Kite

Rating:
Summary: I would recommend the uncut version, but still a great movie
Review: "Kite" has been one of the hardest movies to find uncut for a long time, and for good reason. "Kite" has scenes of very graphic rape and raw violence and gore. But none of it is gratuitous, it all adds to the amazing story.

"Kite" brings to mind the movie "The Professional," but with a bit of a twist. In "The Professional," a young girl's family is killed and a kind assasin takes her in and teaches her the way of the hired hitman. In "Kite," Sawa's parents are murdered and she is taken in by the man who killed them, he forces her to become an assassin for her and also his sexual slave. Sawa is connected to him by dependence and hate. When she meets a fellow orphan and assassin, the handsome and destructive Oburi, she is given another path.

"Kite" is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The killings in the film are treated with such nonchalance that it affects you all the more. You are instantly attached to Sawa, despite her unblinking view of murder. "Kite" definitely has heartfelt moments in it too. The calm innocence Sawa and Oburi share together keeps you close to the characters.

I gave this movie a 4 star rating, only because this is the edited version. The uncut version of "Kite" is available now. You can buy it on animecastle.com, and I would definitely recommend the uncut over the cut.

Rating:
Summary: Very Unique Anime - Not for the Faint of Heart!
Review: I would like to say first that I own both the DVD and the VHS - Director's Cut. There are some major differences, but the movie as a whole is very, very good.

At some points very, very graphic and violent, and at some points very touching and even sad, Kite is a work of art with a very unique style, which I have not seen in other Anime. The story revolves around Sawa, a young schoolgirl who is also an assassin. She recieves orders from a sleazy and crooked police officer, who is also her "guardian" and this police officer's partner in crime, an even sleazier dirtbag. One day she meets another assassin and things start to change. Sawa wants to get away from her past and head for a better future...

Yes, it is short, and does leave one longing for more, but in another way is very fulfilling, with a very interesting ending that is not really expected. It runs smoothly and almost fast.

Now to the different versions. Yes, the Director's Cut is a more original version, but is still not the total uncut version. The DVD is very edited down and more edited than the Director's Cut and there is good reason for this. All of the cut material has to do with graphic sex scenes, ones that show actual penetration and intercourse. In a way I felt this was distracting and could have been done in a more artistic matter, but it is still a very integral part of the storyline. Other scenes that were cut involve Sawa as a young girl. (In the import book, A-Kite, the Complete Works, one would find out that the young Sawa was only 12 years old, making the older Sawa only 15 or 16 years old, not a college student as the DVD would leave one to believe. This book is available through some Anime/Manga stores.) But that is the way the filmmaker's originally intended the story to be.

For any Anime fan who wants a little different Anime than the norm, Kite is a must see. Only for more mature people who do not have a weak stomach and who can handle mature subject matter.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific movie integrating true reflections human complexity
Review: I have seen the original Japanese uncut version, which, since it's from Japan, contains much more sexual and gore content.

But don't be confused. This is not some cheap porno cartoon. The movie itself has a very twisted, but deep and many sad parts. The creator here has a movie that will really intrigue you as you watch this movie.

It's much deeper than an action movie. Tons of human emotions are involved.

Highly recommended for Anime Fans who are Adults. It's not appropriate for children.

Rating:
Summary: I like teeeeaaaa. Strooooong greeeeean teeeeeaa.
Review: Somewhere along the way, the writers of KITE lost all remaining sense of direction, got boozed up and decided to go with whatever they had in the morning. What started with a script of Luc Besson's 'La Femme Nikita' ended up being one of the most uninspired and dumbest pieces of crap ever made. Halfway through, you can't help but think this conversation took place:

--

Writer: "Uh, sir, to tell you the truth, I have no idea where I'm going with the script, and the plot so far has no redeeming value whatsoever."

Boss: "Add sex scenes."

Writer: "Maybe if I add some character development and--"

Boss: "SEX SCENES!!"

--

Sawa is just a regular cute Japanese teenage girl. (sounds original already, doesn't it?) The thing is, if it seems like she's coming on to you, she's probably getting ready to shoot you in the head with an exploding bullet. Don't feel bad, though, it's nothing personal. She and a male assasin named Oburi-- who English voice actors pronounce "Ovary" for some inexplicable reason (something I don't believe is a coincidence... I thought there was something strange about that guy)-- systematically kill people who their employer decides are evil.

The voice acting is laughable at times in the English dub ("I like teeeeaaaa. Stroooooong greeeeeeeen teeeeeeaaa."). Monotony and raspy voices is the game here, apperantly. The script is not awe-inspiring, either ("Impressive, my cute little assassin. Too bad you're going to die ugly."). In fact, just about everything in this movie in subpar.

