"Kuro-Obi" works on all fronts: story, script, cinematography, cast and especially the martial arts. Leads Akihito Yagi (Int'l. Meibukai Goju Ryu Karate Instructor) and Tatsuya Naka (Japan Karate Association General HQ (Corp) Instructor) surprisingly give acting and film fighting performances rarely found in one thespian. Once I saw their martial techniques, I knew I was looking at truly skilled martial artists.

Regarding the action, you won't find the highly dance-like Peking opera style of choreography like Hong Kong films, or the MTV style quick editing most US films use (to hide under trained stuntmen), but what you will find is very realistic fight scenes that are very entertaining!

"Kuro-Obi" is a great film that presents a story of honor, loyalty and how we must cope in a world of good and evil. Definitely a must-have for any fan of martial arts and/or film, period! Buy it, share it!

At an isolated dojo headed by Sensei Eiken Shibahara (Shinya Ohwada), three students: Giryu (Akihito Yagi), Taikan (Tatsuya Naka) and Choie (Yuji Suzuki) train relentless under their master’s instructions. One day, when military officers threaten to ousts them from their own school, the encounter leaves Choie badly wounded with Taikan and Giryu taking up the challenge. Giryu defeats the commanding officer without throwing a single punch that led the officer to commit Seppuku. After their master’s death, the trio was hired to train military soldiers since the two both displayed impressive prowess. But fate interferes when Giryu becomes wounded by the officer’s vengeful children and he becomes separated from the group. Taikan becomes influenced by the ways of the world while Giryu befriends a kindly family. Fate has played them in opposing hands and an inevitable showdown is poised to bring the traditional Giryu against the corrupted Taikan--just who is truly deserving of the KURO OBI?

“Black Belt” is a thinking man’s martial arts film. The screenplay by George Ilda is a lush impressive breeding ground for melodrama and with Shinichi Nagasaki’s (A Tender Place) direction taking a more somber, novelistic approach to its story; the film explores the tensions of Karate. The film is an expression of the spirit of Karate, and Director Nagasaki has opted for a more character-driven approach in place of dazzling and unrealistic martial arts displays, for which he is to be commended. I am in total awe when a director instead goes for the spirit of a concept rather than just show how cool fight sequences can look.

The cast, Tatsuya Naka and Akihito Yagi are Black Belt holders themselves and they look very natural. Now, don’t mistake my earlier comment that the film is lacking in the number of fight sequences; there are quite a great number of fight scenes that display the beauty of Karate. Although the film focuses more on its characters and while the film’s plot is a bit simple, the action and fights are nicely placed to keep us entertained. The fight sequences themselves are a form of character development. As I’ve said, martial arts is a form of self-expression and so the film capitalizes on this idea. The action is there to build the characters‘ credibility, and it feels necessary to get to the film’s resolution. Unlike most martial arts films that have the story revolving on the action scenes, in this film, the action revolves in its plot.

The fight sequences by Fuyuhiko Nishi are smooth and VERY realistic. Most martial arts fans always see the choreography of the fights as a film’s major selling point, and this film delivers; the fights are AWESOME to see and more impressive as it avoided the use of wires and extravagant stunt work. I have never witnessed such well-choreographed fights since I saw real live competition. The camera work stays at a distance so you can see the movement between the fighters. The fights are hard-hitting and looks quite real, they aren‘t overly long and excellently paced. These characters are supposed to be lethal weapons but no one said they were emotionless. The fighters in this film feel very human, you see their concentration in their eyes and they can feel pain. The magic is that they manage to overcome the pain.

From the film’s opening act, you see the depths of Giryu, Taikan and Choei’s soul. Taikan is a young man who revels in competition and violent encounter to find the art’s meaning. Choei is the weakest student, but he is level-headed and truthful to himself which is why he was chosen to pick their master’s successor after his death. Giryu is very traditional, Shibahara’s teachings are similar to a religion to him and he would rather die than to stray from his teachings. “Karate is not to throw a punch or a kick, never attack, instead defend against an opponent’s attack--parry and stave off the opponent. This way you can reach perfection” as quoted by Sensei Shibahara.

While the film is quite predictable, the direction is very solid and the script is sharp. I called this film a Martial Arts melodrama because it focuses on its characters but let me once again make it clear that action fans won’t be disappointed. The absence of CGI and wirework in its fights are the film’s biggest strength and simplicity is its expression. The final encounter is shot in black and white perhaps to emphasize the clash between the Yin and the Yang, or to remind us that Karate is an ancient art that existed for hundreds of years.

