K-20:Legend of the Mask - K20:怪人二十面相

K-20:Legend of the Mask (K20:怪人二十面相) is a 2008 film out of Japan. The movie stars Takeshi Kaneshiro, Takako Matsu, and Toru Nakamura.

The movie is based on an alternate reality. Where Teito is the capital of Japan, vs. Tokyo. In Teito, the aristocrats rule the country and the poor struggle to make ends meet. A thief label K-20 has been stealing artifacts from the rich, but is no Robin Hood, as he keeps it for himself. Endo, played by Takeshi, is a circus acrobat and performer. After being convinced to do a stunt, he's framed for being K-20 and captured. But the master plan of K-20 is to acquire the Telsa power plant. The secrects are in the hands of Yoko, played by Takao Matsu.

The movie was quite entertaining as it takes a 19th century feel and applies it to a 50s era Tokyo. The story was intriguing and the actors were quite easy on the eyes.

I highly recommend this movie.

The Hidden Blade - 隱劍鬼爪

The Hidden Blade (隱劍鬼爪) is a 2004 film about a samurai that isn't what you would expect. A samurai that is willing to break the rules in order to see someone happy.

The Hidden Blade is director Yoji Yamada's follow up to his other masterful petty samurai film, The Twilight Samurai.

Gone are the slashing and massive killing sprees of other Samurai films. This is about normal day samurai life and the politics of navigation through traditional mores and choosing to break those.

If you're looking for a samurai film like Zatoichi or Yojimbo, look elsewhere. I picked this up at Blockbuster back in the day, but you can get it via Amazon or Netflix.