This new column is all about showcasing Japanese films you can watch right now on major platforms, including free services like Tubi and Youtube Free. First up is Revolver Lily, the 1920s-set action spectacle starring Haruka Ayase, which just arrived on Tubi, Youtube, and Amazon Prime Video this year.
Directed by Isao Yukisada, Revolver Lily is a Taisho-era period action film set in 1924 Tokyo. It follows Yuri Ozone (Haruka Ayase), a former elite spy and assassin who has supposedly put her bloody past behind her to run a stylish Tokyo parlor. Her quiet retirement is upended when she crosses paths with an orphaned boy holding the key to a massive stash of missing Imperial Japanese Army funds, drawing the wrath of the military and forcing Yuri to draw her signature firearms once again.
While the plot drops her into a sprawling historical conspiracy, the film’s greatest anchor is Haruka Ayase’s commanding presence. As an experienced actress, Ayase has the chops to give the subtle characterization the main character desperately needed. Instead of hamming it up or turning Yuri into an over-the-top caricature, Ayase plays her with a grounded stoicism. Also worth mentioning are the performances by Hiroya Shimizu, who plays the sinister Minamishi and Kavka Shishido who plays the quiet and tough Naka.
Unfortunately, Haruka Ayase’s grounded performance often clashes with the movie’s visual choices, particularly during the action sequences. The special effects tend to try way too hard, relying on glossy and over-polished CGI and hyper stylized digital touchups that cheapen the grit of the gunplay. At times the film almost looks like a video game. It’s hard not to miss how past Japanese action films were more simple and effective when they chose practical stunt work and choreography over artificial flash. When the digital gloss takes over, it distances the audience from the physical stakes of the combat.
That heavy handedness bleeds into the storytelling as well, leaving the narrative feeling a bit disappointing. The main issue is that the script tries to juggle a bloated conspiracy involving the military and hidden fortunes without giving its sprawling gallery of supporting characters room to breathe. Instead of a character-driven pulp thriller anchored by Yuri and the boy, it gets bogged down in convoluted political fractions and repetitive cat-and-mouse chases that stretch the runtime far past its welcome (2 hours and 19 minutes).
Ultimately, Revolver Lily may not quite rank as a great film due to its overcooked CGI and messy narrative pacing, but it still has enough going for it to warrant a watch. For fans who enjoy stylish period pieces and those specifically interested in the unique aesthetic and historical backdrop of Taisho-era Japan, the movie’s atmospheric world-building and Ayase’s standout lead performance provide enough entertainment to make it worth your time.
Check out the trailer below!
