Crows Zero (クローズZERO, Kurōzu Zero), also known as Crows: Episode 0, is a 2007 Japanese action film based on the manga Crows by Hiroshi Takahashi. The film was directed by Takashi Miike with a screenplay by Shogo Muto, and stars Shun Oguri, Kyōsuke Yabe, Meisa Kuroki, and Takayuki Yamada. The plot serves. Crows Zero 2 hi Crows Zero film chhunzawmna a ni. Director: Takashi Miike Producer: Mataichiro Yamamoto Screenplay: Shogo Muto Based on Crows by Hiroshi Tak.

I loved your review of the movie and totally agree that Yamada was the best thing in it. I probably have a rose-tinted view of ‘furyos’ as I’ve only ever encountered them in manga and dramas where they’re portrayed as heroes but in real life it’s a totally different story. I read some of the Crows manga and I think part of the difficulty in translating a long manga series into a film is the number of characters that appear. It can get confusing in the movie. Anyway, looking forward to reading more of your posts (although I have been following your blog for a while now^^).

Says: Thank you muchly! And I’m thrilled that you dropped me a line. *blushes* (I, too, go to your blog and am always floored by the sheer number of books you’ve reviewed — more than what’s humanly possible, it seems. Good site.;-)) And yeah, it must be quite a challenge transposing manga into film; they’re such different mediums and certain elements (stylistic, thematic, etc.) don’t always carry over well. Which is kind of weird because it seems as though 98% of movies that get made in Japan are manga-based.

Jenny Says: Okay first let me get one thing over; Shun Oguri is a fine piece of male a**! And both movies are filled with men I secrectly desire to my harem! (and Miura nom nom, and now I can go a hide in a corner) I havent seen the second crows movie so I can’t say much about that. In general I think all the guys did a good job but I agree with you that Yamada stole the show with his portrayal and there is a reason Shun and Yamada areboth considered the best actors in their generation.

This was one Takashi Miike movie I did watch and even liked, what can I say I like a good action movie. Now off to watch movie number 2 instead of doing important schoolwork. Jenny Says: Bsck from the corner of shame. The second movie was okay, I like action movies so the huge gang fight at the end was awesome. I thought the acting was solid from Shun but Yamada was still better and his characters friendship with Kiritani Kenta was cute.The bromance in the movie is actually kind of funny. And Nobuaki Kaneko was a pleasant suprise I’m always unsure how well musicians act but he was good.(I confess I though he was super attractive so i googled him) Also the cator playing Shuns dad was impressive, he was with Miura in samurai high school and I didn’t even recognise him here, very impressive actor.

No unfortunately Makise is not included in my harem but I just added Nobuaki Kaneko;D. Says: Lmao “corner of shame”!!! Instantly reminded me of the Cone of Shame from Pixar’s Up. 😀 Omo, I’m SUCH a fangirl of Kishitani Goro!!! I love how he never overacts but makes his characters feel like real people each time. Watching CZ II I had a little epiphany and went “heyyy!!!!

You guys!!!!! Samurai High School reunion!!!” when I realized that Kishitani-san, Miura and Nobuaki Kaneko were in the cast — too bad they didn’t have any scenes together, heh heh. Nobuaki Kaneko — uh, the drummer? He looks like a drummer, haha. Don’t worry hon, he’s all yours I’d never dream of stealing him away from your harem, lol.

Jenny Says: Yes, he was fantastic. He doesn’t overact but he had this great presence. And I loved it when he tought his son a lesson by punching him!

It really was a SHS reunion which was a fun aspect in a way. Great then I’ll safely add him to my male harem. If you read in the news on day that crazy european girl attacks several japanese male celebrities then you’ll now it’s me.;D Turns out Nobuaki Kaneko is also in Ooku even though it seems like a small part. That’s one of the movies I’m looking forwrd to, I have the first volumes of the manga and the story is really fascinating. Says: As usual, a great review!:)) your first viewing will leave you scratching your head at this blur of all-look-samey teenage thugs who do nothing but kick each others’ heinies, strut down defaced school corridors, smoke like chimneys, glare and growl at nobody in particular, smoke like chimneys, and kick each others’ heinies.

Or worse, you’ll doze off during the non-fighting parts and wake up only when the over-the-top sound effects of thwacks and punches jolt you back into the movie. ^^OMG, with that comment, I instantly feel so much better again! I had the same problem but thought I was the only one too tired after a hard lol day’s work. At one point, I kinda wished for celebrity-heads style name tags on their noggins.

