The Fable is currently a duology (2019-2021) with a hint of a sequel, based on a Japanese manga about a killer from Tokyo nicknamed Fable, who has incredible skills that are legendary. One day, the boss orders Fable to lie low in Osaka for a year, where the local yakuza, in exchange for writing off the debt, will provide him with housing, and his partner will become his fake younger sister, but the main thing is that the killer must stay away from criminal affairs and live the ordinary life of a law-abiding citizen. At the new place, our hero immediately pays attention to a pretty girl named Misaki, who helps Fable get a regular job at a local newspaper.
REVIEW
The theme of assassins in action cinema has become more popular than ever over the past few years and, in truth, it's already here. It would be nice if the films turned out good... But no! This topic didn't start with "John Wick", but it was precisely after him that similar films began to come out like pies from an assembly line: "Nobody" Ilya Naishuler and an endless galaxy of action films like "Anna", "Killer Code", "Gunpowder Cocktail", "Atomic Blonde", "Kate" and others. Among this stream of garbage with a “feminist smell”, if it is possible to single out, it is only "Nobody" и "Kate". They turned out to be pretty good. Well "Atomic Blonde" Of course, it’s true, solely for the action component and the overall stylish visuals. Otherwise, this is an extremely secondary movie with characters that evoke absolutely no sympathy and no feelings, except, perhaps, disgust. At least something...
And if suddenly you, like me, are tired of this mediocre flare-up American non-movie, then I suggest you evaluate the Japanese view on the topic of hired killers. It’s worth warning right away: if you don’t like or don’t understand Japanese cinema, their culture, mentality, specific humor and meditative, unhurried direction, then you don’t even need to try. This is pure Japanese creativity with all that it implies.
So, recently, while browsing through torrents, I came across another film about an assassin, or rather a duology based on a Japanese manga "Fable". Personally, I love Japanese cinema just as much as Korean cinema, and therefore, without hesitation, I clicked on the trailer in the hope of seeing something interesting. Almost everything I saw seemed pretty mediocre to me, but the inserts with action scenes made me interested and download this movie. The inserts were very short, but as a long-time fan of action films, they intrigued me and amazed me with their boldness and originality. On torrents at that time, oddly enough, there was only the second part of the duology, so I started watching it with it. Anyway, I think - I’m only interested in the action and I won’t miss anything if I watch the sequel right away. Moreover, not all Japanese films are good either.
So, the viewing experience "Fable 2: The Hitman Who Doesn't Kill" (2021)
The first thing that immediately attracted me was my favorite type of directing, which is quite common among the Japanese: when the story is told in relatively long, thoughtful and unhurried shots with strict composition, a minimum of editing and camera shaking. When you can calmly examine everything in detail and get used to what is happening on the screen. In short, old school.
The first two minutes introduce the viewer to the story with a gradual increase in action and end with a short but cool action scene that charges with adrenaline. To be honest, I haven't felt this kind of excitement about an action scene since the golden era. Jackie Chan And studio Golden Harvest. Very good idea, implementation and trick work.
This beginning certainly inspired me a lot. But after this scene, the average viewer most likely runs the risk of being disappointed with further viewing, since then a long “entry” into the story will begin, getting to know the characters, remembering names and trying to connect everything that is happening into a single whole. But if you watch and listen carefully (which I recommend), everything eventually develops into a consistent, thoughtful and holistic picture. So be warned, the story here moves slower than most action fans would like, but you have to keep watching.
I personally wasn’t bored by the word at all, although at some point I caught myself thinking: “where’s the action?”, but this was more likely not out of boredom, but simply out of curiosity and habit. Still, the first action scene involuntarily plunged me into anticipation of the next one. But I also liked the fact that the director entertains the viewer not only with action, but also with a thoughtful story, in which there is drama, comedy and action, and each of these genres is mixed very harmoniously. After the first action scene, I was a little worried that it would be the only merit of the film, but as I watched it, I was glad to admit to myself that I was wrong.
In some places I laughed to the point of tears, in others I was moved to tears, and in others I was moved to tears by the staging of the action scenes. The gap between the action is quite long, but when it comes to the action, he can only enjoy it. I repeat - I haven’t experienced such a feeling since the best years Jackie Chan. Stunt work, originality, complexity of production, dynamics, drama - everything is at a high level. For me personally, some scenes are now some of the best and favorite in the history of action cinema as a genre.
As for the rest, I’ll go over it briefly: there are many characters in the dilogy, all of them are well developed, all are memorable, arouse sympathy or at least interest, everyone plays a certain role in the story, there is a lot of light and pleasant Japanese humor. The climax of the second film was also quite interesting with many twists and interesting details.
Despite the fact that "Fable" - a film about a hired killer, there are quite a lot of good and positive moments in it, which you won’t find in their Hollywood counterparts, and which, of course, enriches the range of feelings when watching. I was also pleased by the absence of clichés typical of films about assassins.
The day after the second part, I watched the first, and was just as pleased. However, I liked the sequel a little more, since I watched it first and the effect was strong.
Is it possible to watch the duology starting from the second? If you haven't seen the first film and you don't know anything about Fable, then the sequel will keep this intrigue about the main character for a long time. This is a big plus. And if you watched the second part, then the first will fully reveal all the facets of the protagonist’s personality, you will look at him with a different look. And if the character of John Wick for three films has not revealed himself at all as a person, and all that we have learned about him is that he is Belarusian by nationality (oh, how interesting...), then the hero of Fable gives all killers and John Wicks a head start in this aspect. Fable's character is worth special attention. He may confuse the viewer with his behavior and oddities, but in the process of revealing the story, everything falls into place. The result is a very non-standard psychological portrait of the character, which undoubtedly evokes sympathy, despite the dark craft of a killer. This is something the John Wick character really lacks. I would say: Fable in general is the only killer who aroused my sympathy as a character. Well "Leon" Bessona was bad.
Personally, I was glad to watch the duology in this sequence; it gave an intriguing effect. A similar thing happened with watching a series of films. "Vagabond Kenshin", but with the only difference that there was an author's idea when the character was revealed in detail in the last two parts. In the case of Fable, this happened spontaneously and the authors did not have such an idea.
The structure of the first film turned out to be similar to the second: an introductory action scene and plot, a long introduction to the story, a detailed introduction to the characters, and, as a culmination, a long, high-quality action scene with a non-standard denouement. However, in this duology everything is non-standard.
"Fable 2: The Hitman Who Doesn't Kill", of course, deserves to be on the list of the main contenders in the voting of the year for Fight Films Info for the rich range of feelings when watching, for originality and a successful combination of comedy, action and drama with good action in one bottle.
PS I didn't expect anything from the film and that's why the effect was so good. So, I don’t advise you to expect too much from the films, especially after such a laudatory review. Overpraising usually plays a cruel joke on the object of praise, so forget everything written above.
PPS After the credits in both films there is an additional scene. Do not miss!
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Tags: The Fable, The Fable: A Hitman Who Doesn't Kill, Junichi Okada
Tags: The Fable, The Fable: A Hitman Who Doesn't Kill, Junichi Okada
You can watch it once
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