Every time I watch a film directed by Takashi Miike I am not sure what to expect. Some times you get the incredibly sick and violent sort of film that turns me off--such as "Ichi the Killer" or "Audition". I know that these both are cult favorites, but those who don't love these films usually hate them because of their brutality and violent images. Oddly, there's another Miike that is whimsical and even family-friends--with such wonderful titles as "Zebraman", "The Great Yokai War" and, my personal favorite "The Happiness of the Katakuris". Because his films seem to go from one extreme to another, I really am hesitant any time I watch one of his films.
It is very odd, then, that a violent yakuza martial arts film wasn't really THAT hard to watch--though it also is odd what the director could not get away with and what he could--at least for an American watching the film. While he COULD show repeated rapes, hot & sweaty sex and lots of punching and kicking, like other Japanese films, there is no frontal nudity (though there is LOTS of nudity otherwise) and whenever people are depicted doing drugs in a graphic manner, the image is all pixilated. I assume it must be against the rules of Japanese censors to show someone injecting drugs or even filling a syringe with a drug--as every shot was done this way. Now I do find it odd that you CAN portray rape and extreme violence but no pubic hair--not that I wanted this in the film, but which is worse for kids or teens to see? Now I do not want to make this review a criticism of Japanese cinema--heck, I have a lot more complaints about American cinema any way! These are just a few observations and a viewer might want to know what they're in for when they see this movie.
The film begins with a dumb young punk doing something very, very stupid. He steals 500,000,000 yen from the mob. They catch the dummy but he's lucky and able to avoid death by being sent to prison for five years. When he gets out, the mob is waiting to kill him AFTER they beat the whereabouts of their money out of him. However, the dummy is no idiot and he arranges for the services of a bodyguard to meet him when he's released. And, luckily, he's got Kiba working for him--a very quiet and not particularly charismatic karate expert who seems unstoppable. It was nice to see that the guy in this role actually was awfully good at martial arts--though the cop who is supposed to be a karate expert obviously isn't. He ain't bad, but he's not very good either--despite what the film implies.
Not surprisingly, Kiba kicks the snot out of a lot of guys soon after taking this assignment. However, in an interesting and funny twist, the mobsters try to get Kiba killed by publishing an article where Kiba supposedly insulted all of Okinawan Karate--hoping this would get him out of the way. However, Kiba's sensei instead accepts the challenges and the scenes with him fighting the eight Okinawan experts is pretty cool---and funny.
Before the young dummy goes to get his stolen 500,000,000, he informs Kiba that he must find his long-lost girlfriend. Surprisingly, Kiba is a bit of a softy and helps the guy find her. But, despite the hot sex that ensues, this meeting with the ex- is NOT a good thing and leads to many, many dangers. I'd say more, but I don't want to ruin the film. Suffice to say that a lot of kicking and punching is involved and the final confrontation scene is exceptional...and bloody.
Overall, despite my description and copious amounts of sweaty sex, this is MUCH more family-friendly than "Ichi" and "Audition"....but that isn't saying much. While not a great film, the action scenes are generally very good, the plot decent and it ended on a high note. Worth seeing, but also pretty intense and NOT for younger audiences. This is still an adult movie.
It is very odd, then, that a violent yakuza martial arts film wasn't really THAT hard to watch--though it also is odd what the director could not get away with and what he could--at least for an American watching the film. While he COULD show repeated rapes, hot & sweaty sex and lots of punching and kicking, like other Japanese films, there is no frontal nudity (though there is LOTS of nudity otherwise) and whenever people are depicted doing drugs in a graphic manner, the image is all pixilated. I assume it must be against the rules of Japanese censors to show someone injecting drugs or even filling a syringe with a drug--as every shot was done this way. Now I do find it odd that you CAN portray rape and extreme violence but no pubic hair--not that I wanted this in the film, but which is worse for kids or teens to see? Now I do not want to make this review a criticism of Japanese cinema--heck, I have a lot more complaints about American cinema any way! These are just a few observations and a viewer might want to know what they're in for when they see this movie.
The film begins with a dumb young punk doing something very, very stupid. He steals 500,000,000 yen from the mob. They catch the dummy but he's lucky and able to avoid death by being sent to prison for five years. When he gets out, the mob is waiting to kill him AFTER they beat the whereabouts of their money out of him. However, the dummy is no idiot and he arranges for the services of a bodyguard to meet him when he's released. And, luckily, he's got Kiba working for him--a very quiet and not particularly charismatic karate expert who seems unstoppable. It was nice to see that the guy in this role actually was awfully good at martial arts--though the cop who is supposed to be a karate expert obviously isn't. He ain't bad, but he's not very good either--despite what the film implies.
Not surprisingly, Kiba kicks the snot out of a lot of guys soon after taking this assignment. However, in an interesting and funny twist, the mobsters try to get Kiba killed by publishing an article where Kiba supposedly insulted all of Okinawan Karate--hoping this would get him out of the way. However, Kiba's sensei instead accepts the challenges and the scenes with him fighting the eight Okinawan experts is pretty cool---and funny.
Before the young dummy goes to get his stolen 500,000,000, he informs Kiba that he must find his long-lost girlfriend. Surprisingly, Kiba is a bit of a softy and helps the guy find her. But, despite the hot sex that ensues, this meeting with the ex- is NOT a good thing and leads to many, many dangers. I'd say more, but I don't want to ruin the film. Suffice to say that a lot of kicking and punching is involved and the final confrontation scene is exceptional...and bloody.
Overall, despite my description and copious amounts of sweaty sex, this is MUCH more family-friendly than "Ichi" and "Audition"....but that isn't saying much. While not a great film, the action scenes are generally very good, the plot decent and it ended on a high note. Worth seeing, but also pretty intense and NOT for younger audiences. This is still an adult movie.