Takashi Miike

The first half of the film sports a pretty typical Yakuza setup. There's a lot of people to introduce and quite some connections to lay bare. Once that's out of the way though (the dentist appointment is the big turning point), it's Goro Kishitani's moment to shine, as he starts his merciless crusade.

It's a twist not everyone is going to appreciate, not in the least because Kishitani's character is absolutely intolerable. It's almost impossible to root for him, but it just makes his journey that more impressive. The first half's familiar territory, the second half a certifiable kick in the gut. A fine Miike.

Sabu is a film about two good friends (Eiji and Sabu) who work together in a store. When Eiji just disappears one day, Sabu struggles with the loss of his friend, and he decides to find out what happened to him. His journey brings him to Ishikawa, a prison island where Eiji ended up.

There are a few darker/harsher scenes here, but overall the film has a softer, more poetic tone. The cinematography is calm and polished, performances are great across the board and there are a few interesting twists that keep the story intriguing. Not one of Miike's most exuberant films, but solid proof that he's capable of more than just craziness.

Blade of the Immortal isn't a bad film, but it's not a film that screams Miike. No weirdness, no crazy ideas, no what-the-fuck moments. It's a film that could've been directed by just about anyone really, except that's a bit more violent that your average samurai flick. And even that was a little exaggerated.

There's a high enough body count, but it's just regular hack & slash action, with people falling down rather quickly. It doesn't get much crazier than a hacked off limb here and there. Again, I can't really fault the film too much, it looks nice enough and even though it's quite long it doesn't drag, but a straight-forward Miike is simply a waste of potential, no matter how good it is.

Think of it as Power Rangers on Mars, with big, cockroach-like creatures threatening the existence of humankind. An expedition comprised of humans with special powers is sent to protect our planet from these creatures. If that sounds weird or doesn't make it any sense, just remember that you're watching a Miike film.

The CG is a bit flaky, but the design are pretty hilarious. The bad guy is badass and even though the morphing stuff can get a little childish, the special powers are at least are quite original. It's a daft film that loses a bit of steam around the halfway mark, but overall there's a lot of fun to be had with this one.

While I did like the film a lot, I do have to say it feels like wasted potential when Miike does one of these films. Mostly because there are plenty of other directors who could've made something very similar, while nobody is able to do Miike. Especially with a Perfect Blue-like story he could've done so much more, if only he'd approached the film from a different angle.

But the intrigue is solid, some light horror moments make it a bit creepier, the sets look nice and the cinematography is on point. The only thing that bothered me was that the pacing was a little sluggish, even so the film was tense enough to keep me glued to my seat. Not the best Miike, but a very solid and entertaining film nonetheless.

There's none of Miike's usual (or at least, what most Western fans thinks of as usual) weirdness here, instead it's a pretty slick but simple genre film that goes through the motions with just the right amount of flair. The only real surprise was that the meaningful body count was quite a bit higher than usually the case.

Miike 's experience shines through when he's doing simpler films like these, as Shield of Straw appears quite effortless while breezing through its two-hour runtime. Fine performances, decent cinematography, a solid build up and a neat finale make this a very pleasant and easy watch. The best kind of filler you can ask for.

Aku No Kyoten bares some resemblance to Nakashima's Kokuhaku, especially when comparing the setup of both films. Seiji is a teacher with an impeccable moral, always ready to help his students with their more intimate problems. He vows to rid the school of all nasty business, but secretly the man has an agenda of his own. One that is revealed during a sprawling 45 minute finale.

The first hour is a bit tame though. There are some quirky characters, but compared to other Miike films they aren't all that interesting. The biggest flaw is no doubt the casting of Hideaki Ito (who plays Seiji), an actor who lacks the charisma and flair to play the character he is supposed to be. With him present some of the better moments of the film miss their target. A real shame, because Miike goes pretty wild during the final 45 minutes. Nothing he hasn't done before, but some of the principal characters go down with surprising ease, something I'm sure not everyone will appreciate. Miike fans will rejoice when the film makes its way to a solid climax though.

After a slow start, Aku No Kyoten delivers the goods, even when its main actor lacks the skills to impress the audience. By then it's just a case of too little, too late. It's still a pretty great flick though, but when watching a Miike film I expect a little extra and that's clearly missing here.

Performances and technical qualities are a lot better compared to the original. The score is nice, the cinematography is on point and Ichikawa is an impressive lead. The story is more or less the same, sadly Miike can't keep up the tension all the way through, the middle part in particular is a little too slow.

Not quite sure what or if the 3D effect added anything to this remake, personally I can't imagine it made a big difference (it's not really the kind of film for that either). I prefer the crazier Miike films, still it's impressive to see his range. While not spectacular or extremely memorable, Death of a Samurai is a stylish, well-made film.