There was nothing in Shun’s portrayal that made me want to root for Genji. *darts eyes around* I think I said this over at zooey’s blog but watching alot of Shun’s performances lately, I am finding myself stuck btwn a rock & a hard place. Part of me is like, “I LOVE OGURI SHUN!!!” but the other part of me is thinking, “Hmm, maybe he isn’t as good of an actor as we all thought he was” *squints eyes* And this becomes particularly more evident when you chuck him in the same room as someone like Yamada Takayuki (who, I completely agree with you, was the star of the film/s. Super quirkily cool.

And when it was game time, he so turned it on.) I do think Shun-baby was pretty good in this, but I am wondering if he is better off as a second lead kinda guy, as more often than not, that is when he excels. When he’s the front man, he tends to underperform for some reason. Perhaps he just needs to take a step back & refresh his approach to playing these main characters?? But all that aside, Oguri Shun made Genji so much hotter-than-hot than the actual manga version (-U-;) Punk-cool hair, loose threads, battle scars, rugged scruf around his face, black nail polish (which he donned when he came onto SMAP Bistro to promote it) gaaaaaahhhhhhh. Quite the complete opposite of The Autistic One but equally just as “Get me into a dark corner with this dude right now” lol but religiously got up every morning to wear their uniforms and go to school. ^lol True, true.

But I suppose the uniforms may have represented their identity & unity, you know, this is my blood, the colour of my skin / one school VS another kinda deal. And well, *coughs* it made Shun look really good xDD Overall, I thought the film delivered great entertainment value & (after deciding to turning a blind eye to all the laws of physics) really revelled in how the action scenes were crafted. I could give it leeway (darn it, everytime I use that word now I think of ManSkank Akanishi Jin -_-“) knowing that the film is derived from a manga. I’m not usually a fan of so much non-stop violence but I think Miike Takashi really succeeded in instilling a great deal of hard energy & rocking punk-attitude into all that punch-on action almost wish I was there xD (although can I say how the rain just starts to pour down leading up to the final battle in the first flick kinda reminded me of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders.) And just wanted to say that I thought Takaoka Sousuke was pretty good in this too. And as hot as Kuroki Meisa is, I could’ve done without her musical poppiness (moreso in the sequel- don’t think it helped the mood of the film.) Looking forward to your Volcano high review (although it’s been so long since I watched that movie I might not even recall half the things you mention but I may have some recollection of Kwon Sang Woo & his abs lol heck, or was that in Once Upon A Time In High School?? You’re gonna have to refresh me!).

Says: Oohlala, the mother of all comments! (And I soaked up every word!:-)) Ditto on Takaoka Sousuke (now how could I not have given that dude a special mention?). One of my fave (if not my fave) scenes from CZ II was the Serizawa-Izaki mano-a-mano behind the school building.

Now that fight scene I didn’t mind tuning into 120%. (I love the lulls in between the pummeling, like the moment when Serizawa evades a punch from Izaki and he pauses, the crazy in his eyes turning all the way up to Defcon 1, then he gives this devilishly delighted “HAHAH!!!” before hurling himself back at Izaki. I also went “HAHAH!!!!” when Yamada did that, lol.) Re falling asleep: yeah, either it was work, or we’re just getting too old for these things. We can’t be 12-y.o. Fanboys forever, y’know lol Part of me is like, “I LOVE OGURI SHUN!!!” but the other part of me is thinking, “Hmm, maybe he isn’t as good of an actor as we all thought he was” *squints eyes*. Says: lol I didn’t realise my comment was that long!

*turns on word count & monitors figure* lmao 12y.o.fanboys xD If they could invent a pill for it though I would be taking it! But they should make it so that you can adjust the age according to personal preference. And we could offer the pills to all the JE boysmen xO I agree Shun was kick-ass in Hana Kimi. Likewise he was definitely perfect in HanaDan (no wave-riding there xP.) I also liked him in Stand Up!, GTO, Summer Snow & Detective Conan.

And although the series itself sucked, he was good in Smile. He was comedic skills were dead-on in Tokyo Dogs but the dramatic parts were a lil over-cooked at times. So perhaps the conclusion is unless he is the 2nd guy, Shun should play high-school roles forever ^^;;;;; Re Shun VS Eita- I think Eita is the better actor, period. I think zooey is right in terms of the kind of roles Eita is best at playing (i.e.

