Dave from Ottawa Live action Film and TV adaptations of the Sukeban Deka graphic novel series go all the way back to the early 70s, plus there is an anime version as well. The gimmick here is that a girl delinquent is coerced into working undercover for the cops at a high school. But she has no gun, only a high tech combat yo-yo. No really. Okay. the main story premise is frankly absurd, but the fans of the manga series are familiar with it and by this point don't care. Anyway, what sets this version apart from its predecessors is the greater use of cutting edge special effects to go along with much more elaborate fight choreography. The camera tracks with the yo-yo during fights, creating great point of view action, for one thing, and often switches to the weapon or fists of her opponent during cross-cuts. The shot-making here was clearly influenced by first person shooter games, and the action has a video game fluidity and sense of fun. The violence is pretty PG stuff for Japan, I suppose so as not to dismay the series largely female following, but the pace is fast and the bad girl showdowns are played just straight enough to keep things from getting silly.

Comeuppance Reviews "Yo-Yo Girl Cop" is a fun flick! The plot: A rebellious teenager (Matsuura) is recruited to go undercover in a private school to weed out potential terrorists. She needs to do this to save her mom. When she gets to the school, she realizes she's in too deep. There's one more piece of crucial piece of info: She's armed with a deadly steel yo-yo! It's a good idea and the opening sequence is slick, but the movie lags in the second half. It makes up for it in the climax though. Matsuura puts in an entertaining performance."Yo-Yo Girl Cop" is worth seeing for the cool yo-yo action and Matsuura's performance.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

painbunny I didn't know anything about this franchise when I dived in to this movie. I still don't. Maybe it's for the best. In terms of plot holes and 'what did just happen and why?' this goes so much beyond the basic action movie formula it's... Don't really know the word for it. You get the feeling there's lot of stuff that's just left out. If it were a Hollywood movie, it would feel like producer or distributing company intervention of the worst kind. But really, with my experience with Asian cinema, I really don't know. Maybe it's just the makers expect the audience to know the background or something? So, it was really weird. But wow, I liked it. I admit (like others have said) it's slow in the middle. And when it picks up... Well I laughed. In a good way. Overall, it's really not that heavy on the action.Just don't think about much... Or anything, and maybe you'll enjoy this as much as I did.

poikkeus The first Subekan Deka in over ten years updates the special effects and boosts the star power to make for a pleasantly watchable entertainment that excels in its social conscience. Former Deka entries, whether drawn or dramatized, have taken the usual hero vs. super- villain route, making them seem tired even before they've left the gate. In addition, they suffered from the basic limitations of the special effects at that time; the manga-inspired concept of razor yo-yos and killer cranes seemed less than convincing in a martial arts film. As the series progressed, the plots became almost as silly as the James Bond films of the period.In Kodo Nemo - Asamiya Saki, director Kenta Fukasaku (Battle Royale 2) modernizes he action sequences and frames the story to reflect contemporary social realities - in particular, the prevalence of bullying in the Japanese school system. It comes to focus when an underground internet site counts down, and a teenage undercover agent - code-named Saki Asamiya - tries to uncover the mystery before it's too late. As Idol Aya Matsuura is a good pick for the lead role, beautiful but tough in the tradition of the series (and a much better singer than any of the girls who preceded her). Matsuura is dynamic though (like former deka girls) lacking in a certain humor. The standout villain, played by Morning Musume alumnus Rika Ishikawa, is sexy in her faux-leather action outfit - a complete surprise. The normally demure Ishikawa is clearly having fun in her over-the-top role, and you wish she could appear more often.The film could have used more hard-edged humor - something that Fukasaku might learn from the work of his latefather, the late Kinji Fukusaku. Also, the film's plot makes a high ratio of characters irritatingly geeky and impossibly suicidal. But these flaws are tolerable in the anticipation of a possible sequel, either on film or serial. Certainly there's enough talent in Upfront Management to cast several film projects. Aibon would be amusing in some suitably smoky role, Miki perfect as a villain, and Eri could be on hand for comic relief.