the ending by stating it here, suffice to say that it seemed a little unrealistic. But, a movie definitely worth watching.
The quality of production is excellent considering the amount of money they spent on it. The action scenes are tense and well constructed. The scene in the van with the Japanese music is hilarious. Every scene in the movie is meaningful and progresses the story nicely.
On the downside, I felt that Viggo Mortensen's character didn't have that much to say for himself, his dialogue could have been improved, for example, when he first joins the Yakuza, you would expect him to have questions.
I won't spoil the ending by stating it here, suffice to say that it seemed a little unrealistic. But, a movie definitely worth watching.