HiGH&LOW The Movie 2: END OF SKY (2017)

What can I say? I'm partial for super hot/cute guys fighting because of friendship and family.

This movie is literally made for all the Exile fans out there and who just love seeing all of their favorite actors in one film. The number of famous faces in this film is just countless. In a plus fact all the songs in the movie are pretty good too. I'm guessing Exile has some contract with Afrojack going on cuz I keep seeing them collaborate many times. Other than that I've got to say I'm becoming a little bit too over the whole we are not friends but in the end when one is being attacked Sword is gonna get together scenario. At first it was nice to see it but now it's becoming overrated. Get over your head people, you'll love each other and can't pretty much live without each other. Now hold hands and walk off to the sunset.
I wish I could see more of Nobaru though. My only real complaint.
My favorite scene, at the end when the Kuryu group leader comes and calls everyone kids while sucking on a freaking Popsicle. Yes very mature of you sir XD

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This movie really embodies the saying "Divided we fall." If they had only listened to Cobra from the beginning, when he tried to tell them that they needed to work together against an outside threat. But no, they knew better. Well, all of them but Murayama, of course, who is so smitten with Cobra that he would agree to anything he said, so.

What really hurt was when a part of the Hoodlum Squad - his own people for whom he fought and bled in the past! - turned against Cobra, too. Not that I didn't get Tetsu's desire to help his father but he, his father, the others they were making a deal with the devil and after everything they'd been through in the past, I didn't understand how and why they even trusted Kuryu. Kuryu's henchmen literally murdered people to get what they wanted, how could've Tetsu believed that his dad would win anything in this equation?

(And considering what happens to Cobra in the next movie, it hurt even more because if only his people trusted him...)

But really, Cobra has guts! Like, holy smokes! But he's also wise and not easily provoked. I loved how he kept coming to Rocky, again and again, to change his mind. And when Rocky insisted on this doomed exercise of his, Cobra still told him that, alright, but if Rocky needed help to just let him know. And then he came to Rocky's help, after all, even unasked. I love that Cobra doesn't let his ego get in the way, that's a really fantastic thing in today's entertainment industry's obsession with overblown macho-ism.

Also, Murayama! He is really head over heels for Cobra, isn't he? Like, he doesn't even try to hide it. When he went to Hyuga and fought him to make him join Cobra's plan! Cobra didn't even ask him to do it, he did it on his own initiative, for Cobra. If there's any romance at all in this franchise, it's definitely Murayama's one-sided smittenness with Cobra.

Another thing I loved? That more Exile members - and 3JSB members in particular! - joined the cast! It's so much fun watching them all punch each other's daylights out! Ha!

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Okay before I start I just want to make clear that this MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS SO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

I just finished watching the movie literally 5 minutes ago and honestly it was amazing but not without some (rather minor tbh) flaws.

The acting of the cast was awesome, as always, and we got to see a bit more of Hyuuga, which was nice. I don't think I've ever actually seen him fight before as he's usually ordering people to do the fighting whilst he looks pretty high lmao. Each character started off by having an equal amount of screentime, however as the movie progresses, it feels like there is some time wasted on new characters which didn't really have anything to do with the plot.

Also, I feel like there was a lack in Kizzy/Kaito screen time. Considering half the movie was based around the White Rascals and Doubt, it would have been nice to see more of them - although maybe I am biased as I absolutely adore Kizzy and Kaito and their relationship.

Also, if you're hoping to see Smokey, prepare to be disappointed. The poor bean has less than 5 minutes of screentime and most of that time is spent with him walking around Nameless Street or sitting down (although to be fair he's looking damn aesthetically pleasing whilst doing it).

Ranmaru's character also felt kind of underdeveloped so I'm hoping for more of him in the next film as he has so much potential and I love twisted characters like him and dissecting them to see how they tick.

But overall, I think this film was still pretty damn awesome. The fights were well coordinated, there were no awkward background characters stood around whilst the main characters fought, the angst was beautiful as always and even though there are so many characters, everyone has their own personality which shines through and distinguishes them all. However, I felt that the car/van chase scene with the pendrive went on for a little too long in my opinion and I could feel myself zoning out but idk if that may be due to me having a low attention span whoops.

The music, by god the music, was fricking awesome. H&L has one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard, which is to be expected as pretty much all the cast are in the music industry. When I wasn't enthralled with the fighting scenes, I was bopping along to those sick tunes. I've actually downloaded a couple of the songs and now I definitely intend on downloading a couple more.

All in all, even with it's minor flaws, I still ADORED this film and it's definitely a must-watch. Even though at times it does kinda feel like a filler film, it still has its charms and it's adrenaline-fueled action and it'll certainly get you pumped up for the next film.

Well done H&L cast and crew! Keep the good work coming!!

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