O:G1 - Exactly what I hoped for

I've had my eye on this series for a few years now, but the boxset has been hard to come by (for a decent price). I had high hopes going into it, probably higher than they should have been too. However, I am so happy this film lived up to everything I wished for.

The movie moves at a breakneck pace, much like other Yakuza films from this period. What sets this one apart, however, is that we're given characters we can actually like and feel for, which is a bit of a rarity with this genre. While I found the twists to be a tad on the predictable side, it was still a pretty satisfying venture despite that. The only "real" criticism I have for this movie is, as is usual for these Japanese oldies, the fight scenes were pretty awful. This would have been a solid 10 if they had managed to fix that up. However, you know what you're getting into with these.

Can't recommend this enough if you're lucky to stumble across this set for a decent price.

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BWH&H 9: Unexpected Redemption

You don't hear much about this one, which is both surprising and not. For one, it's the only movie in the series (not including the 2000s duology) that wasn't officially brought over for English audiences, so it's not like a lot of people have seen it. However, it's a lot better than what I've read.

We only have 2 old cast members this time (and for the first time, no Bunta either), and all new characters. It follows 3 friends with different loyalties, and spins out of control as it gets going. At over 2 hrs, this is the longest one yet, and the first 40 mins are pretty slow. It gets pretty good from there though, if a tad predictable at times. It has a very different feel from the previous 8 films, having different crews and music for the tone, so don't expect it to feel like the same series. That said, I feel that's exactly what it needed that the New Battles trilogy was lacking.

It's kind of sad that this hasn't been given the love it deserves, and I hope Arrow eventually brings it over to us. I'd love to have it in my collection, especially as it washes away the bad taste left in my mouth from the previous film. All in all, not a bad way to finish off the series, even if it is almost entirely unrelated.

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BWH&H 8: A Disappointing End

I don't know where to begin with this one. It might just be the culmination of this trilogy altogether that soured my views towards it, as it really just feels too similar to the previous two New Battles movies. But I do have to admit, there were some very odd choices with regards to story direction with this one that I can't shake days after watching. The whole weird brother/sister thing that wasn't necessary, for instance (if you know, you know). On the whole, this just seemed like it existed for the sake of it being a trilogy.

We're once again given a completely new cast of characters with many of the returning actors, and again I'm left scratching my head as to why. It almost feels as though this is a remake of the Boss' Head, as it covers most of the same beats. I also found it more difficult to follow who was who, and it just felt kind of exhausting to figure out. None of the characters stick out, and we're meant to loathe them all equally.

This weird trilogy goes out with a whimper, even though we're treated to an ending unlike we've seen before, the open-endedness of it feels like a copout. If you're going to watch all 8 films, I would say watch the first 5 back-to-back, and then space this trilogy out a bit.

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BWH&H 7: Shifting Away

Finally, we shift away from Hiroshima and the clans we have been familiar with. In fact, there are no crossover characters at all in this one, and Hiroshima and one of it's factions are only mentioned very briefly (blink and you'll miss it). The results, unfortunately, aren't great though.

The film felt like it was initially building to something more, but by the time we get to the main drama, it just devolves into the main character's many attempts at assassinating someone he holds a grudge against. There's an unimpressive car chase late in the game, and that's the only thing that really stands out. I think the motivations are kinda dumb for pretty much everyone involved, and just like with the previous film, I was bored by the end.

As an aside, this one does take place after the 5 main films in the original series, so it's technically an unrelated sequel rather than a sidequel (like New Battles 1 was).

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BWH&H 6: Bit of a weird one...

The first of the spin off sequels, although it's really more of a sidequel. I believe it takes place around the same time as the 2nd film, and though it features a lot of the same cast members, most of them play new roles. All except Yamamori... which is an odd choice. Even his right hand man is played by the same guy as in the previous films, but goes by a different name. It's weird.

The biggest drawback of this movie is that it often feels like a rehash of the first film of the original series. We follow the same main cast member playing a new character, but who is very similar to his other role. It almost begs the question as to why they even bothered to go this route when they could have set it in the future with all the characters we already know.

I was a little bored by the time I got to the final Act of this entry. Definitely nothing new or exciting going on, and it's pretty forgettable overall.

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BWH&H 5: The Real Ending

The director of the BWH&H was convinced to do one final, closing chapter with this fifth film, and we should all be very pleased about that. While not the best entry in the saga, this one really does conclude in a satisfying, yet realistic way. It focuses on the changing of the guard within the Yakuza factions of Hiroshima, and how the next generation is unlikely to avoid the pitfalls of their predecessors.

I think the best part of how they tie this up is that it does so without being too predictable. It would have been so easy (and lazy) to just kill everyone off in one last conflict, but they chose to actually study the effects on the characters we've been following instead. I think it's a great ending!

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BWH&H 4: The Initial Ending

This story closes out and attempts to tie all the loose ends from the third film. While they would go on to make another, final chapter, this one does a pretty admirable job of tying things up from the previous one.