I'm not familiar with the Yatterman franchise, but I got some serious Pokemon/Team Rocket flashbacks while watching this film. It's really aimed at younger kids, with its very colorful sets and props, over-the-top characters and silly plot, but that doesn't stop Miike from taking it a little further whenever he sees an opportunity (the scenes between the robot and the dog stick out).

The CG is a bit too simplistic, while the style doesn't call for realistic CG I felt a little extra polish would've raised the overall quality. It's also quite long considering how little plot there is and if you're looking for something age-appropriate (and you're over 20) than this isn't going to go over well, but damn it's so silly, fun and entertaining that I didn't mind at all.

The story revolves a set of twins, one of which is a hardworking student, the other an aimless loafer. They get mixed up in a scientific discovery that is bound to rip apart the fabric of our reality. Underneath it all lies a simpler romantic plot where one of the twins is trying to woo the girl who made the discovery.

The film is roughly divided into two parts. The first hour is mostly there to set up the story, the second hour brings the action and excitement. For once though, I prefer the slower first part, as the latter lacks the outlandish details that are so typical for Miike. It's definitely not a bad film, the film grabbed my attention from start to finish, but it just didn't feel fully realized.

Miike's short is by far the most eye-popping. Though Miike has a reputation for being weird and extreme, Box is quite the opposite. It's a very subdued, stylish and classy short that demonstrates once again there's really nothing Miike can't do. If he had expanded this to a full-length feature, it would no doubt be one of his very best films.

Chan's Dumplings is a nasty little short that looks gorgeous (thanks to the help of Christopher Doyle), but works better in its feature-length form. Finally, there's Park's entry, the only big disappointment of this anthology. Not that I expected a lot, but it comes off really bland and uninspired compared to the other two. Still, if you're looking for a neat and varied horror project, you can't really go wrong with this one.

Ichikawa is an elementary school teacher whose life is falling to pieces. His class doesn't respect him, his wife cheats, and his kids are nothing but trouble. The only thing that lifts his spirits is an old superhero franchise called Zebraman. When aliens suddenly invade Earth, Ichikawa decides to take matters into his own hands.

Zebraman is a typical Miike in the sense that there are quite a few scenes that stand out, but also quite a bit of filler that drags out the film unnecessarily. The aliens are awesome, the finale is hilarious, the performances are solid. If only the editing would've been a bit tighter, this could've become a true Miike classic.

One of Yumi's friends receives a message on her cell phone, sent from her own number, dated three days into the future. When she plays the message, she hears her own death scream. Three days later, she dies, a little after that her friends get the same message. Yumi is freaked out and decides to investigate the matter.

The setup of the film is pretty predictable, and it takes Miike a bit too long to get to the crux of the matter. Once all the pawns are in place, the film gets better. An extended scene in an abandoned hospital shows that Miike has the chops for this type of less-is-more horror, there just isn't enough of it to make One Missed Call a true Miike essential. Still, a great choice if you're looking for fun horror filler.

Azusa is a spectator to the murder of his boss, what makes things worse is that the killer is Azusa's own brother. Though blood runs deep, his ties with the Yakuza run deeper and after his brother escapes, he vows to avenge his boss' death, even if that means chasing and killing his own brother.

The Man in White isn't unlike Agitator. It's a rather slow film that features a big cast, takes its time to introduce everyone, and starts unwinding its plot slowly and deliberately. This is a true Yakuza/crime film without all the frills and cool of more entertaining genre efforts, but that doesn't make it any less interesting.

After a heist, three masked men flee into a nearby hospital, taking more than 30 patients and doctors hostage. The police are stumped and call in the help of Maiko Tohno, a professional negotiator. The only problem is that she has to work together with inspector Ishida, her former husband.

No crazy characters, no baffling moments, no typical Miike moments. The Negotiator mixes drama and crime elements and offers a detailed narrative that unravels the rather complex story bit by bit, without ever skipping a beat. Performances are decent, and the film looks polished, so if you love a good negotiator flick, or you want to look beyond Miike's more celebrated film, this comes warmly recommended.

Seiji, Yoshifumi and Muto form a small clan within the Date family. They're a very tight group, but when the Date group get tangled up in a big conflict with competing families, de Muto clan is appointed to clean up their mess. Reluctant, they oblige, knowing they at least have their own back at all times.

Quite a few Miike familiars here, with a spectacular Riki Takeuchi spearheading the film. The characters are pretty interesting, the action scenes are intense, and the Yakuza conflict offers the necessary drama. The film also features a pretty remarkable soundtrack, which is certainly not the norm with Miike films. Good stuff.

Kunisada is spending time some in prison after helping out the Sanada family. His successor in the Sanada clan is brutally murdered, seemingly by the rivaling Otaki gang, yet Kunisada finds out it's all part of a ploy to get him out of the picture. When he gets released from prison, it's time for Kunisada to take revenge on his former gang.

