Ichi the Killer

[Nothingness]

http://products.priceclash.co.uk/images/nodrop/180/B0000CABGW/dvds/ichi-the-killer-unrated-edition.jpg

Yakuza boss Anjo disappears with 100 million yens. His loyal gang members, lead by the masochist Kakihara, start a search, but their aggressive and gory methods worry the other yakuza gangs. Kakiharas most scary counterpart is the mysterious Ichi, a psychopathic killer with a dark childhood secret, who is controlled by a retired yakuza boss.

Another movie i'm getting. I hear that it has lots of blood and gore

[ghevans]

I wrote a review for this film which you can find HERE (www.jpreview.com)

Great, deeply misunderstood film that has an uncompromising approach to violence - superb cinematography, great soundtrack, excellent performances (Asano is outstanding) it's very hard going and is definately not to all tastes - but highly recommended.

[Nothingness]

Well I think i'm getting the hong kong version... so I think it will be cut.

is the uncut version worth getting or...

[Apollo]

Another movie i'm getting. I hear that it has lots of blood and gore
I can also recommend the film! It has lots of blood and gore, true.
I also have the uncut version, which is great...In fact, I didn't know there was a cut version until I got the "uncut" one...

[ghevans]

I'd avoid the HK release as it is the most severely cut version available (with over 15 mins of footage cut) the UK release has (2 - 3 mins cut - which in turn makes the films depiction of sexual violence even more shocking) - the DUTCH release, and the US (Unrated) release are both uncut - its a coin toss between which is the best though as they both vary in terms of quality extras.

The US R1 has (imo) the best extra with a subtitled audio commentary by Miike, but the Dutch release is packed with interviews and behind the scenes featurettes.

I've had to get this film too many times having originally bought the HK R3 when it first came out.

Hope you like the film.

[The AnteLyfe]

Don't get the cut version of this movie or any movie. It makes no sense that movies are cut to pieces. Enjoy the movie as it was meant to be.
Great review btw ghevans

[Nothingness]

Well I order the movie just for $10, so I can't complain too much. Well I try to get the uncut version.

(Next week the movie will come in)

[BigBossIchi]

Here are my full thoughts on this classic Miike film!

ICHI Review (http://www.cinema-nocturna.com/m_ichithekillerreview.htm)

[Spud_Hed]

ichi is an absolutly excellent movie, i currently have the three disc uk collectors edition, which is pretty brutal, but i really want the full uncut dutch version a friend of mine has (every time i see him hes lent it to someone else) make sure you watch the credits to see kakihara with the rings out of his cheeks. but if the violence in ichi simply isnt enough for you track down a chinese movie (publised by manga in the uk) called the story of ricky (riki oh) even by my standards (and thats a high bar) its rather shocking, definitly worth a watch!

[ghevans]

I personally found Story of Ricky more fun, slapstick violence than anything else - particularly the rubber monster effects at the end - lol.

If we're talking extreme movies here though they dont come much more extreme than the Guinea Pig movies from japan (Flowers of Flesh and Blood being the most gruesome), also a film "Red Room" (which by the sounds of things is a film best to avoid unless you're a total gorehound) and finally two chinese films "Men Behind The Sun" and "Untold Story" are notorious for their depictions of violence.

All of the above however, are pretty much violence purely for the sake of being violent - in Ichi although the violence was horrible and downright disturbing i felt it had a purpose and as such was justified though I know a lot of people (BBFC in particular) would disagree.

[Dutch Baka]

i like the size of his mounth :win:

[Jo Rose]

Is it good? There's an anime called Ichi the killer to, isn't there, wot's better?

[TwistedMac]

Is it good? There's an anime called Ichi the killer to, isn't there, wot's better?
didn't know that.. I'd say Ichi is the best of Miike's movies.. atleast of the ones I've seen so far.. what's the name of that rather new one again with the samurai that rapes mother earth and jumps through time?.. I forget.. the name of the movie is the name of that samurai... Haven't seen that one..

[ghevans]

I'd avoid the anime - didnt really shed any light on the story and the only bonus for seeing it is that they kept the character designs from Hideo Yamamoto's original manga. Still its a lot better than the V-Cinema offering of 1-Ichi a prequel shot on DV with Teah, Nao Omori, and Koji Chihara (he's excellent in this but the film falls way too short of Miike's).

As for the new Miike film - it's called Izo and as much as I love Miike its just not a very good film at all. It should be a 20 minute short film but its been stretched for all its worth with a series of repeititious samurai sword wielding slayings that go from being badly choreographed at the beginning to being badly choreographed and boring after 2hrs of the same. Yes there is a message on the everlasting cycle of violence in us humans and yes the repetition does serve that purpose but that doesnt stop the film from being surprisingly dull and pretentious. I can handle a film having a message it wants to convey but surely it should also be entertaining too? Unfortunately Izo was far too haphazard and far too clumsily put together (painfully long interludes of a folk singer really grate after the 2nd song) to be successful.

Worth a watch for completists - but im doubtful it will warrant a second viewing though. Shame as the trailer looked quite impressive.

[TwistedMac]

I'll take your word for it.
It is usually the case with cinematic "artists" like miike that once they gain a certain measure of fame and recognition, they think they can't do anything wrong and become, as you said, pretentious.

[Chiaki_Kuriyama_Fan]

i want to see this, ive seen the anime and thought it was amazing so do you think i'd like the movie?

[Mycernius]

I thought the film was a very black comedy. The violence and gore in some scenes made me laugh. It didn't make turn away or anything like that. I think it was done partially tongue in cheek (no pun intended). There was some touching parts, especially at the end when the man hanged himself after he realised what he had done to Ichi and made him what he was.
It is based on a very violent manga and I was surprised to find the film. The anime film isn't as good though, but animation allows the director to do more with his characters physically wise.

[smoke]

there's a lot advice and opinion about this movie...so adding my opinion would be almost pointless but i will say this...i lent this movie to about 4 friends, one after the other. here was there reaction (roughly!!!)
1. (Manga nut) that's proper sick!
2. (General film nut, with liking of eastern film) it's really sick
3. (Film buff, and has studied cinema) really gruesome (and i'm sure she said it was sick too)
4. (one of my closest friends) passed it back to me with a smile on his face and i believe he said "ah man!"

but they all liked it...i can't remember exactly but i think one of them couldn't watch it all the way through.
it's definately an experience, but i thought it was cool. unfortunately i have the UK version (cut) and i hear the uncut one has an additional 20 mins or so...but after seeing the cut version, how nasty must the uncut version be?!?!?!?!?!?

[smoke]

forgot to say, i will upload an ichi wall paper to the picture gallery

[Chiaki_Kuriyama_Fan]

I live in the UK and i just ordered the uncut filom at my local supermarket and they'll have it in soon..

[666Arigato]

I dont think too much will be lost in the translation.
All versions will still be effective!!!

This is def up there in terms of his best work, second only maybe
to Dead or Alive or Fudoh.

I thought Asano was great in Sharkskin Man but he is the shiz in this movie.

sweet 666 :wave: