Black Belt (DVDrip - 2007)
- Kuro-obi -
Japanese | Subtitle: English/Portuguese/Spanish | 96 min | XVid 576×304 | 130 kbps vbr mp3 | 23 fps | 700 mb | WiRA
Genre : Action/Drama/Martial Arts | rapidshare/megaupload/file-factory

An official entry to 2007 Montreal International Film Festival, set in the early years of the Showa Era in Japan, this story revolves around three men who aspire to receive the ‘kuro-obi’ that can go only to the rightful successor. “Black Belt” is a thinking person’s martial-arts saga that deftly, if predictably, balances the yin and yang of violent confrontation and moral reflection against the backdrop of military co-opting of karate in 1930s Japan.

Absent the visual razzle-dazzle of CGI and wirework, becoming de rigueur for such fare, measured approach by vet Nipponese genre journeyman Shunichi Nagasaki leaves pic with an honorable fight ahead of it following fest action.The actors in these leading roles are all actual holders of karate Black Belt rank, and siplay this true masculine strength in a way that mere acting could not achieve. In the main cast, the role of Giryu, is played by AKIHITO YAGI (Fifth Dan), instructor in International Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate. The role of Taikan is played by TATSUYA NAKA (Sixth Dan), instructor at the Japan Karate Association General Headquarters (Corp.)
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Critics have been calling it the thinking person’s martial arts movie. BLACK BELT (KURO-OBI), a period karate film from director Shunichi Nagasaki, held its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival back in August prior to its October release in Japan. It has since picked up highly favorable buzz from early viewers and the American karate community, notably for what is being hailed as one of the most authentic and powerful depictions of karate ever put to feature film.
Set in the early years of the Showa Era in Japan, the story revolves around three men who aspire to receive the “kuro-obi” that can go only to the rightful successor.
The year is 1932. Three men are zealously engaged in karate training at the dojo of Eiken Shibahara. Their names are Taikan (Tatsuya Naka), Choei (Yuji Suzuki) and Giryu (Akihito Yagi). Eiken suddenly dies, but the “kuro-obi” black belt that will designate his successor has not yet been passed on.
“Karate is not about fighting.” Who will be the one to heed Eiken’s words of wisdom and receive the coveted “kuro-obi” to carry on as his successor?
In a related development, the Military Police Headquarters takes note of the exceptional skill of these martial art practitioners and the three men are commanded to join their forces. Then, the three that have left the dojo are thrust into a terrible and fateful encounter.
In opposition to modern martial arts film trends where wires, CGI or stylized filmmaking techniques are employed to dazzle audiences with frivolous action, Nagasaki has combined a character-driven story from screenwriter George Iida with the talents of real black belt karate masters Akihito Yagi, Tatsuya Naka and Yuji Suzuki. Yet it was more than just the fighting skills of these non-actors that attracted the director, particularly in regard to Yagi who is the son of famed Goju-ryu master Meitoku Yagi.
“I have been looking at karate and other martial arts for more than 20 years, but when I first saw Akihito’s moves, I saw something that I had never seen. It was fascinating,” said Nagasaki. “There are many martial artists with long careers but seeing Akihito’s kata, I saw not only the kata performed by a real martial artist but a real aura that was captivating. This is a factor that first-class actors have, like a natural talent and Akihito had it. That’s why in my mind he was the perfect person for the role of Giryu.” - - Mark Pollard ;Kungfucinema