Ichi the Killer

Wow, I certainly didn't know what was waiting for me when I decided to watch this movie... I'd like to think I'm generally hardened, I like horror video games, movies, even read some mangas like Berserk and Junji Ito's horror mangas but wow this movie was a bit too much for me.

Never have I seen such a divisive public when it comes to a movie like this, some people don't like it and some people praise it. I really understand both sides. In fact I first came to know about this movie through a book called "1001 Movies to see before you die" and this movie was amongst them, I really don't remember what was the reasoning for it being there but I can understand in some sense why. This movie is relentless, like every scene that you expect the director to not show the explicitness the director shows it- sometimes I wonder if such violence is needed? Perhaps as a means to not deter from the original vision of where it came from I.e. A manga? With drawings you can stylise violence, make it into a part of the aesthetic of your story and I think that Takashi Miike wanted to do something similar with this and show everything just like in the mangas. Honestly one would believe the scenes involving the titular Ichi would be the most terrible ones because he commits the most gruesome murders ever but since his character and his suit and the way he kills his victims are done in such an overblown cartoonish way it is hard to show it done without it looking very fake with CGI and stuff, unless you want to spend a lot on practical effects which Takashi doesn't so most of the killings Ichi does luckily are mostly implied or not shown a lot in contrast to Kakihara who does drawn out painful torture scenes, these were the ones that I wanted to look away from and had to cover my eyes even! Never have I ever encountered something like this before. It is also interesting how it tries to show different sides of violence from different points of view, both equally brutal.

Violence aside I think this movie oozes style, it has cool camera placements and editing that is really frantic... but I think this film excels the most in how it captures it's characters, the costuming is brilliant- Kakihara's wardrobe is so bright and colourful which is a joy to watch (who's the designer?), same with everyone else on the cast, it is a joy (but also a fright) to see everyone imbue their characters with such effervescence.

A negative of this movie I guess is that the story isn't conveyed really well? Some plot points, motivations and relationships in characters weren't done well enough- which is also the difficulty in adapting a manga to a live action movie cause in the manga you'll always have the advantage of having pages and pages to develop everything. I had to read a summary just to understand what was going on and why some characters did some stuff in the movie. This is also a negative side of the hyperactive and stylistic cutting of the movie, sure it looks very cool but it might confuse more than lead on. Also the ending is a bit confusing, make sure to read the wiki to understand it lol! But as I understood it it's a cycle of violence that repeats itself and that revenge never pays no matter how you do it.

Would I watch this movie again? I don't think so really, maybe look at images of the characters to take inspiration for costuming and such but otherwise I couldn't stomach it- even watching it this time I had to take breaks from watching it and cuddle with my dog before I could see the rest of it. Make sure to watch this with someone because going at it alone is not something I recommend. It made me feel and that is what art is supposed to do, it wasn't pleasant feelings but nevertheless it made me feel, and for that I applaud it. Takashi Miike is brave for doing this but I certainly hope that I won't have to watch anything like it again cause wow this was certainly something different. As I said, I understand why it is appreciated but I also understand why it is hated.

Ichi the Killer is the story of a Yakuza gang run by Anjo, whom his underlings find missing (possibly killed) with 100 million yen gone as well. The functional head of Anjo's gang while he's absent is an off-the-wall sadomasochist named Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano). There is a former affiliate gang, now somewhat rivals, run by Fujiwara (Toru Tezuka), and there are a number of gang outcasts who hang out at a bar/brothel, with Jijii (Shinya Tsukamoto) as their head. Jijii is manipulating/grooming a bizarre killer named Ichi (Nao Omori), who is gradually taking out Anjo and Fujiwara gang members for him.

If you haven't seen infamous Japanese cult film director Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer yet and you're considering it, there is one "test" that might make the decision easy for you--do you like fairly regular over-the-top violence, torture and gore? If that's enough to turn you on to a film, do not pass Ichi the Killer up--you're sure to love it. This is one of the most brutal and gory films I've seen, and yes, I've seen Andreas Schnaas films. However, if those things are enough to turn your stomach instead, you shouldn't come near this film with a two-foot needle.

