The Takeshi Kitano Discussion Thread...

[Psychocandy]

Violent Cop was my introduction to the genius of Takeshi Kitano. Since then i've managed to see about half the movies he has directed. It's hard to decide which of his works have impressed me the most but both Sonatine and Hana-Bi are two of the finest movies i've ever seen regardless of either country of origin or genre. As an actor Kitano tends to play to his strengths. The characters he portrays are always silent types with a stillness about them that can erupt into monstrous acts of violence at the first sign of any disrespect. His face is mostly impassive (something that is partly a result of his face being partially paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in the nineties), betraying little of his characters inner thoughts. Even the weakest of his movies i've seen, Brother (his first international feature), contains enough moments of brilliance to elevate it above the majority of US crime movies. I would score the movies i've seen so far thusly...

Violent Cop - 4/5
Boiling Point - 4/5
Sonatine - 5/5
Hana-Bi - 4.5/5
Brother - 4/5

I've yet to see the following and would appreciate some spoiler free reviews from any schmoes who may have seen them.

A Scene At The Sea (I had this on tape for ages and it accidentally got recorded over before I could see it...DAMN!!!)
Getting Any?
Kids Return
Kikujiro
Dolls

His forthcoming Zatoichi looks very impressive. I'm a big fan of samurai movies.

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0363226/ZATOICHI-TakeshiKitano.jpg

How cool does Kitano look there?

[Ren Hoek]

Yeah, most of Kitano's oeuvre is right up my alley. Well, VIOLENT COP (5/10) was pretty mediocre, and BOILING POINT (7/10) was a fascinating yet somehow unbalanced flick. However, I think his best works are the ones he also edited and wrote the screenplays for (basically every of his films after SONATINE (8/10)). I love the characters Kitano portrays, be it the world-weary Yakuza in SONATINE, or HANA-BI's (9/10) suicidal policeman Nishi. On a superficial level, these roles are all characterised by a certain callousness and cynicism... but if you look closer, you will discover their underlying beautiful melancholy. Their pathological obsession with violence is constantly juxtaposed to their twisted humour (they seem to be some kind of crossbreeds between Eastwood's Man Without a Name and a Buster Keaton character) which makes them unpredictable and, thus, intriguing to watch.


I saw DOLLS a couple of weeks ago. No sex, violence, or morally ambiguous characters as in most of his earlier films, but other familiar elements of Tikano's work are all there. His love for the traditional Japanese understanding of matrimony (represented by the couple whose love overcomes even the most unfavourable circumstances, comparable to Nishi and his wife in HANA-BI), the aging Yakuza boss in search of his old love (very similar to the Murakawa character in SONATINE), or his critical view on today's youth (as in KIDS RETURN et al) in the segment about a pop star who only discovers true beauty after an awkward encounter with an obsessive fan. But basically, this film seems to be Kitano's declaration of love for his home country Japan. The stunning cinematography easily surpasses recent Hollywood movies such as FAR FROM HEAVEN or GONY, the prologue with the Kabuki doll play is simply beautiful to watch, and Kitano regular Joe Hisaishi's majestic score give this film a more upbeat feeling than the rather depressing SONATINE and HANA-BI. I don't wanna spoil anything since there are some surprising twists in this movie (I certainly didn't expect the segment with the singer to end like this), so let me just say that this movie is well worth checking out, sports the best cinematopgraphy I've seen in years, and is truly heartbreaking. Not necessarily a film you can get in the classical sense, but a wonderful experience if you try to understand it on a purely emotional level (similar to Kurosawa's DREAMS). Highly recommended! :)

[Deckard]

Writer/Poet/Actor/Director Beat Takeshi Kitano is definetly worthy of discussion and his works are must see for fans of Asian cinema.

Melding violence with consequences always and crime with redemption my fave of his is HANA BI (9/10)

I also enjoyed VIOLENT COP 8/10, BOILING POINT (8/10), BROTHER 8/10 and SONATINE (8/10)

Highly recommend this director to the uninitiated and am dying to see his next film ZATOICHI.

