Ichi the Killer DVD (Unrated)

Ichi The Killer DVD (Unrated)

Reviewed by SuperNova

DVD released by Media Blasters

Yakuza/Horror - 2001
124 minutes
Japanese/English
Not Rated

Directed By: Takashi Miike

Original Story By: Hideo Yamamoto

Produced By: Akiko Funatsu and Dai Miyazaki

Staring: Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto and Alien Sun Sabu

Plot:

Based on Hideo Yamamoto’s Manga “Koroshiya 1” Ichi the Killer takes us into a world of immoral actions seen through the eyes of their protagonist. Heavily censored by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification), which required eleven cuts to redeem the extreme sexualized violence following in a staggering three minutes and fifteen seconds being removed from the picture, it seemed Takashi Miike’s vision was lost forever. Thankfully I have in my hands the unrated DVD release of Ichi The Killer by Tokyo Shock and affiliation with Media Blasters. Takashi Miike opens the film in a very bold and ambitious attempt, which sees the leader of the Anjou gang profusely beating a young lady in an upstairs hotel room until stripping her clothes off and raping her. It’s intense to say the least, sometimes repulsive and fairly disgusting especially if you aren’t to keen on violence towards women. As the boss of the Anjou gang has his way with the helpless young victim, her cries seem to draw near a spectator. Watching through the window and witnessing this cruel humiliation is Ichi (Nao Omori). Striking as if one with the wind, Ichi slices the man in half through a blade connected to the heel of his boot and then inhumanly does the same to the young lady.

As if nothing occurred the next morning Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano) and the rest of the Anjou gang inspect the room but find it unoccupied, clean and most importantly empty. It’s Kakihara’s belief that someone kidnapped their boss and took off with nearly three million yen he had in the room with him. What transpires is an infliction of anguish, gratification, and fulfillment. Kakihara is a masochist who goes to extremes to prove his loyalty to his family and gang members, even causing harm to himself and others along the way. What Kakihara doesn’t know is the ostensible Ichi has been manipulated by a mentor and former police officer Jijii (Shinya Tsukamoto) . By day Ichi works at a restaurant where grief and sadness confront him throughout his humble existence. But when night falls the easily controlled Ichi serves as an assailant for his mentor while donning a costume constructed with the number one in bright yellow across his back.

Jijii provides guidance to Ichi in a maniacal fashion by feeding him fabricated stories, hypnotizing his emotions and blinding his fear. Induced with steroid drugs to stimulate his mobile agility Ichi slices through his nemeses with ease while spilling copious amounts of human entrails. Once it becomes clear to Kakihara just whom it is he is messing with, his excitement builds and he begins to crave a desire that Ichi just may be able to fulfill. After leaving a trail of blood and innocence behind him Ichi prepares to face Kakihara in a final showdown, but what takes place is a revelation of ones self and the powerful sadness that sweeps over both Kakihara and Ichi. Both are victims of their own fate, just like many of the characters in this movie. Can Ichi bring down Kakihara before he crumbles under the pressure that’s molded into his psyche? Find out for yourself when you watch Ichi The Killer.

Reviewer’s Thoughts:

A little over a year ago I was introduced to a director by the name of Takashi Miike through a lesser known film at the time entitled Audition. What transpired was an experience between sexual perversion and mental persuasion that left me with feelings and vivid imagery I couldn’t dare shake. I would soon discover that Miike was one of the most influential and prolific directors to grace the silver screens all across Asia’s cinemas. His style is best summed up as relentlessly uncanny equivalent to dealing with the emotions of being angry, unaware and uncertain of what you may do and even what you are capable of. Miike is an imaginative director who paints a sinister vision upon his canvas and then challenges the analyst to uncover what he’s really feeling and trying to say. Beneath the canvas is the true structure of the story, which is why many have failed to understand his films. Their minds are too fixated on the bristles of the brush dug deep into the portrait that when a rational idea begins to associate with the picture a thick cloud of murky water is introduced to bleed the prophecy dry. It’s not about breaking taboos or proposing vile acts of self gratification, there’s a story and there’s a purpose behind everything Takashi Miike does. So when I decided to explore his world further I knew that I would have to open my mind to some rather vulgar antics that would have otherwise been suppressed by most directors. I had to respect his ability as an artist and consume all that he had to offer without remorse or regret and then present it in a manner that didn‘t seem to be bound by confusion or tame by reviewing standards, because when one sees and then speaks about a Takashi Miike film they truly are never the same.

