Ryuhei Kitamura's follow-up to Versus was the first big clue that the previous film had been something of a fluke - a serendipitous meeting of the right people with the right idea, at the right time to produce something wonderful. Lightning captured in a bottle, a feat that this film singularly fails to reproduce.

On paper it isn't a wildly different proposition, but the execution falls well short, despite what must have been significantly more resources being available. The script is dull, the dialogue stiff, and when the film eventually remembers to provide some action it's kind of a mess of wirework and green screen with camera work that conflicts more than it enhances the movements.

I remember being disappointed in the film when it came out, but intriguing enough as an idea that I wanted to give it another chance without the weight of expectation that a VERSUS follow-up entailed. 23 years later here we are, and my opinion on the film has definitely not improved.

I once had the highest hopes for Kitamura as a director, but after a strong start he failed to produce a convincing follow-up. I haven't kept up with his work for years now, but I haven't heard any of it mentioned in a particularly positive light.