Goemon

The first half hour or so of this epic fantasy adventure from director Kazukai Kiriya is almost too intense to watch. The intensity doesn’t come from bloodshed or martial arts action, although there is just enough of the first and plenty of the latter throughout the movie. The intensity comes from the amazing color and stylized visual imagery that Kiriya uses to introduce us to the story about a legendary robber battling against the warmongering rulers who want his head. Once the story settles down (or rises up to the level of the visual artistry), Goemon quickly becomes as interesting as it is beautiful. The acting, particularly the performance of Yôsuke Eguchi as the legendary thief, is impressive, especially when you consider how good it has to be to stand out alongside everything else Kiriya throws on the screen.