The grim plot in turn robs the action of some of its fun.Īctually, my question above is answered by the uncut version: The addition of XXX-grade sex and rape scenes make it all too clear that Kite is a very well made hentai/action combo with a nasty misogynistic undercurrent. As a result, Kite degrades into little more than an (admittedly dazzling) action movie in several parts, making it all the more difficult to take the rest of the story seriously. Worse, the action is well out of the realm of the realistic-I don't think there's a single punch that doesn't drive someone three inches into a wall. The violence similarly loses its impact without any meaning to back it graphic violence can be used as a tool, but Kite is unnecessarily bloody to no apparent end. As is, the characters are too shallow for me to see more than simple shock value. Properly explored, the dysfunctional relationships could have been believable and intriguing. That said, here's the question I'm left asking about Kite: Is it a psychological thriller that failed due to the abridged plot, or is it just a dandied-up, testosterone-driven shock flick trying to look like something more? Admittedly, some may like it, but I get annoyed by that sort of thing. Henry ending that, while perhaps intended as a nihilistic statement, bugged me-it seemed to be a twist for the sake of itself. Some of the major plot twists seem forced for the same reason-without enough insight into the characters, I'm left assuming their only motivation is to supply kinks for the plot. To Kite's credit, every scene in the edited version furthers the story, but there simply aren't enough of them-it's too focused for its own good. ![]() Most of the other characters are even less developed. ![]() The lead, for example, has all sorts of potential for inner turmoil between her own desires and her sense of duty to her "protector," or the conflicting parent/possessor role that he holds, but only the surface of this is scratched. ![]() The concept of the story, while simple, has the potential to bring out a wealth of detail and depth in the characters, but its cramped 45 minute length simply isn't enough time to really explore them. Or, in the case of the uncut version, shock cinema disguised as a plot-heavy action movie flirting with pornography. Borrowing heavily from stylized modern assassin films like La Femme Nikita and The Professional (the live-action one, not the Golgo 13 movie), Kite plays the hard-boiled, neo-noir game well, but in the end the characterization and short length end up dragging it down to the point of being little more than a plot-heavy action movie. Kite is a slick looking little flick by Yasuomi Umetsu, better known as a talented animator and character designer. Kite might be worth watching for the remarkable visuals and extreme action, but unless you're very into psychological neo-noir or a disturbing-sex-and-violence shock cinema fan, it probably won't cut it otherwise. On the bright side, the art is every bit as beautiful as you'd expect in an Umetsu work, and the over-the-top action is downright spectacular. Or, in the case of the uncut version, a plot-heavy action movie flirting with pornography thanks to gratuitous XXX-grade sex and rape-as-erotica scenes. ![]() It almost succeeds as a grim assassin psychodrama, but in the end the characterization and short length end up dragging it down to the point of being little more than a plot-heavy action movie. Borrowing heavily from stylized modern assassin films like La Femme Nikita, Kite plays the hard-boiled, neo-noir game well. Kite is probably the best-known production by Yasuomi Umetsu, known for his stunning artwork and dark hentai stories.
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