The funny thing about this entry is that it kind of spins out of control here and there, going places you wouldn't have expected it to (especially given its premise). I think the ending sums up everything this series is trying to say, even if it doesn't give us the definitely conclusion we are keen to see. No one is happy by the end, and those are haven't yet paid know that their time is coming soon. This is the realistic view of the Yakuza, rather than the sensationalized one, that the creators are wanting us to see.

The 3rd and 4th films really go hand in hand, so it's hard not to view this as its own separate tale sometimes. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment of it, however, as it is one of the more intense entries.

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BWH&H 3: Worth Waiting For

This is considered by many to be the best entry in the whole series. It certainly has more going on than the others, and the new characters really add a lot to the story progression. The only disappointing aspect is that this one and the fourth movie serve a sort of one-two punch, almost like they are one complete film that's been cut in two. That means there's a sort of empty feeling at the end of it where you stop and go , "That's it?". You have to watch the fourth to really have everything sorted out.

If you liked the first two movies but weren't completely sold, I would say you should still give this one a watch. It's the most intricate, the most intense, and the most interestingly plotted this series gets. It's also the first entry that didn't follow the true stories that the first two were based off of, so this is when the project became entirely that of the director's.

I enjoyed this one just as much on a second watch, and perhaps even moreso (it's easier to follow who is who once you've already seen it once).

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BWH&H 2: That One

As the first sequel in this series, this one is a bit of a mixed bag. It wasn't what I had expected it to be the first time I saw it, and I was initially a little let down. Instead of following Hirono Shozo this time, we have a new main character and Shozo only makes appearances here and there. Given how things all play out, I actually enjoyed this movie much more on my second watch of it. Once you have the proper expectations, it flows better. That said, it is still my least favorite of the 5 main films.

This was the last film to follow a true story too, so it's kind of cool to see the other side of things. I think the reason I don't like it as much is because the new main lead for this one doesn't have ANY redeeming qualities, and so we're just watching him screw things up everywhere he goes.

I don't have much else to say about this one. It's still a must-see if you plan to watch this series, even though it often feels more like a side story or spin off than a true sequel. You will miss important details if you skip it.

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The best so far!

I could probably write a huge review on this amazing series, but all you really need to know is that it's astounding and you need to watch it.

Everything from the acting to the music to the special effects are taken to an even higher level here from the previous season. I actually think this cast is better suited to the characters than the youngish model type ones from season 1, though Hu Ba Yi can be a little dry at times, I liked this actor much better than I did the other character he played in the prequel show.

My only complaint - and it is an extremely small one - is the high flying jumps they are able to do now. It worked for last season because we were being told a legendary story, so it left room for the unbelievable. It felt kinda off here to see Hu Ba Yi and Shirley jumping 10-15 feet in the air at times. I wish they had pulled it back just a little in that respect, but the rest definitely makes up for it.

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Huh... okay.

My journey backwards in time with this franchise has been quite the ride, and thankfully, the next moves things forward again with The Lost Caverns. This entry was a real mixed bag, to be honest. It features some unbelievably cool action scenes (episode 7 is tops), and beautiful filming locations that kept me hooked.

The story itself was a little disappointing. It felt a little bit aimless throughout, and I think the biggest problem for me was that the characters weren't very interesting. A couple of them were downright murderous bastards, which was odd that we were meant to cheer for them. I was hoping we would have Hu Ba Yi at least narrate, the whole thing is so distantly related to the main series it's odd that it even kept the title (unlike The Weasel Grave, which is a much more related prequel). It's a little mindboggling. We don't even find out about Mojin and how it comes into play until the end, and it's juts kind of brushed off as an "oh, by the way" moment. Speaking of that ending... the 2 minute narration should have been its own episode to actual dramatize those crucial events. It would have made for a much more interesting finale.

The acting is fine, from what I could tell. The production values are much higher than previous titles in the series, although the quality varies from episode to episode. Th sets and costumes were excellent as well.

It's a good show, but it doesn't feel connected enough to the main series for me. The only character I liked died fairly early on too, which was disappointing. In the end, I'm kind of just left with a feeling of... meh? It's good for what it is, but I'm more excited to finally get back to the main story, with characters I actually cared about.

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A tad bit of a disappointment, but still worth a watch.

As with the first instalment of this series, I watched the dubbed version of this on youtube.

QE2 is a bit brighter and more lively looking than QE1, but the tone settles down pretty quickly and it eventually does feel familiar. There are a lot more players involved the in the main story this time, which is both intriguing and (at times) confusing, as there are a lot more characters and factions to follow. The story begins and ends very strongly, but the middle part is quite a slog, unfortunately. And we're talking a good 30 out of 51 episodes here. A lot of times, some of the backroom plotting goes absolutely nowhere, and it hurts the overall flow of the narrative.

You can watch this dubbed on youtube, or subbed on Netflix (Qin Empire: Alliance). The first and third seasons were also added to Netflix recently. I watched it dubbed just because I did so with the first season as well, to make it feel consistent. I am glad I did because I could let my mind wander a bit during the slower episodes without having to constantly be reading the screen. That said, the dubbed version this time has the Chinese voices in the background as well, which is kind of annoying. You've been warned.

