Why The Fuck did I wait so long, beautiful, now I need to see Audition. Beautiful, great fun, humor, more gore than I believe I have ever seen in one movie and an amiable sense a style in this production please don't wait any longer....
Being a semi-hardcore fan of Miike's work, and this being the only of his films I haven't seen, I was expecting a masterpiece. What I actualy got, on the other hand, was a very good movie that was a little . . . average, in some places, that is.
First and foremost, the charters are the single reason to watch Ichi the Killer. Ichi the Killer is very reminiscent of Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, being that the plot isn't very good, but the characters sell the story to near perfection. Both Ichi and Kakihara are sadistic killers, and both have to be two of the most memorable killers I've ever seen in a movie. There is also pure genius in having Ichi's name in the title but mainly focusing the runtime on Kakihara. Every secondary character is fleshed out, and have some of the funniest lines in all Asian cinema. There is not a single character in Ichi the Killer that is a cliché, and every one of them is very, very memerable.
The plot, on the other hand, is just a little average. Two gangs, boss missing, beat up girlfriend. Even here, however, Miike inserts a bit of genius by adding paradoxical black comedy and some minor twists that certainly add some much-needed originality to the rather bland initial storyline. In other words, the story starts out sucky, then gets a lot better by the end as it gets more linear.
The main problem I have with most Asian cinema is the low production value, but Ichi the Killer stays pretty average-production throughout. It never once sinks as laughably low-budget as Audition, but still isn't up to par with the even the tail-end of American cinema. Miike's directing fixes that. To be blunt, he does things with a camera I simply never knew could be done. He goes out of his way to make sure his characters wear/do/say/are in some of the most random situations as they deliver the boring exposition that is needed for the (somewhat dull) complex plotline. The music in the background is never once predictable (as with most horror movies), and some of it is just downright AWESOME. I can't begin to describe the technical brilliance of Miike's directing here—it's BY FAR the best work he's ever done.
The bad:
I was told by countless people and read countless reviews that this is one of—if not THE—goriest movie of all times. That is a downright lie. I watched the unrated, uncut version of Ichi the Killer. The torture scenes in Ichi the Killer look downright tame compared to the Saw franchise, because Miike never keeps the camera focused on the gore. Everything is a cut-off scene, like in kid's movies. The overall over-the-top gore is nothing new—Kill Bill had more, I think. And video games like No More Heroes have a lot more. The violence/gore is just downright average. Some scenes are pretty sick, but nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to the uncut versions of American torture films like Saw III. When the camera cuts away without showing gore to let my "imagination take over", it's a downright cop-out. There is nothing truly gory here, and that majorly disappointed me.
Also, it needed to be tightened up by 15 minutes or so. There wasn't a single scene that just outright bored me, but Ichi the Killer was overall just way too long. Some of the talking scenes were unnecessary and redundant.
Overall, though, Ichi the Killer is probably one of the best Asian action-horror movies out there. It's a must-see for any horror/action fan. And it's a great use of primary colors.
Posted By: StayPuft138 at 4:24pm, October 22, 2008
One of the BEST movies that I've seen. A definite watch.
Posted By: BK's Finest at 7:17pm, October 18, 2008
Ichi is a good movie, sometimes a bit boring, but still a good movie....
The ultimate Takashi Miike movie. He packs in so many ideas that you can feel your brain melting.
Huge slices of ultra violence. Geysers of gore. This movie is cooler than a polar bears arsehole this is what we want !!!!!!!!!!!!
Ichi is a super hero plagued with more problems then batman. if you like blood geisers then you should love this movie. this is one of my favs, so visceral. the blood bag edtion is worth it.
Itchi is one of the most incredibly annoying and pathetic characters ever written. Gore for the sake of gore shock for the sake of shock and terrible acting. Miike is a hack director that uses gore as novelty and as a gimmick. This is something high school kids should be whispering about before they grow up and get some taste.
FUCKING FUCKING AWESOME MY KIND OF HORROR FILM..a must watch..but CAUTION to those that think queasiness wont happen casue it will. true story: went with a date, my guy date didnt watch the whole movie without vomiting at least once. Luckiy i didnt make him eat it..lol
this film won't be for everyone but for you sick fuckers this is masterpiece of gore. miike takes you to the edge of all things disturbing and leaves you there. so next time your in the mood to rent a tokyo gangster torture flick pick ichi you won't be disappointed.
The film opens with a violent rape scene, that’s sure to grab your attention right from the start. When the opening sequence ends you are greeted with the title of the movie coming out at you from a pool of semen. If you haven’t figured it out by now, you’re in Miike country and it’s only going to get more graphic and weirder as the film goes on. Great film and one of Miike’s best. Although it might be an acquired taste.
I've seen a lot of horror films, torture films etc etc and this is for me personally on the top of the gore list..especially the frying pan and the tounge scene.
I can't describe this film, it's just brilliant all over!
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