Dead or Alive (1999)

Dead or Alive: Directed by Takashi Miike. With Riki Takeuchi, Shô Aikawa, Renji Ishibashi, Hitoshi Ozawa. A yakuza of Chinese descent and a Japanese cop each wage their own war against the Japanese mafia. But they are destined to meet. Their encounter will change the world.

“This exciting picture packs drama , emotion , action and violent events . The movie centers around a young con man named Juan (Mario Casas) with recent freedom who searches a quiet life along with his wife Triana (Natalia De Molina) , but it goes awry when a lousy robbing takes place resulting in an unfortunate death . Shortly after , there happens an overlong chase and a ruthless searching for those escapees who hit and run . Then it starts a bloody path of vendetta in which the convict , his brother and uncle are pursued by nasty delinquents and corrupt cops.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIntense and sleaze drama with emotion , thrills , strong scenes and violenceb. It contains realistic set pieces , intense drama and splendid performances from a great Spanish cast . The picture benefits itself from sympathetic though unfortunate , hopeless characters who suffer distresses, tortures and pains . An emotive story about a long vendetta that a paroled convict carries out when his little daughter dies in a car crash after of First Communionu0026#39;s celebration . As Juan/Mario Casas goes out of prison with the third grade and close to get the total parole and he only wants to be with his spouse Triana/Natalia de Molina and his daughter . From start to finish this moving film contains drama , intrigue , thrills and shootouts .This attractive Spanish thriller has noisy action , intrigue , spectacular pursuits and fights . This is the sort of story weu0026#39;ve seen sometime before about hapless people escaping , while other people seek reckoning , but one that is always fun when executed with style and filmmaker Paco Cabezas certainly seems to have that . Decent Spanish film with top-notch performances from main cast as well as secondary cast . This is an exciting film though relies heavily on the two protagonists and their affectionate relationship . Mario Casas gives an acceptable acting in similar style to ¨Kike Maillou0026#39;s Toro¨ in which he also performed a revengeful role , as a previous con man must be back to his old habits to exact a merciless revenge along with his youngest brother and uncle . Nice film , though has a few gaps , but anyway, its is compensated with the enjoyable performances from Mario Casas. And Natalia Molina and remaining cast . Casas and Molina as accompanied by a good support cast , such as Ruth Díaz as the upright police woman , Carlos Bardem , Mariola Fuentes , Vicente Romero , among others.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt packs a colorful and brilliant cinematography by Pau Esteve Birba, though really night and dark , at times . Equally , moving and attractive musical score by Zeltia Montes , including several Andalucian songs . The motion picture was well directed by Paco Cabezas , being filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Being well made by Paco Cabezas whose first successful film was ¨Aparecidos¨ and it was nominee in Toulouse Festival 2011 to best director, and directing ¨Neon Flesh¨ to be loved by Nicolas Cage who hired him to make a Hollywood film, shhoting his first international pic : ¨Tokarev¨ . There Cabezas made another hit : ¨Mr Right¨. Subsequently he made various TV episodes from famous TV series as ¨Penny Dreadful¨, ¨American gods¨, ¨The strain¨, ¨Fear of the walking dead¨, ¨Penny Dreadful : city of Los Angeles¨, among others. Rating :6.5/10. Enjoyable Spanish film that will appeal to Mario Casas fans.”