Supportive, devoted, silently strong etc) but as a male lead, he has always held his own (e.g. Voice, SnN; films April’s Bride, Sukida.) I definitely see him as a leading man, moreso it looks like he WANTS to be one, whereas whenever I see Shun as the frontman, he seems to act with this huge weight on his shoulders. That fight scene you mentioned was the bomb:)) I also liked the human bowling pin scene (really hahahaed there.) And! I loved this part in the sequel: ^^Shun totally rocked here xDD. Says: Ok that scene you linked? That was hot. 😀 I liked the deconstructed spin on the peace pipe-lighting ceremony.

Oh yeah, Shun def. Re Eita, come to think of it I’ve never seen him in a lead role yet. *spit-shines Sunao ni Narenakute DVD & cranks up the ol’ player* “So perhaps the conclusion is unless he is the 2nd guy, Shun should play high-school roles forever ^^;;;;;” Ahahahahhahaha true!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 Well I just hope that Surely Someday he’ll find a lead role that he can sink his teeth into, a worthy character he can be truly comfortable in. Jossy Says: epic review!! I accidently came across Crows while I was channel surfing, delighted to have Oguri Shun appear on Aus Cable, I tuned into the film during Genjis’ stoic asswhooping (clearlyyy outnumbered, btw) from Izaki’s boys which in turn impressed blondie with his ‘determination and preserverence I was kinda underwhelmed so I ditched it.

The benefit of having Cable (or not), is even after leaving the country for 6weeks, I come back and still find Crow’s being aired. Lol needless to say Serizawa OWNED the film for me, Yamada played his character down to a T even to the point that I was rooting for the Serizawa Faction.lol I have nothing against Shuns’ ‘Genji’ but, yeah. Speaking of darts, don’t you just love Serizawa’s ridiculously ginormous dart? I could probably watch the films a number of times and not get sick of it, coz even if the story lacks vitals, the fight scenes are pretty entertaining Loved your review! Looking forward to Volcano High. Oh and Once upon a time in high school?

Lol besides 17 vs 1 (i think, see) the only other thing I remeber is Lee Jung Jin, oh and KSW sure does love to flaunt his choco abs. Something I wish more Japanese Stars would do.:p. Says: Great review, E.G. 🙂 I’m glad you finally got around to watching the two Crows Zero movies why am I not surprised that Miura turned out to be the deciding factor in placing the disc on your dvd player. I agree that CZ had a really thin narrative but I always make a point to check out the latest Takashi Miike flick because he never fails to surprise me. This director imbues his films with such style and flair that it makes the whole viewing experience worthwhile even though you have to slough through a heap of crazy-sick-violent scenes. He’s also very versatile which I bet only makes Quentin Tarantino a tad bit envious of him.

Like I said a while back, this movie would probably have to be his most commercial work to date. You can’t have an army of non-JE actors bash each other’s brains out and not have a hit movie since the cast alone appeals to both male and female viewers. I kinda agree with jicks that Shun was pretty decent in this one– eclipsed only by the intense and moving performance of Yamada Takayuki (love my Pokemon, after all, hehe). I’m still not convinced that Shun’s good at playing the lead. Didn’t really care for him in Hana Kimi nor was I impressed with his turn in Binbo Danshi but I always manage to remember him playing minor characters in other series.

Like how he was the kid who jumped off the building in GTO, or how he was the bro with the speech impediment in Summer Snow and one of the geeks who dished advice in Densha Otoko He seems to cope better in comedic roles when working in an ensemble like in Stand Up or the movie Kisaragi (Tokyo Dogs for me was a little iffy). Haven’t seen Spring Story so I don’t know how well he fares as the romantic lead. Much of the problem has to do with the movies’ protagonist, Takiya Genji. Sure, Oguri Shun is ultra-cool and unflappable in the Crows Zeros, looking fierce in his black blazers and track suits and sporting that mullet-with-cornrows hybrid, his lanky frame swaggering through the corridors but character-wise? Not sympathetic or engaging enough to win the viewer over– And YES, Genji doesn’t come off as your typical hero. I think part of the reason for this is because his “journey” into becoming one was divided between the two movies.

