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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gives a boost to the term "Low Budget", March 24, 2003
I'm one of those casual film buffs who are intrigued with what folks can accomplish with limited resources. After megadoses of Terminator-esque computerized special effects, I love a good low budget flick where the film makers make the most with what they have. While this flick has its flaws, it is oh-so worthwhile to check out. Natsuki Ozawa plays "Zero Woman," an anonymous secret police agent in the "La Femme Nikita" mode. The differences between Zero and Nikita deal both the plus and minus cards in the flick. The minus is that we learn little about what landed Zero Woman into her career as a killer for the law. Such a drag, because they did give a hint of depth to her by revealing that despite her long string of successful and flawless hits, she never gets over the chill of bumping off people. She looks smooth, calm, even poetic when executing a baddy, yet she has morals enough to stay on the right side of the law, and not buy into "police loyalty" if a cop goes crooked. She is an intriguing character, which impressed me in such a low budget shoot 'em up flick. Just a little more explanation into her former life and background would have vaulted this from a slick B-Movie to a top notch low budget hit in the tradition of "El Mariachi." The plus? I have seen scores of "killer chick flicks." I enjoy them whether they be artsy "La Femme Nikitas," or cheapy "Switchblade Sisters." However, while these gals are sexy with provocative dress and implied sensuality, Natsuki Ozawa drives new meaning into the notion "steamy & sultry!" There are numerous scenes of a topless Ozawa (including one where she tears a blood stained dress off her body while driving away from a hit during the night)that are genuinely sensuous, and come off as much more than cheap T&A shots. Many of these partially-clad scenes show her sporting her gun; yes, real life violence is horrid, but chicks who shoot guns in movies are sexy! If there is one major turn off in this film, it is the repeated use of the villains sexually assaulting their victims to incite the viewers anger. If the rest of the film was not so well made, I would have tossed the DVD out midway. If you opt for the dubbed instead of the subtitled option, the dubbing is not too bad with the exception of the drugged out villainess whose voice is more than annoying: her dubbed voice is toxic, like an amped-up version of the Mrs. Swann character on Mad TV. All in all, this is an impressive flick done on what looks like a shoestring budget. Natsuki Ozawa's performance is top notch, as are most of the performers. Worth checking out.
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