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StainBoy
Reviews
Kishiwada shônen gurentai: Chikemuri junjô-hen (1997)
Thank (enter deity here) for Miike
Having seen over 20 Miike films, I expected "Kishiwada shonen gurentai: Chikemuri junjo-hen" (or, as the American release is called, "Young Thugs: Innocent Blood") to be a good movie, but I didn't expect it to be this great! From beginning to end this film kept me involved, laughing at the many hilarious scenes and empathizing at the many dramatic scenes. Unlike many Miike films, this movie carries with it a sense of innocence. Sure, it has some outrageous violence, but it is all in fun, like kids playing. There is no nudity or sexual misconduct (i.e. "Visitor Q" or "Ichi the Killer"), just a pure heartfelt story of young adults growing up (or refusing to grow up). Now that this movie is easily available (thanks to the great folks at ArtsMagicDVD), I would have expected more votes and reviews on here by now. I definitely recommend this film for Miike fans and haters alike. Just a great movie all around.
Tennen shôjo Man next: Yokohama hyaku-ya hen (1999)
Cute girls beating up vampires
This is not a good movie, but I gave it a 7/10. It cracked me up several times (especially the vibrator comment, which is perhaps the best line I have heard in a movie in months). And I never get tired of watching cute school girls kick vampire butt. Also, the DVD that I bought has two music videos on it; the music is awful, but I love watching the videos anyway. All in all, that skewed Miike vision gives the film more appeal than it might have had in lesser hands. But I would recommend at least 11 of his movies before this one.
Sabu (2002)
Proof that Takashi Miike is truly a brilliant director
Sabu is a simple, straight-forward friendship/love story with few surprises, very unlike Miike's more popular movies (which have been recognized as some of the most disturbingly shocking and violent films of all time). But what makes this movie better than just an average movie of the week is the direction. The opening 10 minutes are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. And throughout, Miike shows everyone that he can handle a story without sex or ultra-violence with one of the greatest styles the cinema has known. The movie itself is worth seeing at least once, but the directing gives it replay value several times over.
Tengoku kara kita otoko-tachi (2000)
The Actor from Paradise
Kenichi Endo is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors. I have seen him in several Miike films by now (including Visitor Q, DOA2, The Happiness of the Katakuris, and Sabu), and his role in The Guys from Paradise is one of the best. I don't have to tell anyone here how great Takashi Miike is (or, if I do, he's brilliant, of course). His directing almost never fails. The Guys is a good movie with a likable cast and script. The passing viewer may find it only mildly enjoyable, but fans of Japanese movies, and especially Miike movies, should find a lot in it. Especially in the scenes with Mr. Endo, who is one of the finest actors in movies today.