Rating: 
Summary: Fake violence
Review: I loved 'Audition' and I've been trying to get my hands on Visitor Q, in the meanwhile I stumbled across Ichi. Considering it's by the same director, Takeshi Miike (a sort of Japanese Tarantino), and after reading up on the film's overall hype and reputation, I thought I'd give it a try. I loved the cold, sterile style of cinematography and the narrative in Audition. I was hoping this would be similar. An intelligent yet warped storyline, submersed with dry wit, cynicism and surrealism. I think there's definite elements from the 'Audition' side of things in there (particularly the torture scenes - which I was sorta hoping would be a tiny bit more graphic), but I didn't find it half as intriguing.
I guess the film mainly appealed to me because of my occasional bloodlust. I don't even mind if the gore is senseless and irrelevant sometimes, as long as it's depicted realistically and fits somehow, even symbolically, into the context of the plot. In the end, I found this film was really about pain which fills the empty void in life, illustrated in a sort of twisted s&m/fetish, murder and rape way. I find that the director sorta likes to experiment on the viewers, and his films are the idyllic sort of stimulus medium in which to 'freak us out' and then make us think about why we watched his film and probably why we enjoyed it and want to see another. I found that's the effect both Audition and Ichi had on me.
The only thing that kinda bothered me about the violence was how fake it was, like when Ichi slices through the first guy with his shoe-blade (which is the stupidest weapon, why not just use a knife for f**k sake) and he splits down the middle (although I'm pretty sure that was intended to be comedic as it is so obviously computer animated), or when Kakihara is punched in the mouth and his face wounds spread open. I can see how it was supposed to be satirical in a way. I think the biggest let-down was the ending, it seemed far too unplanned and incoherent. Kakihara's demise was sort of romanticised which held the greatest relevance to the theme. The fight scene was ridiculous though, and at that stage Ichi's nervousness becomes incredibly irritating.
Overall, generally it's an ok film, suitable for trippy late-night loneliness. Some really good parts and an interesting concept, but it tends to drag on and a lot of the latter scenes and violence don't really have any point. The films doesn't offer much in the way of exposition or explanation. If you're looking for a more profound and substantial film which relates to pain and loneliness, Audition is much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Stylishly Dark (Red)
Review: I would go on and on about Ichi the Killer's purported title of "one of the most disgusting movies ever" but it wouldn't get anyone anywhere.Ichi the Killer is the tale of two very disturbed, homicidal maniacs. The first, the titular character of the story, is a man who literally gets off by killing others. The other is Kakihara, a pain-loving Yakuza whose threshold for the sensation is seemingly nonexistent.
One "100% sadist" and one crazed masochist balance out this twisted story of revenge and unbalanced chemicals. When Kakihara's boss is killed by Ichi, the man goes on an obsessive search for him, whom he believes still lives. Leaving many broken and tortured along the way, Ichi is meanwhile being manipulated by Jijii, a shady and unscrupulous character who with his unwitting help is trying to force the Japanese underground to wipe itself out. As the two get closer to each other's tail, the story spirals to a rapid and bloody conclusion and leaves an indelible mark on the viewer, if even only by its shocking nature. Based on the manga "Koroshiya 1 (Killer #1)," Ichi the Killer is a compelling piece of cinema by the prolific director, Takashi Miike. Like most of his other works, this is not a film that lulls you into a serene state; it slaps you in the face, tells you to sit up, and holds your eyes open to witness it in all its gut-covered glory. The violence is graphic and intense but so graphic that it's hard to forget that this is based on a manga. The acting is well-done, but the obvious standout is Tadanobu Asano with his brilliant turn as Kakihara. Bringing humor and calm ferocity to a role that could have easily been mere slapstick violence, Asano even manages to give Kakihara humanity, regardless of the size of the scrap it is and the extent at which it appears. The DVD isn't bad at all; not much in the way of special features. There is commentary by Miike and the original manga's creator. You'll need to catch your breath a long while after the movie's over anyway. Ichi the Killer is definitely not for everyone. But if you take your cup of tea with a dash of blood and a side of entrails, perhaps you'll be just as entertained as I was by the movie.
Rating:
Summary: "Life without pain has no meaning...
Review: Gentlemen, I intend to give your lives meaning..." I'm not sure if I feel worse that I saw "Ichi the Killer" or that I actually enjoyed it! Probably neither actually. I saw "Suicide circle" a week before, and I feel I may have been somewhat hasty when I said in my review it was the weirdest movie I've ever seen - I think that "Ichi" might just have it beat...
