ArtsMagic
DVD America offers up another incredible title in Blue Spring,
the story of a gang of high school boys and the paths they choose
during their senior year.
Blue Spring stars Ryuhei Matsuda (Taboo) as the newly elected
leader of the gang, Kujo. Kujo has a very laccadaisical approach
to running the school like the gang's predecessor and begins
to create dissention amongst the ranks. His best friend, and
unltimately his counterpart, Aoki, sees that the gang is falling
apart and begins to struggle with the idea that Kujo has all
of this power and chooses not to use it.
Blue Spring, however, merely uses the gang politics as a backdrop
for the real stories that emerge during the movie. The most
prominent of which, maturation, is handled in almost an apathetic
way, as each boy in the gang gives in to circumstance, rather
than creating their own path. In almost a predetermined fashion,
gang members forgo their dreams in pursuit of the easy way out,
either by joining the yakuza, murdering fellow classmates, or
just giving up on school altogether. Conversely, Kujo, the leader
begins to go against the grain in an effort ot change his path
and do something with his life.
It is here that he and Aoki clash, whereas Kujo would like to
put the gang lifestyle to rest, Aoki wants to claim power for
his own. Aoki takes on a completely dark persona and does everything
in his will to intimidate and force Kujo from the leader status.
Much like the Rules of Attraction, Blue Spring shows the contrasts
of right and wrong in oft humorous but tragic fashion. From
the beginning of the film, each boy's decision adversely affects
another, and such a domino effect is created to destroy the
gang. Matsuda, who played a similar passive role in Taboo, is
very deceptive in his intentions from the get go. He remains
an enigma until the very end of the film, solidifying a character
that strongly conveys indecision and a clouded judgement,
Similar to Sabu, ArtsMagic DVD grants the viewer a great deal
of extras, including interviews with the director and leads,
a commentary by Tom Mes, biographies and filmographies, as well
as original artwork from Taiyou Matsumoto's Manga that the movie
was based upon.
Blue Spring brings a wonderful yet tragic story to life, often
invoking the feeling of pity and sorrow in the viewer. Although
many people (probably not on this site) enjoy seeing a happy
ending, Blue Spring stays true to form and offers up a harsh
dose of reality to go along with its hardcore body material.
.