A lot have questioned the ability of Takashi Miike and have even went as far to state he is a hackneyed director whose only recognition comes from his tasteless shock techniques passed off as richly engrossing cinema. They believe his accreditation by fans is absurd. But these people don’t see the underlying Miike sows into his films. Rather than absorbing the movie they place themselves in a predicament to analyze the film without putting their personal feelings towards the director aside. Compared to America’s Quentin Tarantino the similarities couldn’t be more fragile in weight. Takashi Mike is a visionary, a dreamer, a musical box skillfully weaving a tragic melody in the hopes of soothing ones pain only to realize what pain is for, if not for feeling. Quentin Tarantino is a follower, striving to create uncoordinated stories that have been inspired and borrowed from prior films. Everything Quentin Tarantino does is haughty and unimaginative. There are no similarities they cease to exist. There’s a difference between being influenced and being inspired. Takashi Miike has been influenced to endure a process of making films all his own, Quentin Tarantino has been inspired to make films that follow in a prior suggested path. I’m not denying Quentin Tarantino’s ability to write and direct, but his success is solely based on borrowing elements that made certain films work, Takashi Miike’s success and failure in the eyes of those who can’t understand his work is based solely on his fixation with creating an original story that took time and patience to conceive and won’t always be interpreted correctly, but that’s what he’s willing to allow just to get his vision out there. When dealing with art it’s hard to reach a distinctive conclusion, but with Takashi Miike’s films if you look hard enough you’ll find an answer buried beneath the roots and soil.

Ichi The Killer is one of those movies that practices deep spiritual and mental awareness underneath its masochist liner. It was a widely popular and much talked about movie when first released mostly because of its portrayal of gracious arterial bloodshed and mayhem. Based upon an ultra violent Manga (Sometimes confused with anime, Manga is the Japanese word for comic book or Graphic Novel), Ichi The Killer is a living breathing comic book that’s one of the greatest adaptations of a novel I’ve ever had the opportunity to see. The story is profound, bouncing back and forth like the old seventies Gialli films before finally putting all the pieces of the puzzle into place. The acting is bold and very daring. Depending on the character or shall I say the one you connect with most will determine your perception and outcome of the ability of the actors. I found myself drawn to Ichi through his aspects regarding loneliness and isolation. Ichi bares resemblance to myself, often focusing his eyes towards the ground when he walks afraid to face the constant nagging of others. Continually pestering everyone with apologies because of his lack of self assurance and just feeling confused inside while struggling to try and deal with life. Ichi in many ways is parallel to the pleasures of experiencing ecstasy. His actions are conceived by arousal, a perverted fixation of pleasure transcending into violence. It’s depressing to watch Ichi express his sentiments through hostility, but at the same time seems rather validating as all that he’s ever been graced with is negativity. He seems normal when examined at face value, but the balance between his consciousness and emotions are fragile; enough so much that Ichi perceives pain to be pleasure and vice versa. It’s not so much his fault as this is the way Ichi was brought up by Jijii. A man who’s had to suffer through years of torment and humiliation by bullying cowards, a traumatic experience he didn’t want Ichi subjected to. I think Jijii is a really interesting character in that he brings a true sense of reality to this picture. It’s a statement through a disposition by Takashi Miike and writer Hideo Yamamoto brilliantly laced together with feelings and morality. There’s even a commentary about life and the unsympathetic criticism some of us seem to endure. It’s about a real relationship between a mentor who’s so scarred from his past encounters that his mind becomes fixated on throwing out reality at any cost just to protect his friend. It’s not a warped sense of humor, it’s not a testament to shock viewers, it is a corrupted reality of trials and tribulations that occur in this world on a daily basis.

