hayate

[UPDATED] THE FIRST MISSION: ‘Karate Kill’ Star Hayate Returns To Save The World For His Directorial Debut

If you follow the martial arts film niche – especially out here in the West – then chances are you’ve been wondering just what the heck actor Hayate’s has been up to. I know I have. For years I’ve wondered just exactly when he and Kurando Mitsutake are getting back to do another Karate Kill, and indeed, Hayate’s been gradually racking up the credits with roles in Netflix’s Age Of Samurai series, Katsuki Motohito’s live action Laughing Under The Clouds adaptation, and in One Cut Of The Dead helmer Shin’ichirô Ueda’s Special Actors. Now comes indie action adventure comedy The First Mission, at which Hayate himself now stakes his claim on both sides of the lens, motivated primarily with the goal of stirring a creative drive in his community of fellow artists and performers as a means of thriving under the weight of pandemic-induced lockdowns. That community no less included […]

KICKIN’ IT ‘KORYU’: An Interview With KARATE KILL Star, Actor And Martial Artist, Hayate

Lee B. Golden III

My own understanding and comprehension of Karate dates as far back as the mid-1990s. I always knew there were different forms while the only version I had ever studied was Shotokan, one I commonly heard of. I don’t practice it as much these days – point in fact I haven’t worn a gi since life took over in 1998 and my old karate school dissolved. Sobering times. Nowadays I’m certain my old sensei is still somewhere in my neck of the woods doing what he does, as maybe a few of my old classmates. Moreover, Karate is still something I can relate to as a sport, and even as a watchable style in action cinema; Two of the most fun examples of this, aside from the Karate Kid trilogy, obviously, are several titles that took up a great portion of my time since I began immersing myself in Asian cinema […]

Review: KARATE KILL Earns A Black Belt in Boring Filmmakimg

As a filmmaker, we, subconsciously or not, want to offer tribute or call upon our inspirations on why we strap a camera to our hands and eyes in the first place. At the same time, genre of old should just stay where they are, in the loving memory of nostalgia. So, as you can tell, that’s not really a good opening to my review of Kurando Mitsutake’s Karate Kill. Before I get into all of that, let me just give you a general synopsis of this film. Kenji (Hayate) has lost contact with his younger sister, Mayumi (Mana Sakura), who was studying in the States. Worried, he decides to leave his life behind to find out what happened to his sister; and with the power of Karate and the help of Keiko (Asami), an ex-military, shotgun blasting, sexy amputee, Kenji will stop at nothing to save his sister from the […]

KARATE KILL To Deliver The Finishing Blow U.S. Martial Arts Fans Crave This June!

Lee B. Golden III

Dark Cuts/Petri Entertainment/Mamezo Pictures You don’t have to take my word for it when it comes to Mitsutake Kurando’s new movie, Karate Kill…however, I sincerely hope you do. Or that of any other critic for that matter while our dear director, with only a small raft of films to his credit, continues to perform nothing short of impressively behind the lens. The film has already been the center of progressive festival success in select events around the world. It’s even moreso to his credit and that of our cast led by actor and martial artist Hayate whose debut lead role finds him landing in the U.S. from Japan in search of his missing sister – a mission that gets real violent, REAL fast! When a mysterious loner and Karate master Kenji’s little sister goes missing in Los Angeles, whoever stands in his way of finding her will face the wrath of […]

Review: KARATE KILL (2017) Kills With Karate, And Lots Of It!

Lee B. Golden III

Prior to 2014, I had not been hugely familar with director Mitsutake Kurando’s work. Then, following Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf in 2009, Gun Woman happened and it essentially, vociferously, put him on my radar as I’m sure it did for many folks in festivals as well as other niche viewers who may all agree on the consensus here: His is a no holds barred, unapologetic, down and dirty, retro style of direction, done so with a sheer sense of clarity and understanding on how to assemble an action film, and importantly, without selling his performers short. It’s a quality that no less accomodates actor Hayate, essentially a fresh face in front of the camera following a small bit role in Kaneko Shunsuke’s Danger Dolls several years earlier, and having since made headway with the new movie, Karate Kill. Hayate makes his lead debut in the film with a script […]

Hayate Strikes In The New KARATE KILL Trailer!

Lee B. Golden III

Korea’s Bucheon International Film Festival kicks off its 20th anniversary on July 21, and in great company with a terrific line-up of titles and other events to satisfy attendees. As such, award-winning director Kurando Mitsutake (Gun Woman, Samurai Avenger) is lending his craft to the festivities starting the following day with the premiere of his latest offering, Karate Kill, starring newcomer, actor Hayate in a stellar debut role as a martial arts expert who sets out to find his missing sister. How stellar? Well, if you’ve seen the first teaser back in March then you might have a damn good idea. Beyond that, if there is one thing I loved about Mitsutake’s work, specifically Gun Woman was its blend of stylish action with 80’s and 90’s B-movie tone that lives up to the splendor it promised which made it so well received among festival goers and critics at the time. […]

Mitsutake’s KARATE KILL Lands A Sick New Poster

Lee B. Golden III

Yes, by all means, bask in the newly invigorated hopes of what looks to be another awesomely put together martial arts revenge thriller with Mitsutake Kurando’s new movie, Karate Kill. The most recent teaser was unveiled back in February featuring Hayate in the lead, and to much avail for fans who have grown fond of his work since Samurai Avenger and last year’s super sexy, gory and brutal trigger thriller, Gun Woman starring Asami. Now, the film is moving forward, bound for its stake in the festival circuit in the coming months and Twitchfilm has presented the first official poster-art, erected by acclaimed artist Tom “The Dude Designs” Hodge. Hayate, from Mitsutake’s script, takes the mantle in his feature film debut as Kenji, a lone, vengeful Karate master who ventures out to L.A. in search of his missing sister. Rounding out the cast are Mitsutake veterans, Asami and Gun Woman […]

Hayate Turns LA Upside Down In The New Teaser For KARATE KILL

Lee B. Golden III

Director Mitsutake Kurando wagers some of his best and most outstanding vision for a film, and anyone who’s seen his most recent work, Gun Woman, knows this. Since, then he’s got quite a feat happening with his latest production, Karate Kill, debuting actor Hayate in the role of a mysterious man who paves a warpath on the streets of L.A. in search of his missing sister. A release date hasn’t yet been set as plans are in motion to get the film rolling in the market and festival circuit. In the meantime, Mitsutake finally unveiled a teaser over the weekend and as you’re about to see with action design courtesy of Gun Woman fight coordinator Babuchi Keita, Hayate proves his mettle in a fight sequence that does the film title justice. Note the cast in the teaser as well with Gun Woman star Asami, actress Sakura Mana and actor Sakurai […]