So Ive seen a movie a day during Actionfest here in Asheville. I think next year Ill definetly get a pass so I can go to all the films I want to. I plan on seeing three more films in the next two days but so far I got to these two.

Ironclad was the opening movie of the festival. Its got me hooked as it has Brian Cox in it, and he just seems to steal scenes for as long as I can remember him acting. And James Purferoy, who was very villanious in Rome, is actually pretty awesome as a Templar Knight in this. The action is well done and while I can see how the film wouldn’t play in today’s special effects wizardry, I loved it, and think if it got a wide release it would do as well as any other British war flick.

Outrage is Takeshi Kitano’s return to Gangster films that made him famous. Jess wished there had been more of a story, and less reliance on violence. There are some brutal shots in this film for sure, but I think the moments that really make the film for me, and carry the story are hidden between the random acts of death, as the yakuza are sitting around planning there next move. You can almost feel the tension that these men carry with them as they live what is sure to be a shortened life. I think Takeshi romantizes it a little bit, and wants to show that in the end, everyone goes out dead. A less competent filmaker would edit out the random shots of street scenes, or the quiet moments before the kill. Its not Takeshi’s best film, but its still a very good Yakuza film.