Riki Takeuchi is born for parts like these. He's rough, violent and energetic, a vibe that Miike enhances by giving him some cool, funny and batshit crazy moments. These are the standout moments, what comes in between is far less exciting. A bit too much of the usual gang drama messes with the pacing of the film, but there are still plenty of memorable moments left. Solid Miike.

Sho Aikawa plays the leader of a small community of homeless people. They have little wealth, but they also have few problems, and they live a happy life under Aikawa's command. When a broke printer joins the gang, they take pity on the man and devise a plan to save his business.

Aikawa is clearly the star of the film. The rest of the cast is a quirky bunch, the plot is predictable but amusing and even though it's not as distinctive as some of Miike's other films, it's a testament to his talent that he can easily pull off a film like this too. Very sweet and agreeable filler.

The actions of a loose canon cause a big Yakuza war. Egos are hurt, bonds are inevitably broken and takeovers are on everybody's mind. In this broad power struggle, a small group is trying to keep alive and come out the winners, but they have enemies in every rank and survival is near impossible.

Mickey Curtis and Naoto Takenaka are both excellent. The presentation is relatively dim and uninteresting, but the strong performances, the detailed depiction of the power struggles and the overall coolness make this a very worthy crime epic. Not quite my type of film, but in its niche one of the better ones I've seen.

Ichi is a pure sadist, product of a trauma that never evaporated. He's used as a formidable killing machine by his mentor, but finds his equal in Kakihara. Kakihara leads a Yakuza gang and loves torture and mutilation. He dreams of facing off against Ichi, but he's not that easy to find. Kakihara won't let anyone come between him and his dream though.

The cast is superb, but it's Tadanobu Asano who stands out as Kakihara, no doubt one of the pivotal roles in his career. The film is quite extreme, very graphic and well over-the-top, that said that it's never quite as crazy or surprising as some of Miike's other films. It also slows down too much in the middle, which hurts the overall pacing. That said, there's no way around this one if you care for Japanese cinema. Regardless of it's minor faults, this is still an insane film and a true must-see in Miike's oeuvre.

During his vacation in the Philippines, Kohei is unfairly charged with drug possession. His girlfriend ditches him immediately and Kohei ends up in prison. His situation appears to be hopeless, until he meets Katsuaki. He promises to help Kohei escape, if Kohei in return teaches him about being a good businessman.

The setting is refreshing, the Philippine prison system is pretty baffling from a Western perspective. Miike builds up the story and characters pretty well and makes sure the film never becomes too complacent. A strong finale, with an impressive Endo, is the icing on the cake. Solid Miike that shows he can do so much more than his trademark weirdness.

Three Chinese-born kids leave the Japanese countryside to explore the much livelier metropole that is Tokyo. Once there, it starts to dawn on them that the reality of a big city is a lot different from what they imagined. Jobs are scarce, and it doesn't take long before they end up in the shadier parts of town.

There are still plenty of vintage Miike moments, but they're slightly more subdued, and they fit in better with the rest of the film. Performances are good, the cinematography is above par and the drama works well. Ley Lines is a perfect gateway into Miike's oeuvre for people who prefer a more consistent film experience, without having to miss out on Miike's signature moments.

When Mai dies in a traffic accident, her father figures out a way to download her conscience onto his computer, where she can live on until the end of times. An ill-meaning businessman finds out about this technology and wants to steal the software, but Mai is connected to the program and her father doesn't want to lose her a second time.

There's romance and coming of age drama, thriller and action elements, a thorough sci-fi ending. There's also Miike's trademark comedy and even a little music video intermezzo in the middle. It's certainly not Miike's most consistent film, he'd also improve on every element in his film in his later work, but it's such a wild ride that I'm pretty certain Miike fans will get a kick out of it.

A Japanese businessman is sent to China, where he is tasked to screen a possible jade deposit. He is joined by a Yakuza member who has to make sure the man does his job. The trip to Yun Nan is long and perilous, and while the two can't really stand each other, a bond does begin to form.

Watching the shifting dynamics between the characters is interesting, the setting is beautiful, and the second half is surprisingly restrained and stylish. The film looks a bit murky though, with colors that don't pop enough to do justice to the beauty of the Chinese countryside. A digital restoration might restore some of its former glory, but the core qualities are still there. A very good Miike, that stops just short of being a personal favorite.

When a Yakuza goon is gunned down, a mad professor finds his body and uses it for his experiments. He brings the man back to life, transformed as an almost invincible cyborg. Remembering the people who killed him and his boss, the reborn Yakuza plans his sweet revenge and sets out to kill some people.

If you like fun Miike, you're going to love this film. He doesn't really go full-out, but the mix of action, crime and signature Miike weirdness is just extremely pleasant and so very easy to stomach. The film isn't too long, there are plenty of memorable moments and the performances are solid. Just look past the shoddier effects, and you're sure to have a blast with this one.

