Blazing Fists

aka Blue Fight

Story: Ryoma (Kaname Yoshizawa) is sent to a juvenile detention center, where he meets Ikuto (Danhi Kinoshita), who is incarcerated for robbery and attempted murder. The two become friends, a relationship that proves highly beneficial for Ryoma, given that Ikuto is a formidable fighter feared by everyone. However, Ikuto was imprisoned for a crime he did not actually commit. Ryoma realizes that he was the one who committed the robbery in question, yet he keeps this to himself. When MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura visits the prison and offers them a new path forward, the two friends set a new goal: upon their release, they intend to train in kickboxing so they can eventually compete in "Breaking Down", a show run by Mikuru. The two youths actually land jobs and train every day. Ikuto, whose father was held in pre-trial detention for murder, reconnects with him after his release, but also has to contend with Jun (Chikashi Kuon), the leader of a school gang who views Ikuto as a thorn in his side. Eventually, the two face off in the ring. There is an even more dangerous threat, though: the Krishna gang, led by the ruthless Mido (Gackt). Can Ryoma and Ikuto, both out on parole, overcome these challenges and protect their friends without ending up back in prison?

Review: Strictly speaking, it is actually startling how little I knew about "Blazing Fists" before watching it. Yet there is something refreshing and decidedly positive about such random movie choices; under normal circumstances, I likely would have missed this action drama. Would I have missed out on a minor masterpiece? No. But this approach broadens one's tastes and offers fresh inspiration. That said, I have to be honest: after a while, I felt like I was watching a film akin to "Crows Zero". And I wasn't entirely wrong — after all, Takashi Miike is the man behind the camera here, too. As anyone familiar with his work knows, you never quite know what you’re going to get with Miike; often enough, however, the result is merely mediocre fare that feels rather unpolished. "Blazing Fists" falls squarely into that category. The main issue is the sheer number of characters; it becomes difficult to keep track of them as the story unfolds, largely because the narrative thread is constantly being pulled in different directions, leaving the viewer feeling lost. In particular, the question of who exactly the protagonist is remains a mystery right up to the end.

At first, it appears the events are being told from Ryoma’s perspective; then again, a monologue reveals that Ikuto is the true hero. Ikuto, in turn, is too aloof for the audience to easily relate to him. Nevertheless, the relationship between Ryoma and Ikuto is compelling. Bound by shared suffering and motivated by the words of MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura, the two resolve to turn over a new leaf — even if the message amounts to a somewhat clunky "you can achieve anything if you set a goal and pursue it". Viewers might also wonder why someone with such a wooden delivery has the power to so profoundly change the lives of these two young men. The film is actually based on Mikuru Asakura’s autobiography "Street Legend", and the "Breaking Down" fight league featured in the movie with its strong reality-TV and underground vibe was also founded by him. Ryoma and Ikuto illustrate the journey from street brawler to professional boxer, showing how it is possible to get one's life back on track.

As mentioned, quite a lot happens in the film. There are confrontations with a gang whose leader isn't actually all that evil, he’s simply been dealt a bad hand in life. Then there’s a romantic relationship that might rekindle, though not between a girl and one of our two heroes, but rather involving Jun; this raises the question of whose life is actually meant to be the focus here. Somehow, there’s also the subplot concerning Ikuto’s father, who is sitting in prison innocently (?). Oh, and Ryoma’s and Ikuto’s mothers pop up every now and then, too. It’s hard to make heads or tails of it all, and then, far too late, the actual villain and his gang show up to shake things up again. Why does the leader look like an aging rock star? Because he’s played by Gackt, and that rock/punk aesthetic is simply Takashi Miike’s style. Still: While Gackt’s music is all well and good, he fails to impress as an actor here, though that’s likely because he’s essentially portraying a poorly defined anime character.

That is all part of the tone, as well. The gang members are portrayed with broad strokes and in a rather garish style; there is even a meta-level joke about someone bearing the name of an anime character. Regarding the actual villain, who is involved in one surprisingly brutal scene, one has to wonder why the story ultimately tries to shift gears and portray him as not such a bad guy after all. A few humorous scenes, delivered with a pleasantly dry and absurd touch, work well within the high-energy, sometimes anime-esque framework. The choreography is also well executed, possessing a raw, hard-hitting quality. Fantastic sound effects — though occasionally a bit over-the-top — further add to the atmosphere. A solid soundtrack rounds out the positive impression left by the action sequences. Even the mass brawls feel well-orchestrated, a kind of planned chaos that makes for an entertaining watch. Ultimately, however, the fights in the ring are the highlight. That said, anyone expecting a "Breaking Down" match for the finale will be disappointed. It looks as though the actual showdown is about to take place after the finale, but then...

... the director leaves us hanging, ending on something akin to a cliffhanger, even though a sequel is unlikely. Still, given that "Blazing Fists" shifts its focus quite haphazardly anyway, one wouldn't have minded if he had tacked on another ten minutes to deliver that showdown. A slightly anticlimactic aftertaste lingers as the credits roll. Well, the rambling nature of this review has likely made it clear that Takashi Miike is simply firing off in every direction here. The energy is right and it never gets boring, yet I preferred the somewhat more leisurely opening; that’s where the characters gain depth and undergo a transformation. Later on, they recede into the background too often amidst the multitude of other subplots, and when they do step back into the spotlight, the viewer struggles to reconnect with them emotionally. Ultimately, it comes down to whether you can live with these flaws. If not, you can safely give this film a pass.

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