For me, I don't mind over-the-top violence, torture and gore, but that in itself isn't sufficient for me to like a film. Despite some admirable stylistic flourishes, including some very unique cinematography and editing as well as an unusual but extremely effective soundtrack, there were a number of things in Ichi the Killer that didn't quite work for me. I ended up liking the film, but just moderately. A 7 is a "C" in my rating system.

One problem I had with the film, which might be clear from the description in my first paragraph, is that the plot isn't exactly easy to follow. Writer Sakichi Satô, adapting the script from a manga (Japanese comic) by Hideo Yamamoto, introduces a large number of characters in each scene, and we do not always get their names or very clear dialogue explaining who they are. There were quite a few characters for whom I was never very sure about their identity. In conjunction with this, the film didn't always flow as well as it should have. It tends to feel like long scenes of establishing exposition alternated with violence/torture showcases.

But by the final "act", there are some very interesting revelations about characters and their relationships to one another. So it's not that the kernel of a good story isn't there. It's just told a bit awkwardly. This might not have been helped by the fact that Miike has stated that he was shooting for a kind of open-ended vagueness that is characteristic of Asian genre films. The impact of the revelations is somewhat dissolved by the time we get to the dénouement due to the intentional ambiguity.

The beginning of Ichi the Killer employs a lot of extended cinematographic techniques in rapid succession ala Oliver Stone--different film speeds, stocks, tinting and processing methods, and so on. While these are interesting, Miike forgets about them quickly as he works his way into the story. They pop up occasionally later in the film, as do a couple shots in the vein of Dario Argento, such as a tracking shot through someone's ear. Even when more conventional, the cinematography and production design remain admirable throughout--I particularly liked the shot of Kakihara sitting in front of a red background, with his purple coat and green scarf, but there is a lot of outstanding visual composition in the film.

Whether intended or not, Ichi the Killer frequently reads as more of a black (morbid) comedy. This is because the violence is so over-the-top that it is frequently cartoonish and ridiculous. Those are positive qualities in my book, but anyone looking for realism should beware. On the other hand, the emotional reactions from "victims" are fairly realistic throughout the film, including the fact that people do not die immediately after they are injured.

But Miike's concern, as with his other films, is more surrealist. The behavior of the principal characters is particularly wacky, especially Ichi, who often seems borderline mentally deficient--he cries and cowers before he brutally attacks his victims, and has a very odd sexual dysfunction associated with his violence. Ichi is also portrayed as something akin to a superhero, and Miike constantly bounces back and forth between showing him as an admirable vigilante and an anti-hero. Kakihara, who is giving something of a venerable "bad boy" rock star/punk persona, is also almost a hero through much of the film, and he also has some bizarre sexual dysfunctions, as do a number of other characters. This is one of the main subtexts of the film; it isn't entirely dissimilar to the later A Snake of June (2002). There is also another character who undergoes something of a superhero transformation, as he sheds his public appearance and becomes a muscle-bound avenger near the climax.

I wish somebody would clone Takashi Miike. This man churns out gory masterpieces with speed and consistency not seen since the 1970s giallo boom. Ichi The Killer is the movie that brought Miike to international attention and it still holds up as one of the filthiest exercises in film-making that I have had the pleasure to watch.

Quentin Tarantino has earned millions ripping off Asian genre classics, so it makes a nice change to see an Asian director take some inspiration from him. Ichi The Killer has clearly been influenced by "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" in both content and construction. However, Miike takes things to a new level both stylistically and through his mind blowing use of violence. This is one of those films that has to be seen in its uncut form, preferably without the hideous cockney dubbing.

The film follows Kakihara, a Yakuza assassin, on his mission to avenge his boss' murder. After a few false turns, Kakihara learns that Ichi was responsible for the killing and faced with the extent of Ichi's butchery, comes to believe that he may just have met his match in the sadism stakes. Miike expertly weaves several subplots into the film, all of which have the common element of being bloody. As captivating as the story is, it is the breathtaking violence that sets this film apart. Miike splashes blood like an artist uses paint. One of the most striking examples is Suzuki's torture, which sees him suspended on hooks, pierced with skewers and covered with boiling oil. Luckily for gorehounds, Miike is just warming up. This film contains enough blood and severed limbs for two horror movies.