Three teens decide to end their school life by clubbing their teacher with a flowerpot. When the teacher's down, they steal his money and they each go their own way. Ryoko lands well and finds a job as a hairdresser, the other two fair quite a bit worse and end up joining a local Yakuza gang.

Despite all the drama and the lengthier runtime, Miike manages to keep it light and breezy. The focus may be the characters and the drama surrounding their transitioning into adulthood, some excess violence and weird comedy will remind you that this isn't just a basic Japanese crime drama. A solid Miike, but not quite up there with his best.

Kazoyoshi and Takeshi are the top fighters of their respective high schools. To determine who is the best fighter of the two, a special bout is organized. When the time is finally there, the two seem to be missing each other every time they want to meet up. When they do finally get together, a big brawl is about to go down.

Not quite as mad as Miike's later films, not quite as ambitious either and with a runtime of nearly 120 minutes, the film does lag just a little. But there's still a lot of fun to be had with this one. Miike's quirkiness is already present, performances are decent, and the film oozes love for cinema. It's a stepping stone to Miike's future masterpieces.

Koichiro is a Japanese doctor who moves to Kenya to help out in a hospital that treats child soldiers. The circumstances there are dire and Koichiro is eager to make an impact. He has quite a bit of trouble adjusting to life in Kenya though, and he finds himself on the verge of abandoning his mission. Thing change when he connects with a new patient.

No doubt the film is a little neater and more romantic than the story it was based on, but Miike makes sure it doesn't become too saccharine. Performances are solid, the scenes with the Kenyan kids are pretty endearing, and the drama is respectable. Not his greatest work, but far from the disaster I'd feared when I first heard about this film.

The leader of the Akashi clan is about to get a big promotion. He's not the nicest leader though, having raped and plundered many villages in the area. Thirteen samurai gather to put on an end to his reign, before he's too high up the chain. They set off on a suicide mission, with just one single goal: kill the leader of the Akashi clan.

The first hour is quite slow. It isn't until the thirteen start their journey that the film picks up some speed. The lengthy finale is quite action-packed, but the choreography is very samey and not all that exciting. The longer cut does have some quirkier characters and crazier moments, just not enough to make this a standout Miike film. It's a decent introduction into his oeuvre though, especially for fans of hack and slash samurai action.

When Raita moves into his new apartment, he finds himself living next to a private detective with the same name. Not long after, one of the detective's clients is found dead, missing a kidney. The two start an investigation together, which leads to a peculiar painter, who is said to use human blood and organs for his paintings.

The film does have some odd scenes and characters, but mostly in contrast with the rather stark detective plot. It's enough to keep you on your toes, but that's about it really. The cinematography is murky, performances are forgettable, and the finale is nothing out of the ordinary. Solid Miike filler, but still oddball enough to deter unsuspecting audiences.

Christopher is an American journalist who met the woman of his dreams years ago in Japan. He can't get her out of his head and so he returns to Japan, hoping to track her down. It's a quest that leads him to some questionable brothels, and he'll soon enough discover that his former sweetheart has a pretty dark secret that will make their reunion trickier than expected.

Just like Sukiyaki Western Django, the film suffers from horrendous English-language dialogues. It's not just the Japanese actors to be fair, Billy Drago too is simply insufferable. It's a real shame, as the horror bits are delightful and the plot is interesting enough. It's a pretty cool film, as long as you don't miss too much due to all the flinching you'll be doing.

Part 2 is also a full-blown Yakuza film. The usual themes of honor and revenge are abundantly present, you won't miss out on the usual Yakuza shouting, gun action, finger clipping and whatnot either. Miike is more than capable to make these types of films work and that's exactly what he does, without putting in excessive effort.

The film looks okay, but it's nothing special. From time to time Miike plays around with the cinematography and soundtrack to try out some new things, but overall it's a little too sloppy to leave a big impression. The actors do a decent job, the plot is never boring (unless you hate the usual Yakuza intrigue) and the pacing is on point. Nothing too spectacular, just a solid Miike Yakuza film.

Yoji, a lower ranking member of a Yakuza family, ends up in prison after picking a fight with another gang. There he becomes good friends with one of his fellow inmates, but when his newfound friend is released from prisons he quickly returns to his former life of crime. By the time Yoji regains his freedom, his friend is already dead and buried. Of course, Yoji won't rest until he gets his revenge.

Waru has a pretty basic setup and Miike isn't too bothered with giving the film some extra appeal. Aikawa's performance is on point, there are a couple of inspired moments and the pacing is perfect, but overall it's a pretty generic genre flick that sticks to conventions and tries to go from A to Z as smoothly and effortlessly as possible. Solid filler in other words.