I think what makes Takashi Miike’s films so great is his ability to confront these problems in a very straight forward and intrusive manner. As a director he doesn’t shy away from the controversial images and altercations. He feeds us this desire that we all know exist, but are too afraid to introduce it to the world for our very satisfaction would crumble under the majority of individuals failing to believe being different is unique more or less unacceptable. I like Miike because he incorporates truth into his vision. A truth that many cannot find though it’s clearly visible. Ichi The Killer is a film that’s deeply unsettling if you really think about it. Here Takashi Miike and Hideo Yamamoto create a bond between two men, a relationship that’s supposed to be built upon honesty and trust and even friendship. As viewers this is what we want to believe, but that’s where the realism comes in. It’s this incorporation of life long scars that confines Jijii to manipulate Ichi into a killing machine. It’s maniacal, it’s disheartening and it’s an evil way to get revenge on all the people who ruined his life. Not everyone wants to believe that such a vile act could occur, some can’t even begin to associate with an experience like this. But it’s reality and that’s what makes it the hardest to digest. You can’t help but examine both Ichi and Jijii as killers, but yet you feel for them and understand their situation.

The ending could be rendered symbolic, but it’s my assumption that figuring it out is best left to the viewer, as opinions will likely vary. I believe Kakihara’s rings in his cheeks represent a halo that’s always guiding him. He has a deep sense of spirituality, which is why he has this ability to take intolerable amounts of pain. In a way Kakihara is about as depraved a character as Jijii, both exhibiting to go to extreme lengths for their very own satisfaction. It’s my belief that when Kakihara falls from the staircase, it’s actually an attempt to commit suicide. It becomes apparent that Ichi cannot bring him the pleasure he is seeking and thus decides that possibly the only pleasure anyone could ever bring him was indeed himself. So the brief fight you see taking place between Ichi and Kakihara is just a fabricated fixation in Kakihara’s mind. It’s hard for him to let go of all his anticipation, so his mind cleverly weaves an answer to his own demise to at least settle or calm his unhappiness. This is very clear because when Kakihara is lying on the ground after his suicide, Jijii lifts his hair from his forehead to reveal what should have been a cut from Ichi’s blade that’s attached to his boot, but there’s nothing there. So when Jijii looks up to the top of the staircase and sees the young boy, he knows now the inevitable. The following scene leaves viewers to recollect about what followed prior. It is in my own opinion that Ichi either died from the gunshot wound or was no longer needed to help his mentor Jijii extract revenge. This is why Jijii ultimately leads to hanging himself either because his mission is complete or he has discovered what he’s become and knows that the only way for Ichi to ever truly be happy is to end his existence. The crow as we know is a long collector of souls or at least represents death that somehow is trapped in a limbo between heaven and hell. It also could be a message to the viewer that the crow is showing us who will be taking over the depraved antics or mind of Ichi, it could be a vision of freedom, it could be a lot of things. I think Takashi Miike ended the film perfectly and wanted to allow viewers to have this open ending where they can decide or incorporate their own feelings about what will happen after all this.

Audio:

Ichi The Killer is presented here with a 5.1 English Digital Surround Sound track, also available is the equally impressive 5.1 Japanese Digital Surround Sound track with English subtitles. To gain a real understanding and appreciation for the movie I listened to both tracks to compare dialogue and to enhance my enlightenment and thesis of the story. Both soundtracks emit powerful and often convulsion like noises from the speakers. The sound is very lucid, extremely lively, and quite loud. I love the musical score for Ichi The Killer, it’s one of the most remarkable features of the film and oddly enough I didn’t notice it until I put on the English soundtrack. It’s vast but maintains a level of consistency with what’s taking place on screen. Evoking and arousing sensations in a viewer that they didn’t know existed. Subtitles are a bright white and effortlessly match the words of the actors. I found little to no spelling errors.