Miike directs the film with his usual sense of style and flair. His affinity for all things surreal is given expression in Kakihara's fist swallowing scene and Jijii's pre-murder bodybuilding poses. The film also has a healthy dose of black humour, largely thanks to Kakihara's masochism. The actors are uniformly excellent, with Tadanobu Asano particularly brilliant as Kakihara. The only significant fault with the movie is the character of Ichi himself, who seems under-developed in comparison to his more interesting Nemesis Kakihara. There is also a slight lull in the film when it explores the ex-policeman's relationship with his son. However, these are small complaints and do little to detract from the film's many great qualities.

Ichi The Killer is subversive film-making at its best. Takashi Miike has carved himself a unique place in world cinema. The astonishing thing is that he keeps on coming up with the goods, time and time again.

What My title for this comment says should be a warning to some. That is why the viewer should probably be strongly warned of what this film has in it. Extreme Comic Book Violence. Before I watched this film, I knew that it would have a lot of violence, but I wasn't expecting it to reach heights greater than what I thought. I didn't think it was going to be as extreme as it is before I watched it. The film did shock me a bit.If you think films like Dead Alive, Battle Royale, Audition, Salo', and Caligula are as depraved as movies can be, be prepared to be disarmed. With that said, I will now talk about the film. The story is this. Kakihara is a bisexual sadist who enjoys doing sadistic things such as hanging people by hooks and dumping hot grease on them or pulling the flesh off of people's face's with his arms and legs. He is looking for his Yakuza boss who disappeared. Kakihara is sad because his boss used to play crazy and weird sexual games with him. Kakahara is sort of unaware of a boy named Ichi who runs around in a superhero outfit the the number 1 on it and has blades in his boots that he uses to kill evil people with in gory unrealistic fashions. Ichi is being summoned by a supposedly retired cop. From there on, the story of madness, rape, murder, and mayhem gets a little more complicated. This film, when you look past all the gallons of blood and the sadomasochism, is brilliant. It is full of humor and entertainment but that is not what makes it good. I admired it's story and it's completely risky way to tell what the adventure of all these corrupt people. The film is unafraid of shocking it's viewers or going a little bit over the top to show who the characters are. The film's style is that of a MANGA. It is very fast paced and quick in going on with the scenes. there is one scene in particular where a woman's fingers are snapped. This scene is more shocking then it sounds due to the fact that you don't realize it until it is made obvious. once it becomes obvious enough it jumps away from that scene. Not everyone will agree with me that this film is as good as it is. There are many people that see it just as a gross shocker with no purpose other then grossing us out. There is a purpose in this film though. Even if the meaning is harder then ever to decipher. But I like films that have a hard message to figure out. It makes me want to watch them more. I find this film to be a true Japanese classic that should be remembered by the few people that see it. Words cannot describe how much I love this film. ICHI THE KILLER is a true masterpiece that has a good plot, a good meaning, and a good, yet shocking, ending twist that will haunt you for days. Watch out for the gratuitous adult content though.

This has to be one of my greatest experiences in the Asian cinema. I have been watching Asian movies since the eighties where I saw my first martial arts movies and I have been an Asian fan ever since.

They have a unique way of making movies and a boldness you don't see in western cinema. I have a few friends that share my sick fascination in the gory and shocking side of Asian movie making and Ichi the killer is the best in it's genre. I have seen a lot of Miike's movies which I won't mention here but Ichi is by far my favorite Miike movie.

Takashi Miike spits out movies faster than speeding bullets and some of his works are not even worth watching. But once in a while he hits the spot and delivers a masterpiece and Ichi is by all means a masterpiece. A lot of people only see the blood, torture, gore and humiliation of the human body in Miike's movies but mostly he has a hidden or at least partly foggy agenda.

Ichi is basically a film about a loyal yakusa henchman trying to find meaning in his life after his boss has been murdered and a murderer trying to find himself in a labyrinth of deception and lost memories. It is well played and very well made.Tadanobu Asano excels as Kakihara and Nao Omori is extremely good as the violent insane killer Ichi. The special effects has a realistic feel about them and you can almost feel the pain inflicted in this movie and there is plenty of pain to go around.

Ichi is not a film for people with weak nerves or a dislike for blood. Miike likes to shock his audience and is a master in this field. He delivers the meat for the gore hounds and has a weird sense of humor....

I give this little blood feast a 8.0