Katsuben! (2019)

A really fun ride of a movie!

I admit I only really watched this movie because of Narita Ryo, I only need to say that Narita won an award for his performance in this movie is enough for me to say that if you are a fan of Narita Ryo you should watch this movie!

But generally as a movie it's really fun, it's funny, does'nt make a lot of narration sense and the themes of the movie is shallow but it is really immersive in the period the movie is set in.

Story

Narita Ryo is Shuntaro a really talented/gifted movie narrator for slient movies (like the actor Narita Ryo is always is). It's just that the way that he decided to chase that career is not the most legal, he at first is faking as an movie narrator
with the yakuza/crime syndicate which leads him to be chased not only by the police but the yakuza/crime syndicate. He tries to run away and start a new life working under a movie theatre where there he starts anew as a staff member then
the opportunity rises for him to once again be the movie narrator he always wanted to be. Too bad that past he leaves behind catches up to him. The result is maddness and it does'nt turn out well for him.

There's a simple moral to the story it's "Don't run away and own up to the crimes that you have done" if Shuntaro did that sooner then movie would of ended quickly lol but rather about the story it's more about the characters and the time period/lifestyle they lived in back then.

Acting

When I say Narita Ryo is amazing, he's amazing! The other cast members do a great job too but honestly this is a Narita Ryo showcase of acting of what he can do and I only really only remember Narita's performance. Narita when not narrating movies he's the biggest idiot of an character I've ever seen, but he's good natured and I can't bring myself to hate him even though his morals are bad. He overreacts and goes all the way with it. But when Narita is narrating movies he's the brave, over the top narrator like he was born to narrate movies, with his voice dramatically changing to suit the mood of the slient movie he is narrating. His "karolin" is really cute! I love watching Narita play over the top characters. Bonus points for his kansei-ben accent.

Music

Pretty good, suits the time period well. But nothing too memorable. The main theme for this movie is cute and catchy.

Romance?

If the movie is weak at something it's weak of the lack of direction in romance (and overall direction of story). Honestly there's little romance but if they were to have it then please decide to have it. There's meant to be a little romance between Shoutaro and his female childhood friend Umeko but it falls flat because Shuntaro is too dumb. To make things worse the other female Kotoe out of no where kisses Shuntaro and disappears never to be seen again. It the only thing I hated from this movie. I mean if I wanted to see Narita Ryo in a romance drama I'll go watch Cornered Mouse instead (not yet seen but I am sure he will be amazing in it!).

Rewatch Value

I don't really know but it's really fun to watch, I've seen it a few times already.

Overall

If you want to see a movie immerised in it's time period about movie narration and have fun with it then I recommend it. If you want to see Narita Ryo act as heart out then please do! But if you want to see a meaningful movie with romance themes then yeah this movie is'nt it. I really enjoyed watching this movie though!

Read More