Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- stylized
- melodramatic
- romantic
- cult movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the adaptation visually colorful and faithful to its manga source, while divided over its thin acting and melodramatic story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Yo Hinomura sheds tears of regret after carrying out executions for the secret organisation.
The film emphasizes graceful killings, colorful action, and stylized combat drawn from its manga source.
Artist Emu O'Hara becomes captivated by Yo after witnessing his execution of Yakuza gangsters and later falls in love with him.
The Yakuza clans pursue vengeance and compete for leadership after their leader’s death.
Films like Crying Freeman, and why
Brotherhood of the Wolf
stylized martial arts action, criminal underworld conflict, and heightened comic-book spectacle
The Killer
romanticized assassin mythology, ornate action staging, and heightened crime fantasy
The Crow
comic-book violence, criminal organizations, and a visually flamboyant 1990s action style
Ninja Assassin
martial arts combat, secretive killer protagonists, and melodramatic romantic stakes
Movie Details
- Director
- Christophe Gans
- Release Date
- 1995-04-23
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (374)
Cast
- Mark Dacascos
- Julie Condra
- Rae Dawn Chong
- Byron Mann
- Masaya Katō
- Yoko Shimada
- Mako
- Tchéky Karyo
- Kevan Ohtsji
- Debbie Podowski
Common questions
- What is Crying Freeman about?
- A remorseful secret-society assassin and the artist who witnesses his killing are drawn into a flamboyant Yakuza power struggle.
- What is Crying Freeman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Crying Freeman as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Crying Freeman violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Crying Freeman as graphic.
- What did critics think of Crying Freeman?
- Critics broadly found the adaptation visually colorful and faithful to its manga source, while divided over its thin acting and melodramatic story.
- Which films are like Crying Freeman?
- Films with a similar feel include Brotherhood of the Wolf, The Killer, The Crow, and Ninja Assassin.
- How long is Crying Freeman?
- Crying Freeman runs 102 minutes.
