Death Trance (2005)

In an unknown place and unknown time a lone Samurai known only as Grave (Tak Sakaguchi) thirsts for the ultimate battle. Grave has stolen a mysterious coffin from the holy Tougan Temple a coffin said to contain a great power. Trapped inside the sealed coffin is the Goddess of Destruction confined and held at bay from laying waste to this world. Grave fearlessly travels the land dragging the coffin behind him aware that what lies within is what he seeks if only he can open it. Unknown to Grave a young temple monk has embarked on a quest to return this relic to its proper home before anyone can unleash an unstoppable cataclysm. So begins the race to claim the coffin...but who will get there first? System Requirements:Running Time: 89 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SPORTS/GAMES/MIXED MARTIAL ARTS Rating: R UPC: 631595063080 Manufacturer No: TSDVD-0630 Product Description

Worst Kung-fu movie ever made

Simply put this movie suck, from the start it was slow and never gain any speed. The plot was lame and the acting even worse, I've seen many Kung fu movie and by far this is the worst. July 3, 2008

Fresh & Strange

While I haven't seen "Versus," I enjoyed "Death Trance." The look and cinematography of the movie were visually stunning. The sequence in the bar, which devolves into an epic battle, hints at the zombie like battle that takes place in the forbidden forest. Director Yuji Shimonmura had also teamed with lead actor Tak Sakaguchi in "Versus." My sense while watching the film compares to watching a Japanese Bergman. We see the death imagery of the coffin dragged through forests, the final forest with the skeleton warriors and failed seekers imbedded in trees. Yoko Fujita as the Goddess of Destruction is as lovely as she is deadly. There is a real sense of a Titan clash between Grave (Tak Sakaguchi) and the Goddess. Takanasa Suga, as the monk, follows like a religious repo man who controls the sword that will only come alive in the right hands. The imagery of the little girl who follows the coffin was an ominous use of the child, making the seemingly innocent into the sinister. I took her to be like a soul embodiment of the Goddess waiting for release from the coffin. I found this film to be equal parts fresh and strange. It is too slow moving to be strictly an action genre; therefore, it is more of a cerebral experience trying to figure out the puzzle. I liked the spider-web imagery of the forest as a trap and was struck with the apocalyptic transformation at the end. While I'm not absolutely sure what each small thing meant, this was a gripping viewing experience that had me riveted from beginning to end. Enjoy! August 16, 2007

Cool visuals RUINED by sophmoric soundtrack

I wanted to like this movie. Having recently been pleasantly surprised with "Azumi", I was hoping for another little gem.

Instead, I am bombed with what sounds like 8th graders practicing CrapMetal in the garage.

I could overlook the thin character development, and lack of plotting, as there were some funny moments in the movie.
But just when I start to find myself liking this film, here comes the horrid soundtrack to kick that feeling in the groin...

If you do buy this, turn on sub-titles and put on your own music.
What a waste... July 2, 2007

And all that could have been

Let me start by saying that Versus was awesome. Most people know of Deathtrance through Versus..that being said,THIS IS NOT VERSUS,not even close. It was entertaining to watch and had some awesome characters. I am going to give it 3 stars because,it tried to outdo Versus and failed. However it is a real good movie to watch and yuck it up with friends! May 19, 2007

Lots of fun! For fans of Versus only...

Well-shot, well-directed, and just enough dialogue to keep the action going. It's kind of like Rush Hour 2: if you don't stop to think about the utter confusion and inanity of the non-stop action, you can enjoy the movie for what it is: a better production of Versus. May 7, 2007

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