How successful could a fifth film in this series be? The fourth reclaimed much of the vitality that had made the first so great, if in a different manner, but where would another entry go based on the prior ending? The series had already seen its ups and downs as the first sequel, though still very good, was a small step down, and the third entry was notably one or two further steps down; how might the 'Final episode' compare? What could we expect of it in terms of film-making and storytelling style? As screenwriter Kasahara Kazuo had handed over the reins to Takada Koji for this last installment, what might a changing of the guard mean for the franchise, even as other members of the cast and crew returned once more? If Kasahara struggled to devise his last two screenplays, and accordingly struggled even more to conjure material for another, what might Takada have made of those efforts in his stead? These are the reasonable questions facing the last 'Battles without honor and humanity' as it begins, not to mention the knowledge in retrospect that the real-life yakuza who inspired the series in the first place apparently no longer regarded the cinematic creations well. Gratifyingly, though it is not free of its own issues, I'm inclined to think that this movie also carries its own strong, lasting value. It's not the same 'Battles' as any of its predecessors per se, but five entries in, that's not a bad thing.
Though the incidence hasn't been perfect all along, five pictures deep, the trajectory of the ongoing narrative definitely mirrors, at the first and the last, how the installments are approached in terms of both film-making and storytelling style. The progenitor explored the violence of the yakuza in the early post-war years as Japan rebuilt, and it's quite fitting that as both written and executed it would bear wild, chaotic energy that was a veritable shot in the arm for the genre. The third film, sadly plodding though it mostly was with extreme reliance on dialogue, was notably about alliances shifting behind closed doors; take that as you will. Now, as 'Final episode' finds Japan in an era of growing prosperity with vanishing room for criminal enterprises - leaving the yakuza to try to find their place in the new Japan, and struggling to kick bad habits - the final entry feels all the more like a more ordinary crime flick, mixing both drama and action. It's a big few steps away from what initially grabbed our attention in January 1973, but just as immediate predecessor 'Police tactics' was more balanced, finessed, and finely honed, I believe the same is true this time around. Under these circumstances the health of the writing is again more important, and though the screenplay has weaknesses, I rather think the problems Takada faced don't show up so much in the finished product. The core thrust is the most complicated of the series as yakuza clans form a loose coalition to try to go legitimate, but younger members and some old dogs are itching for a fight, resulting in continued trouble in the streets.
Much more than not Takada pulls out a win with his characters of disparate motivations, allegiances, and personalities, a sturdy narrative, robust dialogue, and as under Kasahara's tenure, firm and reliable scene writing. One stumbling block Takada does run into is that where the story deals once more, in some measure, with shifting alliances behind closed doors, scenes that are extra heavy with dialogue bog down the proceedings just as happened in 'Proxy war.' It also seems to me that a staple of the series - irregular pauses for narration and still images to provide context, and swiftly and concisely advance the plot - is more proliferate in this final run. Maybe that means Takada was at a loss of how to flesh out the story otherwise, or maybe that means the story was too big for one feature; maybe it was the best way to communicate some ideas, or maybe it was a cop-out, and the easiest path forward, One way or another, the use is abundant and noteworthy. Still, it remains the case that overall this fifth iteration remains pretty well balanced, and there is also plenty of violence to accompany the tale, and a fairly consistent is slightly uneven buzz of electricity to sustain some diminished level of the vibrancy that has marked the saga at its best.
All told there is nothing remarkable or spellbinding about this title, certainly not like we got in the original, but as I see it the conclusion is nevertheless roundly solid. Tsushima Toshiaki's music is again a flavorful complement where it rears its head. Fukasaku Kinji's direction is a steady anchor for the series, and likewise Miyamoto Shintaro's editing and Yoshida Sadaji's cinematography - if more restrained and conventional than before. The stunts, effects, and action sequences that are employed are sharp and invigorating in their bursts (though not necessarily as resplendently unfettered as in the past). The filming locations are swell, and in general those behind the scenes turned in excellent work with regards to production design, art direction, costume design, sound, and so on. If lacking the utmost power that 'Battles without honor and humanity' has enjoyed at its best, 'Final episode' has little sparks of brilliance all throughout that help to maintain engagement, primarily in Takada's writing and Fukasaku's direction. At this point in the series there was all too much potential for the whole endeavor to wear thin, so those little sparks may be more significant than they first appear in and of themselves, and regardless, they are most welcome as they demonstrate that the films still had something to offer.
One hundred minutes pass quickly and smoothly, a good sign of how compelling, entertaining, and satisfying the movie is through to the end as one age of the yakuza fades to be replaced by another. It has some relative shortcomings, perhaps, but the fact is that there are no flaws so severe as to leap out as major detractions. I believe this stands quite squarely alongside 'Deadly fight in Hiroshima,' if not in the same fashion, and it's maybe only a small degree apart from the progenitor and 'Police tactics' when it comes to broad quality - while claiming a look and feel that most closely approximates the latter. It's safe to say that I had mixed expectations when I sat to watch, so at length I'm pleased that the franchise was able to end on a high note. In my opinion it holds true that only the first 'Battles without honor and humanity' is so exceptional as to demand viewership, but all its successors are deserving in some capacity, and the saga that began with such a stunning flash wraps up with a meaningful, open-ended resolution. It won't find equal favor with all comers, but for my part I very much like 'Final episode,' and I'm happy to give it my hearty recommendation.
