This review may contain spoilers
I'm glad that I watched High&Low S1&2 and High&Low: The Movie first because this wouldn't have made much sense to me otherwise. I loved that this movie went sideways within the franchise and that it expanded on the "universe" in which High&Low takes place because it allowed me personally to understand the geopolitical situation, so to speak.I also loved that it expanded on the Amamiya brothers. I adored the reveal that Hiroto isn't actually blood related to Masaki or Takeru but that it doesn't matter to them at all, just like it didn't to their parents. Their family background, what happened to their parents - ouch!
It was sad that Takeru died in the end but I think that once he picked up a gun and started killing people, there was basically no way back for him without some kind of a punishment or penance because this whole franchise is founded on the idea of not killing, that this is the one boundary the "good ones" - gang members they might be - don't cross. You knock each other's teeth out but once you bring a knife or a gun to a fight, you're done, you're out.
Also, I loved that Takeru died not while taking revenge but protecting Hiroto, that thanks to his brothers and to Hiroto in particular Takeru found back before his death, that he remember what he taught them.
The moment I sniffled? When Hiroto took the girl in his arms and said the same words to her like Takeru before: I'm your wall.
Oh, I also adored the short moments when Hiroto and Masaki had to go back to S.W.O.R.D. and not just there but to Sannoh in particular! Masaki's annoyance, Yamato's annoyance, Cobra's eye-rolling - yup, they so rub each other wrong. They're allies, though reluctant, but gosh, do they rub each other wrong!
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takumi played a gr8 role in binding that masaki and hiroto ,shhowing in bwtn the glimps of their childhood and past tragedy ..also well conncented to other parts and series . some emotional scene were so amazng that i almost cried, showing brotherly love for each other and strong will to protect each other is wat movie about .
but that fight scenes were crucial for this movie . camera work omggg it was like so good with slow mooo use capturing the imp moments of the emotions and action scenes. all over must watch movie tho it was somewat cliche for me but try it fr some good fight zone .
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This review may contain spoilers
Sneaky Little Bastard, This Actually Matters
(WARNING: Potential Spoilers — I’m Not Saving You from Any Emotional Damage)The Red Rain is definitely a little different from the main High&Low storyline, because instead of continuing directly with the S.W.O.R.D. factions and their ongoing war, it pulls us away and puts the Amamiya Brothers front and center. And honestly, I think that's a good thing. After spending so much time following all five factions, the Mighty Warriors, the Kuryu Group, and everybody else who keeps throwing themselves into the chaos, getting a story that focuses more closely on one family gives the franchise a chance to breathe a little.
The main story here is Masaki and Hiroto searching for their older brother Takeru, who disappeared a year earlier. And obviously, because this is High&Low, Takeru hasn't just been sitting somewhere drinking tea and waiting for his brothers to find him. He's been working behind the scenes, taking on one of the families connected to the Kuryu Group, which is where this seemingly separate story starts tying itself back into the larger franchise.
And that's probably the biggest thing I appreciated about this movie.
At first, it feels like we're stepping away from the main storyline, but the further the story develops, the more you realize that this actually matters. What happens here, and what Takeru has been doing behind the scenes, connects back to the larger conflict and gives us more information that will become important in taking down the Kuryu Group.
So while I rated the story itself a 9/10, that's not because I disliked it. It's more that, compared to the main High&Low storyline, this one naturally feels a little more contained. We're following the Amamiya family rather than watching all the factions collide, and that changes the overall feel of it.
But as a piece of the franchise?
I still absolutely love it.
The Amamiya Brothers have always had this larger-than-life presence hanging over the story, especially after everything we've already learned about them, Mugen, and their history, so finally getting to spend more time with them and understand more of their family story was worth the detour.
And then there are the connections back to the main storyline, which I really appreciated because it means this isn't just some completely disconnected side quest that we're expected to watch and then forget about. There are details here that matter.
Which, considering how much information High&Low throws at you, is probably a good thing because Lord knows I'm already keeping track of enough gangs.
The movie also doesn't completely abandon the rest of the franchise, which I loved. We get familiar faces popping up throughout the story, and even when they're not the focus, their appearances remind you that we're still firmly inside the same universe.
And yes, that includes the RUDE BOYS.
You already know I'm going to be happy when Smoky shows up.
The music is also once again fantastic. At this point, I don't even know why I bother mentioning it because High&Low has repeatedly proven that they know exactly what they're doing with their soundtrack. 10/10. The music is practically another character in this franchise.
And the cast?
Also a 10/10.
There is something about this franchise's casting that just works. Whether they're playing the main characters or popping up for a smaller appearance, everybody fits into this ridiculous, beautifully chaotic world.
What I especially liked about The Red Rain, though, is that underneath all the gang wars and larger franchise machinery, this is ultimately a story about three brothers who lost their parents young and built their lives around each other.
That family connection gives the movie a different emotional weight than the main storyline, and it makes the search for Takeru more personal. Masaki and Hiroto aren't just trying to track down some missing guy because they need another piece of information for the next gang war.
That's their brother.
And they want to know why he left.
So while I wouldn't rank this above the main storyline when it comes to pure High&Low chaos, I still think it was a worthwhile addition to the franchise, especially because of how much it eventually feeds back into the larger story.
Basically, The Red Rain showed up looking like a side quest and then quietly handed me plot information I actually needed.
Sneaky little bastard.
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Trois frères, des combats puissants et des bécanes…
High&Low: The Red Rain s'intéresse aux frères Amamiya. Leur amour fraternel, poignant et sans faille, devient le cœur du film. Une intégration réussie à l'univers High&Low avec émotion et sa propre identité.Les frères Amamiya sont trois : Takeru (Saito Takumi), Masaki (Takahiro) et Hiroto (Tosaka Hiroomi). Après la disparition de Takeru, les deux frères enfourchent leurs bécanes et partent à sa recherche. Le film explore le passé des frères, tout en s'intégrant intelligemment autour de la franchise. Masaki et Hiroto sont des têtes connues depuis la première saison. Les retrouver s'avère agréable, d'autant plus que leur histoire est entraînante.
Les trois acteurs sont incroyables ! Tant dans les scènes familiales que d'action. Le rôle de grand frère de Takeru s'incruste parfaitement, créant une dynamique magnifique et chargée d'émotion. Aucune pièce rapportée, aucun drame surprise. C'est un amour fraternel rarement aussi bien porté à l'écran.
Bien évidemment, les scènes de combats sont spectaculaires (et les scènes d'action en général). Le film est généreux, offrant des affrontements stylés et bien filmés. De plus, les trois acteurs ont ce côté badasse qui rend les choses encore meilleures. Quant à la bande son, elle reste fidèle en étant tout aussi incroyable que le reste.
En bref, High&Low: The Red Rain jongle habilement entre l'humour, l'émotion et des combats percutants, le tout avec une bande-son explosive et un trio d'acteurs remarquables.
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