PS- Enjoyed his appearance in Battle Royale immensely.

[Fisting Ackbar]

I was impressed with HANA-BI how the film switched between scenes of calmness and sudden violence. And Kitano does have an awesome screen presence, making him quite a character.

BROTHER was pretty weak though IMO. It felt like any other gangsterflick and Omar Epps' acting was quite bad.

My videostore has KIKUJIRO so I'll try to rent that soon. ZATOICHI also looks cool since it has the main actor from ICHI THE KILLER in it.

[Cosimo]

Originally posted by Fisting Ackbar


BROTHER was pretty weak though IMO. It felt like any other gangsterflick and Omar Epps' acting was quite bad.



Kitano only believes in using the first take.The guy himself is an acting GOD as shown in Battle Royal


Violent Cop (7/10)
Brother (7/10)
Sonatine (6/10)
Boiling Point (6/10)
Hana Bi (6/10)

[Fisting Ackbar]

Originally posted by La Motta
Kitano only believes in using the first take.

Then he still should have done a better job in guiding the actors - or getting better actors - in that first take.

[Cosimo]

Originally posted by Fisting Ackbar
Then he still should have done a better job in guiding the actors - or getting better actors - in that first take.

I agree, its certainly not wise to use the first take with Hollywood actors who arent used to this way of filmmaking.

[Psychocandy]

Just picked up Violent Cop, Sonatine and Gonin in the HMV Sale for £5.99 each. You fucking dancer!!! I was ready to splash out £14.99 on each of these not too long ago. Fortune favours the patient.

[ze424]

Originally posted by La Motta
Kitano only believes in using the first take.The guy himself is an acting GOD as shown in Battle Royal


Violent Cop (7/10)
Brother (7/10)
Sonatine (6/10)
Boiling Point (6/10)
Hana Bi (6/10)

It's incredible how ost people saw these exact same movies. In here (Portugal) they showed the 5 in a row (one per day of the week)

Although his movies are ok, they're just too slow for me...

Violent Cop (6/10)
Boiling Point (7/10) :D
Sonatine (2/10)
Hana-Bi (6/10)
Brother (4/10)

[James Logan]

That's one director I'm not familiar with. I mean sure, I know the name, I know some trivia about him, and I've heard of the movies (recently DOLLS has been getting terrific critical praise over here), but I've just never felt attracted to those movies...Gotta check a couple out. I'll start with HANA-BI, as it seems to be the most loved one among you guys.

[MickeyKnox]

Kitano is a master artist just like Miike is, Hana-Bi is my favorite movie of his, and i cannot wait to see Zatoichi.

[Moosem216]

Kikujiro is pretty good, but as a warning, it is not remotely related to anything having to do with the yakuza, action, violence, or pretty much anything exciting. I really liked it, but it's a slow, leasurely, touching, slow movie. Watch it, but only in a patient, whimsical mood with a lot of time to kill. Still, a solid 7/10 or 8/10.

[Hot-Handed Fury]

Zatoichi is fantastic. 9/10

[Cronos]

Zatoichi is fantastic and i cant wait to get my hands on it when its released on DVD

10/10

i dont think ive seen any other films by him but i reall need to

[JCR]

Originally posted by Cronos
Zatoichi is fantastic and i cant wait to get my hands on it when its released on DVD

10/10

i dont think ive seen any other films by him but i reall need to

I'd recommend 'Brother'. It's £5.99 at play.com at the moment, and is pretty underrated imo. Also it has the scenes by the sea documentary on it, which is quite good you know- for people who manage to avoid taping over it. ;)

[Golden Badtz]

I havn't seen any of the film you guys mentioned but I hear Zatoichi is great.. which means I'll watch it.
I really like Kitano after the Battle Royale films (he's got a small cameo in the second one) and will most likely watch his other films now.