Video:

Tokyo Shock an affiliation with Media Blasters presents Ichi The Killer here in a 16:9 enhanced anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1 transfer. Your expectations of the print will vary depending upon if you’ve seen the film before or not. When compared to the Dutch 2 disc set the clarity and quality are strikingly different. Media Blaster’s release seems to have been enhanced with a yellow hue that washes out the color of the picture. The Dutch set on the other hand appears quite consistent with expressing realism in quality concerning colors and overall depth. It’s a matter of opinion regarding both edition of which is better, but it seems obvious the Dutch set has the upper hand with its release. Despite the print being doctored, it’s at the very least sufficient enough to watch without being overly distracted. I suppose this is where I become a bit biased because I love the way Takashi Miike shoots his films; the technical aspect is thrown completely out the window. There are various jumps, close-ups and even color distortion along with a couple reedits of several scenes. It’s just so amazing, and all the time, just so direct as well.

Special Features:

Media Blasters and myself have a love and hate relationship. It could be compared to the consumption of alcohol, where the consumer makes a point to announce he wont ever touch the bottle again, but after a few passing days he or she finds them self cuddling up with Jack Daniels only to deny their very statement hours prior. This is a prime example of my correlation with Media Blasters. I like some of their titles, but I find myself loathing the majority of their releases. I suppose it’s the fact that they’ve made so many mistakes with their releases regarding incorrectly framed transfer, audio and video blips and even color distortion that I seem to have lost a lot of respect and appreciation for them. Ichi the Killer is a good release, but a far cry from myself wanting to enlist any trust back with Media Blasters or it’s affiliated labels. There’s a commentary on this disc with director Takashi Miike and Manga artist and writer Hideo Yamamoto. I couldn’t figure out at first why there were no subtitles for this but after a little tinkering, mostly just switching the subtitle setting to closed captioning for children, it worked. The commentary is really tremendous and I’d suggest it to those who want to know more about the film, the process of making it and to gain a better understanding of director Takashi Miike. This commentary is the highlight of the disc and sadly the only prominent feature worth mentioning. There’s also a short photo gallery featuring stills from the movie. Rounding out the disc are four trailers, but the Ichi The Killer trailer is nowhere to be found. Instead we have Versus, Visitor Q, Samurai Fiction and Pistol Opera. There are a total of twenty chapters running the length of the film; most of the menus are animated with sound. Keep your expectations low and you might find yourself feeling rewarded. Overall a solid release that’s sufficient at best, but at least offers an enjoyable viewing experience.

Commentary with Director Takashi Miike, and Manga artist and writer Hideo Yamamoto

Photo Gallery

Trailers (Visitor Q, Samurai Fiction, Versus, and Pistol Opera)

Conclusion:

There really is no doubt about just how terrific a director Takashi Miike is and those hesitant shouldn’t have to look too far or too hard to come across one of his films and experience them first hand. I think in this world there’s bound to be controversy surrounding a director who is able to convey certain antics deemed too sinister for viewer consumption. It’s a bit of a double edged sword where we condone such vile acts, but are also contradicting our own actions by partaking in watching and observing what occurs within these films. But where a lot of movies are held to one sole redeeming value, Takashi Miike’s films exceed expectations. There is a story that is told in Ichi The Killer, one about the value of friendship and how the depravity of social misguidance can destroy a family. It’s also about a desire and fixation regarding physical pain by the way of bodily harm. A sensation of excitement to know that someone will bring you pleasure in hurting yourself. It’s as depressing as it is gripping. I like the film, will you? Well that’s really up to you to decide. Piece together your own vision and then examine the results.

Movie ***½/*****
Audio ****/*****
Video ***½/*****
Supplements ***/*****