![]() Kunimura brings a subtle benignity as the solemn leader and commands almost every scene he’s in with just a simple look. But as she continues her murderous rampage, her humanity is stripped away in order to become this violent fighting machine or, as the film wants you to believe, “a total badass.” The film could be forgiven for its predictable plot if it had some exhilarating action.ĭespite the lackluster fight scenes and the dull protagonists, the film’s third act gets interesting as we get to know the Yakuza head, Kijima. All of that was taken from her because of this poisoning, so it makes sense for her to want revenge for the future she can no longer have. It was only several scenes earlier that Kate was seen as wanting to leave the assassin business to have a normal life and potentially a family. ![]() As he’s dying, she finishes the job without batting an eye. The skirmishes between Kate and the Yakuza are particularly unsettling for Asian viewers - especially during a scene in which Kate barges into a room and immediately shoots one of the men in the head. Not to mention, a tenacious white woman brutally kill multiple Asian men during the first two acts was extremely uncomfortable to watch, especially as the Asian community is still recovering from mass anti-Asian hate crimes. The film could be forgiven for its tedious and predictable plot if it had some exhilarating action, but unfortunately, the fight scenes are rushed and leave Kate looking more like the Terminator than an actual human being whose body is gradually shutting down. It was also unsettling to find the Japanese-born Ani asking everyone to speak English to her fellow Japanese brethren, as Japanese is widely preferred over English in Japan. Sure, there were serious circumstances that caused this turn, but it's still unwarranted. The characterization of Ani seems more like an adorable anime archetype rather than a traumatized teenager. After Kate saves Ani from rival gangs, the teen turns into a fangirl for the vengeful assassin and follows her around as her sidekick. The most annoying part of this newfound relationship between Kate and Ani is that it feels like the white savior trope. ![]() Kate then kidnaps the teen and demands access to her uncle, which Ani sadly is unable to provide. After mass murdering a bunch of his men, Kate is told she can find Kijima through his teenage niece Ani (Miku Martineau). Enraged, Kate pursues every lead to find him. With very little time left, Kate discovers who poisoned her: the head of a clan in the Yakuza, Kijima (Jun Kunimura), whose brother Kate had assassinated a few months prior. Kate could have been the next Atomic Blonde, but instead majorly falls short with its lack of originality and unfortunate Asian tropes. ![]() The film has the makings of a good, slick, action-packed thriller with Winstead at the helm, who at the time had just finished DC’s Birds of Prey. ![]()
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