I keep seeing this movie compared to anime or martial arts movies, and while I can see its roots in both genres, Crying Freeman is not really either. It might be a genre to itself.Years ago I read a book named "The Painted Bird" that I thought deserved to be taught as a classic because its clean, spare style deserved study. But what really set it apart for me was that it was permeated with violence - it was about WWII and life under the brutal rule of Nazi invaders - but its treatment was so spare and clean it somehow rose above its subject matter into the mythic and poetic.That's how this movie struck me. It is violent without being blood-soaked, has some highly charged eroticism without sinking into porn, and says more with the star's silence than could ever be told with dialog. The filming style is as spare and beautiful as I remember the text in "The Painted Bird" and can't be separated from the overall mythic impact of the movie.I'm not saying this is a world-changing movie. It didn't give me some sort of epiphany, and at my age I'm no big fan of martial arts movies or anime cartoons. I'm just saying there is something quite beautiful about the way this movie fits together that elevates it above a subject matter that could have been cheapened into a spatter flick or bloated into a pure CG actioner. It's worth watching if only to sink your mind into the elusive, mythic quality that sets this movie apart.

I actually found this film to be very badly acted , and verging on the ridiculous. The unbounded taste for gratifying violence didn't add to the plot either. I suppose you could call it an action film with an oriental flavour, But even then was unconvincing.The thought that Vancouver had such violent Chinese and Japanese was quite a fright ( joke ) cars exploding and men dying by the bucket load in the main streets was enough to make me laugh out loud. When there is a water tight plot and convincing acting , violence can play a part. but over the top violence is a sure sign of lack of substance in the diologue, and this film lacked good diologue, twas crying out for a rewrite, Think I rather get my Chinese action from going to the takeaway on Saturday night. At least I would have something more tasty.

I've never supported the idea of discussing underrated or overrated action movies, because basically, they are all the same. Crying Freeman proved me wrong and I am thankful. Even a 90s action might earn your respect.Yo Hinomura/Freeman is an assassin who is captured killing Yakuza mobsters. As he risks his life in a bloody battle for leadership and respect, a beautiful woman falls in love with him, offering her help.First, I want to note that Crying Freeman is one of the most beautiful action movies, ever shot. It's not the "gunshots" that make it attractive. It's not the experimental directing style that provokes your curiosity. It's the lightly, rhythmical plot development. There are a couple of very beautiful shots that you'll never find in a Steven Segal film. The creators show how much they care about that story which is based on anime series. I always like movies that are made out of artistic passion and love for the particular genre.Crying Freeman, unlike most 90s "boom-boom" flicks, tells a story about honor and human will. Freeman is a perfectly shaped character, quite likable, although he is not "the guy who saved the world". Silent and prepared, dangerous and wise. I never asked for such things before watching the movie and I am sure nobody has. Maybe that is why I loved it.It's the depth of the story that made the movie very different for me. This is arguably one of a kind film that depends on its own style. Crying Freeman is almost modest and unambitious which is something, I personally, haven't seen in the past couple of year. Christophe Gans's movie promises to remain a classic if future generations manage to look through its "soul".Of course, comments about the cast could hardly be made. Due to realism purposes, the creators have gathered a cast of almost unknown performers who do their best and in my opinion, succeed, delivering good performances.The bad points are almost imperceptible. I kinda disliked how some scenes are way too dark. I've always hated that in movies. Yes, it is more authentic, but you can easily miss a character being killed or something like that. I had hard times, recognizing the villains in the third act, because some of them are killed in the first half on the movie.Crying Freeman makes us realize we were in a big mistake. There are action movies about moral values.

Crying Freeman is based off a Manga and tells the tale of the Freeman, a tattooed assassin (played by Mark Dacascos) "brainwashed" to kill for a secret Chinese crime syndicate. And kill he does (often in slo-mo); he is skilled with guns, swords, and what have you! Anyway, in the opening double hit, a female (of course) artist is witness to the violent act. He lets her go, for now, but the rule is no one can see his face and live. He is sent back to snuff her out but as he waits in her house, he finds a painting of himself. He realizes that this woman is not a threat and in fact, has some kind of feelings for him. When she finally arrives, he cannot kill her. Now, in addition to the Mafia who want revenge for their two slain men, Freeman's own group decided he broke the rules and must die for it (after one last hit, of course). There are many more ins and outs to the story but I think you get the idea. There is a decent helping of good, violent action and this is probably the film's strong point. Still, the general atmosphere is monotone and the plot drags at times. If you can find a copy, it's worth viewing, I guess, but not for $25. Christophe Gans' Brotherhood of the Wolf (also staring Dacascos) blows this out of the water. By the way, Freeman sheds a tear from time to time, hence the title. I forget what the exact reason was though…it's just his thing.