Review of Live

Live (2014)
4/10
Running out of breath fairly quickly
4 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
As far as splatter/gore Japanse movies go this on is rather average, actually it's a bit below that.

The entire story is quickly summed up: Several people are being coaxed/forced into taking part in some sort of "game", which is based on a book. Survival depends on quick wits, knowledge of the book and some luck. If you do not participate, someone you care for (or love) is being killed. Little bit of Running Man here, little bit of Battle Royale here and a lot of Japanese gore all over the place.

Unfortunately the movie does not live up to that expectation and drifts oftentimes towards the absurd. Little gimmicks include, but are not limited to: some nudity, excessive (yet silly) violence, gore, some sideboob, underskirt shots, slapstick and your typical Japanese jokes/jabs on society.

The entire time the plot meanders between funny and silly on the one hand and between action and comedy on the other hand. So, it's neither beef nor fish, and that is what ruins it, IMO. If it would have stayed on one path it probably would have been better. However, for fans of Japanese gore (Asami stars in it ;) ) it surely is entertaining, if nothing else. Just do not expect too much, k?
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