Normally, you’d see the protagonist go the whole nine yards from overcoming challenges to being struck with the realization of what it means to be the hero per se in one go, but CZ I & II chopped it up and watered it down so much (like you said, extra characters and story arcs) that his call for help in the end seemed more like a plea, a last resort before heading on to enemy territory. This movie could certainly have gone without Kuroki Meisa, I don’t think it would have mattered much if we didn’t see her strut her stuff. I also liked the bromance with Kiritani Kenta, now that’s one actor who knows how to change his look and mix it up. But religiously got up every morning to wear their uniforms and go to school.

I don’t know, this is probably something that’s unique to this genre. I remember watching Blue Spring a while back and it had the same theme and setting. There’s the school overrun by delinquent students and hardly any adults or faculty members are in sight. I think the part where they wear the school uniforms everyday has something to do with the Japanese school system.

From what I know, high school education is compulsory and these “kids” aren’t considered adults until they hit the age of 20, so it’s not like they have any other place to go till they “graduate” or dropout officially. Remember how girls are also seen in their sailor fukus in some dramas even though it’s summer break?

It’s definitely a weird thing, indeed. I honestly don’t know why Miura accepted this project when his entire exposure amounts to four short scenes, two in the smelly, sweaty Housen dojo, another on the Housen schoolyard (site of Crows Zero II’s climactic clash) and lastly on the school’s rooftop during the thick of the battle. Hmm, because of a possible spin-off, maybe? If CZ turns out to be a cult classic, then it wouldn’t hurt to be in it, blonde-octopusy-cap wig and all notwithstanding. Whereas the production team in Crows Zero II used a splashier, brighter color palette, very Gokusen-esque and I do not mean this in a good way. Oooh, nice observation.

CZI definitely had a grittier, grimy feel to it. Though I did appreciate the brighter color palette for the second movie when it came to the final showdown in it. There’s nothing like seeing a black clad Genji soar through the air to assault an army of bald, grey-attired soldiers from Housen. Visually, it went well with the “Fly, Genji, soar!” bit from the first movie. Says: Hahaha for some reason that “fly Genji, soar!!!” line cracked me up each time the yakuza chump said it. It was almost just as cheesy as saying “follow your heart” or something.

“This director imbues his films with such style and flair that it makes the whole viewing experience worthwhile even though you have to slough through a heap of crazy-sick-violent scenes.”. Says: finally got around reading this review! I’ve been de-computerized and de-internetized and I’m hanging on to dear sanity by stea borrowing other people’s appliances and piggy-backing unprotected wireless. (does that sound sad? Am I Serizawa from Crows Zero 2?) Aaaanyway, loved the movies personally, but I agree with your take on Shun’s character: should I care about him? Cause he ain’t working hard enough for me to care!

But I wouldn’t know if it’s entirely Shun’s fault (yes, 80% of this defence is caused entirely by hormones), because I’ve always had this problem with this type of character. Take Gangs of New York, Amsterdam might have had the extra drama of Hamletizing the situation to revenge his papa, but in the end he’s pretty much a Genji with older-fashioned dress: take out baddy, beat crap out of who gets in the way, gain favour and allies as I go.

And throughout the film, I couldn’t care a fiddler’s fart about what happened to Amsterdam, throughout the movie I just thought of him as a plot device to make me see Daniel Day Lewis shine. And that’s more or less what Genji is to me (‘cept I focused on him a lot more than I did on Leo because the little-!!!-fangirl in me goes gaga anytime I see Shun’s mug), a (sexy) plot device for me to see a bunch of punks beating the hell out of each other (without risking a fighto interruptus by annoying pigtailed teachers) in a coreagraphically pleasing way – oh, the many shojo-based doramas where hot boys get into fights that makes me want to cry out “please stop, you’re turning me off!” – and to appreciate a well developed antagonist in Yamada-sonehow-attractive-when-mad-as-hell-Taka. (And do I have a problem with Shun as a lead? Dunno, aside from this I only saw hin in Tokyo DOGS but, well, I didn’t really care for the film and was mostly glad to see him. I do crazy things to see him. Like watch the first season of Gokusen more!