“KURO OBI” is a beautiful film, it is definitely a thinking man’s film. The film set out to express the soul of Karate and director Nagasaki has achieved what he wanted to do by carefully measuring his approach. The film’s simple plot may be its Achilles’ heel but as with Karate, simplicity is often the most effective approach. After all, throwing too many punches can hurt a fighter himself, as can pitching too many ideas can hurt a film. “Black Belt” is solid, and nicely executed.

What is really worth fighting for? The goal is not for competition but the battle for enlightenment. Black can never look dirty, and a fighter must be pure. The Belt represents willpower. “From Strength will come compassion, from compassion, strength will emerge”

Highly Recommended!!

See, things have changed a lot since I came up, especially in movies. Between extreme amounts of CGI, wires, "star power", and blatant commercialism, films these days (especially martial arts films) have basically lost sight of the essentials. "Black Belt" brings back that absolute sense of what is essential. It replays that classic theme of colleages/brothers/students that go their opposing ways to discover their own personal paths. This theme was popular in a bunch of old school kung fu flicks and some cop/triad flicks from the 90's. The most recent case of this plot device that comes to memory is "Tai Chi Master". This device is used perfectly for this film and produces a necessary contrast to appreciate the finer philosophical aspects that occur both subtly and obviously throughout the movie. A true zen film. It's so zen it hurts. It's all about that ol' "my path is my path because it is the path set before me" crazy phunk.

The fights were amazing. It was the most pure karate that I have seen in any movie or show ever. The precision and expert proficiency of every fighter is showcased beautifully and brutally. It was the best and most authentic karate movie that I have seen. Period. When we conjure up thoughts of karate movies we probably think of Sonny Chiba or Jim Kelly. Perhaps even the "Karate Kid" movies and, let's face it, all those ninja movies that we watched in the 80's were basically karate flicks. I'm not sure Japan really got a chance to make a truly authentic and original karate movie since the 80's due to the whole Hong Kong style action craze that hit around '99. After that Japanese action and martial arts movies transformed into a complete mixed bowl of martial arts, boxing, gymanstics and various dance movements--basically a wanna-be Peking opera performer style. Technically this change over probably started in the late 70's.

Because of these trends in choreography and movies, we had not really been given a chance to see how good a true and pure karate movie could be. I needed a movie like this to come along and show me that great films are still being made and that using themes that may be somewhat old can be used in such refreshing ways that it revitalizes the genre.

"Black Belt" will probably be many things to many people. For some it is a powerful drama, for others it will be the best samurai film they have seen in a long time, and to many others it might be just another martial arts flick--but hopefully at least an exceptional one. For me it is to karate what "Ong-Bak" is to Muay Thai, what "Prodigal Son" is to Wing Chun" or what "Throw Down" is for Judo. It displayed its method in a way that we felt, understood and appreciated with masterful class and diligence. "Black Belt" is a good example of the whole reason why I watch movies in the first place. I want to be taken away to another world and shown fascinating things. I wasn't disappointed here. A great storyteller/philosopher once said that a journey has little do with where you are heading but more to do with what happens on the way. This film embodies that sentiment. A drink to good journeys!

Stuff you might think or say when you watch this movie:

1. Damn, Taikan is a bad-ass.
2. Damn, Giryu is a bad-ass.
3. That was the sickest reverse punch that I have ever seen!
4. Ooooo!
5. That was some pretty deep shit.

Well, thanks for playing, folks. Tune in to next week's show when we will bring little Billy back from the grave using only tic tacs and a copy of the Necronomicon.

The story is simple, it is set in the early years of the Showa Era in 1932, Japan. The film revolves around three aspiring black belt students each trying to gain respect from their master for the kuro-obi belt. During this era the police is taking over any judo schools for their own purpose and knowledge to over run Japan. Their master suddenly dies and leaves one of his injured student to choose the man that is respectful for the belt.

The actors were terrific in their given roles, because they are real life martial art masters. Akihito Yagi who plays the respectable student Giryu is amazing. Mr. Yagi’s ability to show no anger is righteous and noble. As for Tatsuya Naka who plays the corrupt student Taikan is also great for him to go outside of his code is brilliant and daring.

The movie is a thinking man’s action picture. The cinematography is gorgeous & the fights are poetic & original. “Kuro-Obi” is a movie that demands to be seen. It is also respectable fighting movie that has been missing in martial arts pictures today.