Fist of the North Star Movie

Reviewed by Marcio Guastavino
May 31, 2006

Director: Toyoo Ashida Distributor: Image Entertainment Genre: Action MPAA Rating: R (17+) Website: N/A Review Rating: 8 out of 10

Think of the bloodiest movie you've ever seen. Now take that movie and multiply by 10. This is how bloody the Fist of the North Star is. It takes place after a nuclear holocaust that turns the planet into a desert wasteland. Kenshiro, a martial arts master, is deemed the Fist of the North. Shin, the fist of the South, becomes jealous of Ken reputation and steals his girlfriend Julia. It then becomes Ken's mission to retrieve Julia and help her regain the planet to its original form. This movie has got to be one of the goriest I've ever seen. This is because of the martial arts Ken uses, which can make a man's head explode at a touch. He has also been able to paralyze them from the head down. Sometimes the violence goes too far, but realism is so overrated. No kids for this one, way too much violence. On the other hand, some adults may not be able to take it due to its gory nature. This anime is for those with strong stomachs.

For as old as this movie is I think the voice acting isn't that bad. Sometimes they seem to lack feeling when speaking, but that won't ruin the movie. The story is nothing special, a post apocalyptic world where bad guys take the girl and the guy has to save her. The guy knows deadly martial arts moves that make you explode and meets friends who can do other various martial arts. If there was music I missed it somewhere along the line, so don't expect anything catchy.

I give First of the North Star the Movie a medium Evolution Factor. With the new series out, not many people will go back to the old one. It's still a classic, so if you got twenty dollars to spare pick it up at your anime store or online. It's worth it!