Shin jingi no hakaba

This is one movie that needs to be released in the West, it is a hardcore dark violent drama, not the typical cartoony Miike. This is probably one of the better Miike movies I've seen, no bizarre cartoon violence or strange events, a straight up yakuza crime violence extravaganza, and apparently a remake of a 1975 movie of the same name. Definitely better than the sort of dragging Araburu Tamashitachi. The lead character Ishimatsu is played by Kishitani Goro, the bad guy from "Returner". In an interview on the DVD, Miike said he wanted to make a movie about a man who didn't learn to be a Yakuza by becoming a Yakuza, but who was born that way... The main character is BAD, far worse than "Ichi the Killer's" Kakihara. Whereas Kakihara is a sort of good-natured amoral sado-masochist, Ishimatsu is a bad natured insane sociopathic drug addict killer rapist. Lots of corpses in this one, men, women, doesn't matter to Ishimatsu. Even more corpses than Ichi the killer or Dead or Alive, and some real violent and realistic knife kills and handgun assassinations, pipe beatings, and other fun. Not for people who shy away from realistic violence and sadism.

Takashi Miike was on fire in the late 90s/early 2000s, putting out a ton of quality movies in a short space of time. Graveyard of Honor is no exception, and if it counts as a remake, might be one of the better one out there.

Granted, I think it's a little bloated at 131 minutes, but not too much. There's also a lot of brutal yazuka violence - as well as a lot of violence/sexual violence towards women in the first half - and some other unpleasant scenes that could (understandably) put some viewers off.

I did mostly like it, though. To make a movie with such an awful person for a protagonist and still have most viewers not want to turn it off before it ends is impressive. It makes for a gritty, sometimes harrowing, but ultimately the engrossing yakuza crime/thriller.

Took me a minute to get to grips with this movie after watching but now reflecting thinking how good it was. Great soundtrack and interesting story that covers a lot of different themes of self destruction. The protagonist is deeply unwell and the level of violence and sexual violence harrowing and gritty. Even through all the violence the theme of watching someone slowly self destruct is quite engaging. I wouldn't say you feel sadness for the protagonist but you do feel some sense of shock witnessing the events of his life which are mostly self inflicted. Quite a stirring film but took a minute to settle in my psyche. Def not a feel good movie.

If Japan is "perfect", how does "imperfection" look like? The protagonist in this movie embodies exactly that. Which takes away a lot of the "Scarface"-like thriller elements. There is a story about a guy stepping up in a mafia environment, but his stoic anti-will, the fact he hurts EVERYone - helpers, supporters, lovers and foes - is meant to be allegorically political.

It's stated somewhere and in fact, there's some few scenes that appear very illogical. Not so, if you watch the movies "the right way".

Movie is calm, depressing, melancholic, bloody painful, sometimes crazy (in one scene he shoots at everyone: police, bypassers etc., then going "SORRY, OUTTA AMMO!" and delivers himself).

Good, disturbing, mature Miike-movie. Not as cartoonish as most of his films.

Most of Miike's yakuza movies include alot of humor and over the top gore, in which I love. I was sort of expecting that with this movie and had my hopes up high, but I was introduced to a new style of Yakuza movie.

Ishimatsu is a dishwasher at a resturaunt who saves the life of a Yakuza boss when a assassin was ordered to kill him at Ishimatsu's resturaunt. Ishimatsu is let into the family at a high rank and but he isn't what was expected. He starts p***ing people off in the family by starting a little gang-war, and after theres a settlment between the two gangs, they are all trying to get rid of Ishimatsu. He also gets pretty wound up with heroin.

Alot of character develoupment in this movie. The movie has a low tone but glossy color that sets and really good atmosphere with a slow jazz soundtrack.

The blood in this movie isnt very abundent but the violence is strong a realistic. Not very many bloodsprays like in most of Miike's movies, but you dont really look for that because IMHO this movie is so stylish without the need of strong blood or gore.

It doesnt seem like to many people like this movie but when I got done watching this movie I felt really good like I have never felt after a movie.