The characters this time around were more of a mixed bag, in my opinion. Our lead, Ying Si, once again goes through a change of actor. He's nothing like the guy who played him towards the end of QE1, as he's more upbeat and bold in his decisions. He laughs a lot more too. He's more in line with what I thought he'd grow up to be when I saw his younger versions in the original show. It just feels extremely inconsistent. Zhang Yi is the other main we follow, and he's much more interesting. I was taken aback by how his story sort of fizzles out, however. The other main Qin players get the job done, but don't really get much of a chance to shine until the end when everything boils over and leaves the fate of Qin looking uncertain. I could have dealt with a lot less of the other factions, as they were mostly just time wasters and the reason so much of this show dragged.

I don't know why this iteration was subbed by Netflix before the first season. It's a bit more draggy, inconsistent, and confusing overall. I still enjoyed many parts of it, however, and my love of the first season definitely pulled me into this one more than I would have otherwise. If you enjoy the first season, give it a try.

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Please turn your brain off now... thank you.

This one is a huge mixed bag for me. On the one hand, the story was pretty ridiculous. It stretches the realm of possibility at virtually every corner, and doesn't care if its "explanations" (if you can even call them that) make a lick of sense. But... on the other hand, I was still very interested to see how all the plot points would come to a head, and had at least a bit of fun anyways.

The biggest draw to this show would be Jang Hyuk's brow raising performance. I don't even know if you could call it "good" in the classic sense, as he really decides to play it as eccentric and weird when the script seems like it doesn't call for either? In any case, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen when he was doing his thing. Even in the first episode when we get his insane drunken moment (read: WTF?), I was thinking to myself I should probably be feeling bad for the guy right now, but the whole scene instead came across as just plain odd. Still, it was strangely captivating.

The other leads get the job done well enough. I wasn't nearly as bothered by the FL as many of the commenters here are. The rest of the story is watchable, despite a lot of predictable moments that mostly rely on the good guys' ability to be as stupid as humanly possible in a critical moment. Again, turn your brain off before jumping into this one. I don't think it strays from its early shown formula, so give it an episode or two to decide if you like it.

As my first foray into Kdramas, it was a little lackluster. However, decent enough that I'll eventually give season 2 a try.

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Turned out pretty great in the end!

I gave it a few months after watching the original Candle in the Tomb series before jumping into this prequel. I wasn't at all disappointed by the end.

I was a little taken aback at first, as this show has a bit more of the slaptick comedy antics that I'm not so fond of. However, the show quickly does a 180 on that front, and we can finally settle into a more serious tomb raiding adventure. I actually liked seeing the backwards time jump as my second round in the universe. We get a taste of the main two characters in the first CitT, but now we get to delve into their backstories a bit more. The other characters were serviceable, but don't hold a candle (see what I di there?) to Shirley. The last 5 episodes are where things really get crazy, and I'm actually convinced the highs are even higher than the previous show's.

The CG isn't great in the first few episodes. The director seems to use it sparingly in the beginning, but more than makes up for it later on. Once again, the sets are amazing, and I was left wanting more upon completion.

I can't say much else without getting into spoilers, but this more than lived up to my initial impressions of this franchise. I'll be watching the even further back prequel, The Wrath of Time, in the coming months.

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Exactly what I was hoping for!

I'm a huge Tomb Raider fan. Yes, the Lara Croft one. I've been looking for a show that can capture the sense of awe and creepy atmosphere of the early games for quite some time, and this series actually fits the bill.

This review comes with a bit of a warning though, and that's that the first 4 episodes aren't very good. Something really cheesy happens at the beginning that just doesn't sit right, and it will likely turn a lot of "would be" viewers away. And that's a shame, because the series gets GREAT after this. The fantastical elements become a little more subtle, and the special effects are surprisingly good, so they accompany it very well.

I want to make special mention of the set pieces, which are all fantastic. A good tomb raiding adventure is only as good as its atmosphere, and the sets do not disappoint in accomplishing what is needed. I also appreciated that we get some major variety as well, from frozen caves to underground lost cities.

The plot moves along nicely throughout, we have interesting leads to follow, and as far as I can tell, the acting was at the very least serviceable. At only 21 episodes, as opposed to the much higher count Chinese dramas are known for, I felt this was a perfectly bingeable show and I ended up going through it fairly quickly. I was also left hungry for more, so I'm glad they're still making more of these.

Aside from the already mentioned major complaint, I only have a few small ones I ran into otherwise. The side characters were much less interesting overall, for one thing. And another, I did feel that Fatty's antics become a little too predictable and ridiculous as the story progresses. I can't think of anything else that really bothered me, aside from the animal cruelty issue (you'll see it talked about in other comments and reviews here). The CGI was good enough that they didn't have to resort to that, in my opinion, and it was disturbing to see.

All in all, I'm hooked and ready for more very soon!

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