Bad City is a gritty action thriller that explores the blurred lines between right and wrong in a corrupt city. The film follows a disgraced detective, Torada, as he assembles a team to take down a powerful crime boss. The film features brutal, realistic fight scenes and a commentary on systemic decay.
If there’s one thing that Bad City proves, it’s that sometimes justice doesn’t play fair. Set in the heart of a city practically rotten with corruption, the thriller proves that sometimes the people meant to uphold the law are just as sinister as the ones breaking it. The story itself is centered on disgraced former detective, Torada (Hitoshi Ozawa), who’s abruptly released from prison to take down a powerful businessman rooted in organized crime.
As he puts together the ragtag team that’s going to help him, it becomes crystal clear that the mission isn’t just another job… it’s personal. \From the onset, Bad City isn’t pretentious about its fight scenes or the moral dilemmas that follow. However, it’s not all punches and bullets, the film offers a sharp commentary on systemic decay and the gray areas that exist between right and wrong. In that sense, it builds on the legacy of Yakuza cinema by combining sheer will with the moral complexity of old-school crime stories, adding a modern edge. Overall, the film brings the audience face-to-face with uncomfortable issues, such as what happens when justice is out of reach. While the answers Bad City offers are pretty easy, they make you think twice about the point where justice ends and revenge takes over. \‘Bad City’s Heroes Are Flawed and Its Villains Aren’t Pure Evil Much like the film’s name implies, no one is inherently “good” in Bad City, not even the people who are meant to stand for good. It builds a layered world where justice and morality are as slippery as they come, so it confuses viewers about what separates heroes from villains. In this case, the protagonist, Captain Torada is meant to be the guy everyone roots for. But, considering he’s fresh out of prison and doesn’t quite do things by the books, he’s far from squeaky clean. Torada wouldn’t be caught rallying the troops by delivering heartfelt speeches about truth and justice. He’s the guy out there cracking skulls and getting his hands dirty to get the job done. In the same vein, the so-called villains here are not particularly nefarious to the core. Take Gojo (Lily Franky), businessman-turned-crime-boss, there’s no doubt he’s from a troubled past. However, the film points fingers at the system that made him turn into the boogeyman. There are even brief moments of humanity in the smaller players, like the henchmen who hesitate before following orders. \When action meets brains, it’s a battle of wits and power. One scene that really sinks its teeth into this phenomenon is when Torada and his crew infiltrate a rival gang’s hideout. What ensues is nothing short of messy, violent, and brutal. However, there’s a quiet moment after the dust settles where even the designated heroes look shaken by what they’ve just done. The genius of Bad City shines through in moments like this where it unmasks its characters to show that oftentimes, good and bad are just two sides of the same grimy coin. \The Unpolished Fight Choreography in ‘Bad City’ Makes It Unforgettable Close Polished Hollywood showdowns have a time and a place, it’s safe to say that they don’t belong in Bad City. The film goes for something more along the lines of brutal and chaotic which makes it even more engaging. So, instead of those sleek, choreographed moves, the fights in this movie are so believable they could be happening in a back alley somewhere. Most of the punches don’t land right, people are tripping all over the place and the desperation is palpable. One standout fight occurs in a dingy apartment between Torada and a group of thugs. By all means, it’s not a fair fight, and it doesn’t look pretty. The formerly incarcerated police captain uses whatever he can get his hands on and viewers can practically feel drained watching all parties try to stay on their feet. The bottom line here is that this isn’t about flashy moves or superhuman stamina, it’s life or death. Unpolished brawls like these go a long way to amp up the tension and the stakes. Anytime Torada took a hit, it felt real, because it looked real. Even more, if someone went down, there was no assurance that they’d come up again. It’s this kind of unpredictability that injects the kind of tension that sleek action scenes could never pull off. The cherry on the top here is the shaky, handheld camera work during these fights. It gives viewers the sense of watching a live fight not a well-planned performance. At the end of the day, it’s this desperate, unpredictable energy that keeps viewers hooked
Thriller Crime ACTION THRILLER CRIME JAPANESE CINEMA JUSTICE
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bird Flu Be Damned: Raw Farm Is Doubling Down On Selling Raw Milk At ScaleRaw Farm, the country’s biggest producer of raw milk has seen its sales grow exponentially to more than $30 million, despite the health risks of forgoing pasteurization. With RFK Jr. nominated to lead HHS under Trump, it hopes to sell even more.
Read more »
Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy Trailer Promises Raw Look at Sean Combs' LifeThe trailer for the upcoming documentary 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy' offers a glimpse into Sean Combs' rise to fame and the alleged actions that led to his public downfall. The documentary features never-before-seen footage and candid interviews with those who knew Combs personally, including childhood friends, former bodyguards, and even a 'Making the Band' winner.
Read more »
Raw oysters linked to norovirus sickens 80 at Los Angeles event celebrating city's top restaurantsThe raw oysters linked to norovirus were served at an event celebrating Los Angeles' top restaurants, which cost attendees anywhere from $264 for general admission to upwards of $600 for VIP.
Read more »
Dozens sickened after eating raw oysters during LA event celebrating city's best restaurants80 people got sick from eating raw oysters during an event celebrating the best restaurants in town.
Read more »
AOC jokes Oversight Committee race loss is 'bad' since Trump is 'feeling bad' for herPresident-elect Donald Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday it's 'too bad' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lost her bid for ranking member of the committee.
Read more »
AOC jokes Oversight Committee race loss is 'bad' since Trump is 'feeling bad' for herPresident-elect Donald Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday it's 'too bad' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lost her bid for ranking member of the committee.
Read more »