Aragami: Raging God of Battle (2003)

Ryûhei Kitamura did a fine job with his half of the Duel Project, shot in just one week. His stamp is evident in almost every scene, so it becomes apparent pretty quickly that things aren't quite what they seem.
The setting is a secluded temple decorated with rich purples and reds that give it a strange allure. The characters sit opposite each other, sizing the other up repeatedly. There's some light barroom philosophy throughout to keep the pace before the aggressive conclusion.
It's short but just long enough; ten minutes more and it might've begun to overstay its welcome. Fans of the director's earlier works will have more fun with the ending than newbies will.

3 uncounted numbers out of 5

You can find Yukihiko Tsutsumi's half of the project HERE.

Sky High (2003)

After seeing potential in the genre-bending Versus (2000) about a decade ago, I hoped that Ryûhei Kitamura would someday get the opportunity to put his talents to better use and make a great film, but this isn't it. It’s a prequel to a TV Series that's based on a manga. If everyone (except Hiromasa Taguchi) had been replaced with cast members who could act and not just look good on a magazine cover, and if Kitamura had taken more risks, the film could've been worth the time invested in it. Perhaps then I wouldn't have spent almost two hours wondering when it was going to get good and why it was even called Sky High. If I'd seen the series I may have felt differently about the story, but a lot of that would still apply.

2 destinations out of 5

Ichi (2008)

Ichi is a beautiful blind girl with a knack for spilling CGI blood and keeping her sword magically clean in the process. She's a wandering goze (musician), and as she travels across Japan searching for her mentor she's befriended by a troubled samurai and a young boy, despite her best efforts to dissuade them.
It's principally Sori's version of Zatoichi, and more. Being female means Ichi's troubles are often of a different kind, and consequently her temperament is different, but overall it's both respectful and reverential to the spirit of the series. I liked how even though she has no comical Katsu walk the music nevertheless alludes to one. I'm surprised there wasn't a sequel.

3 back-hand single slashes out of 5