
Watches
February 26, 2007
Another interesting film for those who want to know how it all started for Miike. Shinjuku Outlaw is not part of his earliest work (which, to be honest, wasn't all that great), but marks the beginning of the period when Miike would grow into his own. It's really a typical Miike Yakuza flick, just not quite as refined as some of his later films.
The story follows a pretty basic Yakuza setup. It starts with a planned hit on a Yakuza boss, as one family tries the overthrow another. The hit is successful, but the killer gets injured and spends the next ten years in a coma. When he finally wakes up, the power balance between the two families has shifted dramatically , just not in the intended way.
People familiar with Miike's crime output should have a good idea what to expect. There are already flashes of Miike's future genius, the pacing is solid and the crime elements are well executed, but the polish and boldness are still largely missing. That makes Shinjuku Outlaw fun genre filler, as long as you don't expect a signature Miike extravaganza.
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

Graveyard of Honor

Agitator

Andromedia

Blade of the Immortal

Dead or Alive

Deadly Outlaw: Rekka

Death of a Samurai

First Love

Full Metal Yakuza

God's Puzzle

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 Triad Society

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
