
Watches
November 12, 2017
My expectations for Blade of the Immortal weren't as big as for other recent Miike projects. The hyped up Miikes are usually a bit tamer (especially nowadays) and his samurai films rarely end up among my favorites (Izo being the notable exception). I was still looking forward to watching it though, Miike is after all one of my personal favorites.
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.
More by the director
Takashi Miike

Big Bang Love, Juvenile A

Visitor Q

Yakuza Apocalypse

Gozu

Izo

The Mole Song

Ninja Kids!!!

The Great Yokai War

Blues Harp

Osaka Tough Guys

Sabu

Sun Scarred

Young Thugs: Nostalgia

As the Gods Will

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City

The Happiness of The Katakuris

The Mole Song: Hong Kong Capriccio

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable

Dead or Alive 2: Birds

Sukiyaki Western Django

Crows Zero II

Ace Attorney

For Love's Sake

The City of Lost Souls

Audition

Dead or Alive: Final

Like a Dragon

Crows Zero

Fudoh: The New Generation

Agitator

Andromedia

Dead or Alive

Deadly Outlaw: Rekka

Death of a Samurai

First Love

Full Metal Yakuza

God's Puzzle

Graveyard of Honor

Ichi the Killer

Laplace's Witch

Lesson of the Evil

Ley Lines

One Missed Call

Over Your Dead Body

Shangri-La

Shield of Straw

Terra Formars

That Moment, My Heart Cried

The Bird People in China

The Guys from Paradise

The Man in White

The Negotiator

The Way to Fight

Three... Extremes

Yakuza Demon

Yatterman

Young Thugs: Innocent Blood

Zebraman

Bodyguard Kiba

Bodyguard Kiba 2

Detective Story

Family

Imprint

MPD Psycho

New Third Gangster 2

Rainy Dog

Salaryman Kintaro

Shinjuku Outlaw

Shinjuku Triad Society

The Great Yokai War: Guardians

The Lion Standing in the Wind

The Man in White Part 2: Requiem for the Lion

Thirteen Assassins

Waru

Man, Next Natural Girl: 100 Nights In Yokohama

New Third Gangster: Outbreak Kansai Yakuza Wars

Peanuts

Takashi Miike × Sho Aikawa: Zatoichi

Ambition without Honor

Bodyguard Kiba: Combat Apocalypse 2

A Human Murder Weapon

Ambition without Honor 2

Eyecatch Junction

Kumamoto Stories

Red Hunter: Prelude to Kill