The ending is the epitome of all copped-out (not to mention inane) movie endings. Just why the basketball girl does what she does at the end has actually caused me to lose sleep over trying to figure it out. I thought I might sound like an idiot if I didn't decipher it before posting a review, but I've come to the conclusion that even the writers had no idea... what they were doing.

Rating:
Summary: An Anime Classic
Review: I've only been watching anime for close to 5 months, yet I've tried to drown myself in the classics. Kite is the kind of japanimation that makes you realize how truly deep this film genre goes. While the version sold here is only 45 minutes long, I must use the old adage "Quality not quantity." With extreme twists in storyline and incredible imaging, Kite is the kind of film that makes you want to have only more of it. As with any reasonably good anime, the story, while short, causes you to spend a fair amount of time reviewing the story in your mind and the messages laid within it. I must warn future Kite viewers though, that if you're looking to watch an up beat happy ending, humourous saturday morning type of anime, this is not that kind of film. Rather the movie leaves you feeling a bit depleted in spirit. Also you're kind of left hanging, which, I suppose is part of the reason why Kite is such an excellent anime.

--Also, if you watch the film "Mezzoforte" you can catch a glimpse of Sawa (the main character in Kite) passing by in the street.

Rating:
Summary: A Little Too Much
Review: I usually like a little darkness in anime shows; however the uncut version was just a bit too much. Frankly if you get a kick out of men taking advantage of young girls, don't hesitate to check it out. The movie was about a young girl who gets tricked into working for the very man who killed her family. She is trained to be a killer by her family's murderer and goes around killing people. She meets up with another guy assasin who is closer to her age; and of course, they fall in love. Then of course, she is supposed to kill him. In the end they both get revenge on the bad guys; but, like all anime, there is that little twist in the end. Blah, blah blah.
This movie left me feeling dirty and depressed. For anyone who gets their kicks out of sick shows and love being shocked, this is your movie. If you would rather watch a show that has some darkness, but yet some deep meaning, watch "Now and Then, Here and There", "Hellsing", or "Battle Angel". At least there is some discretion used in these movies and series.

Rating:
Summary: If it was 2 hours it would have been Great.
Review: I watched this movie dubbed on VHS. The story is interesting, basically two crooked cops recruit kids to kill criminals that they can not get evidence on to convict. There is a lot of intrigue and bloodshed. This movie is very gory and not recommended for children, there is also some nudity. The major short coming for this movie is that is only 45 minutes. The plot is to rushed and it comes to an abrupt ending. Hare-core anime fans won't mind this, but I wouldn't recommend buying it because you feel cheated since the movie is so short. Longer anime features are much better as in "Ninja Scroll", "Ghost In The Shell" and "Princess Mononoke".

Rating:
Summary: Director's Cut version
Review: when the print says "Absolutely not for children" they weren't joking around! I'm an adult so the gratuotis sex/rape scenes didn't really bother me. It actually played a part in the movie so it wasn't neccessarily random and pointless that the makers included those scenes. The action is decent and the Sawa reminds me of Matilda in the movie Leon: The Professional. Clocking in at 60 minutes it was all so short. if it was longer and more to it I would definately vote it 5 stars. I'm glad it's part of my collection none the less. The flashbacks help tell the story of the characters and allow the viewer to follw the movie easily. I'm glad the ending left off like it did. It's good to see that not all films end on a positive happy go lucky tip. In a way it was a new beginning for Sawa which was a positive in itself. Length of movie was the biggest minus i can think of. Not for the faint of heart! Recommended. B+

Rating:
Summary: Not enougf interesting just short & bloody
Review: I have seen lots of anime in my life but non of them was around 45 minutes this is a little bit crazy because when you prepare yourself to watch this anime it finishes.The story of this title goes very fast and has lots of holes in it the producers could make better anime with this story line but I think they didn't have enougf time and they left the anime with lots of space and missing parts.Also they didn't waste they time to create a good looking characters but its not that much bad.The story is full of blood only instead of this I think if they worked more on other elements of story it would be much better than this.So I suggest to rent this DVD.This is censored (Directors Cut) edition: 1 DVD - Kite storyboards - Original animation cels - Art gallery - 45 minutes

Rating:
Summary: stay away
Review: i dont see how a veteran anime fan can enjoy this low budget weakly produced movie. I like most anime fans need 3 things out of anime, interesting character design, great animation, and a compelling story. This movie has none of those. Bottom line, if you just want to own every anime, pick this sub par dvd up. If your collection consists of just quality hi end animation, dont even consider this.