Disable Schneider Modbus Serial Driver. Once!, or endure aaaaaall of HanaKimi -seriously man, was it just my impression that it’s a freakishly long dorama? Or was it just because it was so incredibly boring? So I don’t really know if it’s really Shun’s fault if Genji’s somewhat blah – hormones, shut up, c’mon – but I’ll let you know after doolittle). Good to hear you’re back in the Matrix — even if intermittently 😀 Omo it’s great you brought up the Gangs vs. Crows parallelisms. Like you Gangs left me cold (despite ALL THE HYPE and Leo and Cameron Diaz canoodling in some rat-infested alley?

Yawwwwnnnn) and I can’t remember much from Leo’s performance (weird, because I’ve seen ALL his film work and though I’m not a fangirl I have tremendous respect for him as an actor — his Gen-X Romeo to Claire Danes’ Juliet is my FAVE PERF EVAR) but I did get frissons of terror watching Bill the Butcher ( “Hello Amsterdam, I’m Noo-yawk”) and his freaky glass eye. “I couldn’t care a fiddler’s fart about what happened to Amsterdam, throughout the movie I just thought of him as a plot device to make me see Daniel Day Lewis shine.” ^ Totally! If there was ONE actor left in the UNIVERSE I’d want it to be Daniel Day-Lewis *proud fan since he was an extra on Gandhi* — Er no not really, mebbe since Last of the Mohicans 😉 “Yamada-somehow-attractive-when-mad-as-hell-Taka.”. Says: I’m totally looking forward to the RuixMakino reunion. My comatose computer knows of all the pop-corn I threw to the screen when my prin Hanazawa Rui got dumped!

I’m also looking forward to Hiro baby whom until a month ago I thought of funny yet not a heart-throb, but changed my mind when I saw him in Orange Days 😀 Re: DDL – He is totally awesome. I always thought Last of the Mohicans was a pile of cack (music score aside) but I’d watch it all over again just for him!

I even let myself get major cases of depression watching My left foot and In the name of the father because he’s an amazing an actor. Electric Youth Replay Rar Files. And while Gangs was painfully weak, this scene is gold: I’d probably pick a fight with him all the time just to get him all riled up, then I’d go, “Are you mad at me? Then love me!” lmfao how twisted is that. Says: That Gangs clip was indeed awesome, thanks for posting!

I’d say it’s way up there with DDL’s “I drink your milkshake!” scene with Paul Dano in Blood. Awww, you’re not a big fan of Mohicans? I watched that movie at least ten times in the cinemas. With my mom, lol. By re-watch #5 we pretty much knew the dialogue from end to end, hahaha. That movie is still in my Top 10 All-time Faves list.

😉 But I’m glad you loved the score. So iconic, like the LOTR soundtrack. (The violin-heavy BGM when Hawkeye and Cora were making out in a corner of Fort William Henry amid cannonfire and the groans of the wounded — that was pretty amazing too, hehehe.) Re Leo – I’m a huuuge Baz fan and I simply lap up everything he does, Nicole Kidman’s Chanel 5 commercial included. Wish he did more of his Velvet Curtain oeuvre, I’m such a sucker for the epic and theatrical. Love R+J — everything about that movie was perfect. (John Leguizamo FTW!) And listening to Des’ree singing “I’m kissing you again” still sends shivers up my arms.

Lol @ Juliet’s half-burped cry! Man, that scene was so intense and nerve-racking that even if I knew what the outcome would be (duh), I kept screaming at the screen, “wake up!!!

Wake up!!!” or “omg look down at her hand, romeo!!! Her fingers — they’re twitching!” lulz 😀 Ahahahaha @ Yamada and hit me baby one more time! Here’s my favorite version of the song: it’s.

I’ll never hear this song without thinking of Yamada from now on, haha 🙂. Says: MOTHER EFFING GAWD you took the words right out of my failing brain when it comes to Yamada Takayuki’s role in the movies. I watched the 1st one for Shun, but started rooting for Takayuki after the first 10 minutes. Takayuki was THAT likable and cool, and Shun was THAT boring. I never found Takayuki good looking before, but my GOODNESSSSSSS I drooled and he became my ichiban (well, one of many). Oozed cool and charisma out of every pore.

I felt they completely ruined him in the second one, though. Holy crap what was with that scene in the stairwells near the end. Shun was so dull to watch. I seriously didn’t understand why they all followed him. It just felt so contrived.

I loved the first Crows Zero movie, though. And I love your reviews.

I have to try so SO hard to not burst out laughing at work.

Watch the official release of Crows Zero Explode with English subtitle here on Without Genji and Serizawa, what do you think would it be a successful one??