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It is a performances centric movie

good back-story, and good acting

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

This is a film about 3 women who are all inextricably linked together. Taken from her mother at birth the first woman named "Ikko Amaoka" (Riona Hazuki) watches as her grandfather and bodyguards are all shot in front of her when she is only 6 years old. She is saved by the second female who is a Yakuza assassin by the name of "Mayo" (Reiko Takashima) who is also known as "the Black Angel". Knowing that there is no safe place in Japan for the little girl, Mayo arranges transportation for Ikko to Los Angeles where she is cared for until she is 20 years old. At that time Ikko returns to Japan with the intent to kill all of those responsible for the murder of her family which includes the 3rd woman, "Chiaki Amaoka" (Miyuki Ono) who also happens to be her step-sister. Now, initially this was somewhat difficult to understand because of the fast-paced violence combined with the language barrier. However, as the movie continues it eventually explains itself and all of the pieces of the puzzle come together at the very end. At any rate, those who enjoy action movies will probably like this film. Be advised though that there is quite a bit of violence along with some sex and nudity as well. Overall, I rate the film as slightly above average.

As the daughter of a Yakuza boss, six year odd Ikko witnesses the slaughter of her parents. Hey dying bodyguard is able to whisk her away from the carnage and give her to Mayo, a hit-women who goes by the codename of "Black Angel" to send to Los Angelos, warning Ikko not to think of vengeance when she gets older, before dying in a fire ravaged car. Now as a young woman (Riona Hazuki of the less then stellar "Parasite Eve") she returns to Tokyo ,along with her boyfriend Zille, to seek revenge despite what she was told and takes the name of Black Angel in honor of the woman who saved her. The action is there, the story is there, but for some reason the film didn't really click for me. The pacing seems to be off a tad. It's not bad but I enjoyed Takashi Ishii's "Freeze me", and "Angel Guts" films a tad more.My Grade: C+ DVD Extras: Trailers for "Wild Criminal", "Blood", "Score", and "Reborn from Hell" Eye Candy: Miyuki Ono shows breasts an extra also bares fleeting boobage

This is part one of Takashi Ishii's "Black Angel" double feature. The two films aren't connected by characters, just a similar general plot focused on female killers. Both films have a low-budget feel to them, and evoke moods in much the same way that Wong Kar-Wai's "Chungking Express" films do. Ishii really does a lot with this film even though it is considerably based on action movie cliches. Fortunately he manages to breathe some life into it with some excellent camera work (including a particularly well-filmed continuous shot), and the great performances of Riona Hazuki and Reiko Takashima (as the two main female protagonists). One particular scene of note: Early in the film Ishii breaks up the heavy crime drama with a strangely placed song and dance number that is composed of one long 3 minute shot, from one angle. Very strange. It actually made me think of François Truffaut's "Shoot the Pianot Player." Early in that film a ridiculous dance number in the bar breaks up the tension in much the same way.

Takashi Ishii's Kuro No Tenshi is a good action film but borrows too many themes and ideas from better movies such as La Femme Nikita, Leon:The Professional and Naked Killer. Reona Hazuki is perfectly cast as Ikko, the child turned cold-blooded assassin who is out to revenge the murder of her Yakuza father. Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi is 'Jil' her Japanese-American companion who helps her on her mission and steals the movie with his street dancing moves and peculiar Japanese-English mixed-up dialog. Ishii seems to borrow a lot from the Hong Kong school of gunplay action which keeps the movie interesting but the story and plot drag at times and there are many odd moments of fancy such as Ikko and Jil's dancing sequence in a hotel room which seem a bit out of place but I guess breaks the gloomy and tense atmosphere of the story. Viewers may recoil at a couple of scenes but the movie is very tame when compared to movies such as the Killer or Hard Boiled. Tenshii is an interesting entry from Ishii who has a unique flair for visuals and style but it isn't the best of the genre.