Anyone who saw the humor in the "American Psycho" novel, or enjoyed "Very Bad Things" will definitely want to see this. The plot is fairly ludicrous and poorly explained. Some guys want to bust up some gang so they set a couple of gangs against each other. I think that's it - although there were plenty of mistakes in the subtitles and my Japanese isn't so hot, but I think I got most of it.
Anyway, the real attraction isn't the plot, it's the characters, Ichi and Kakihara. Ichi is a reluctant mass-murderer, while the Kakihara is a willing masochist. Should be fun when they meet, right? The premises and backstories are waaay out there and there's a subtle twist to the denouement and all in all it is a fantastically entertaining ride.
If you have the stomach to sit through it that is...
Rating: 
Summary: Explanation (hopefully)
Review: Masochist: "Beat me!"
Sadist: "No!" This is for those that think the violence is pointless or that the movie has no plot. If you haven't seen the movie you might not want to read this. Jiji (the old man) is after Kakihara, why I have no idea. He wants to inflict as much pain as possible on Kakihara and his gang, which is difficult seeing how Kakihara is a masochist. Jiji is actually Ichi's old karate instructor (the muscular dude is the real Jiji the old man is his disguise). He knew Ichi when he killed his parents and used that to brainwash him. What he didn't know is that Ichi is a monster sadist who doesn't fully realize it. Jiji can't just go after Kakihara for no reason so he fixes it where he gets hired to do it, which is why he sets up Suzuki. The violence in the movie comes in two forms, the comic book stylized violence which is almost comical and the ultra -realistic stuff, usually perpetrated against a female. The movie is not misogynistic, women are used because they are seen as being delicate and therefore the violence resonates more than it does violence against men. By contrasting these two kinds of violence Miike allows the viewer to set their own limitations for their consumption of violence; in fact, the whole sadism masochism thing could be seen as a reflection of this. (Miike could be saying that the person that perpetrates violence, the sadist (filmmaker), is no better or worse than the person who enjoys receiving it, the masochist, or viewer. (Miike makes the viewer identify with Kakihara by tricking us at the beginning.) The way in which Jiji (and Miike) get their revenge is through dissapointment. Instead of a huge violent showdown, ala DoA, we get a bawling Ichi laying on the ground a wreck. The part when Ichi kills the kid and goes after Kakihara is Kakihara's fantasy. Because no one inflicts pain on him he has to do it himself, just like when he cut out his tongue. This dissapointment is reinforced by flashing to him in his dungeon after Karen dissapointed him. And because the viewer was sitting their in anticipation of a big ol' violent confrontation we are revealed as sado-masochists ourselves. A few cool things about this movie: Miike spent two extra months on the CG (and extra money) on the part where Ichi splits the pimp in half. He could have made it more realistic looking in less time and for less money. The customer in the hostess bar with Karen at the beginning was in Kill Bill. So were the guys that played Funaki and Takayama. The guy that played Jiji is Shinya Tsukamoto the director of Tetsuo. The guy that played Kaneko is director Sabu. At the beginning when they are in the hostess bar when Kakihara looks at Jiji's group if you look at him closely he looks exactly like Ichi. (Or is it just me?) Well, those are just a few thoughts on this work of genius, I could probably go on all day. And if you can pick up Tom Mes's book "Agitator" about Takashi Miike.
Rating:
Summary: Go see Ichi ASAP
Review: This movie blows anything America has made in years right out the door. I thought this movie was going to be gory and sick by the trailer. I was wrong. This movie was a visual and mental rollercoaster. I hated the Matrix and its pathetic acting and "intellectual" story. I hate Tom Hanks and his sappy, overdramatic performances getting called "great". This is a movie where you actually care about the crazy characters because of amazingly believable acting and dialog. This is a movie where watching it without subtitles is still amazing because of the best combination of music and camera work since Taxi Driver. This is a movie every American film maker should be forced to watch in hopes that they see how ALL elements of a movie should be finely crafted, even if that movie is a CG gorefest. This is a lesson to Hollywood: crazy, visually explosive movies can be made well and have great acting and direction. Another reason to watch this movie is because Tadanobu Asano's Kakihara(pictured on the cover) is one of the best performances I can remember. Miike isn't Akira Kurosawa, but after seeing Spielberg and Scorsese self-destroy their own careers(AI, Minority Report, Gangs of New York) I would say that Takashi Miike my favorite modern director. Ichi the Killer is a must for film fans.
Rating:
Summary: Another Hit from Miike
Review: WARNING VIEWER: ANY PERSONS OFFENDED BY EXCESSIVE AND GRATUITOUS VIOLENCE LEAVE NOW!! ichi has to be one the most if not one of the most excessively violent movies ive ever seen and ive seen quite a few violent movies. i think thats one of the things that attracts me to this movie, its lack of censorship at the fact that it refuses to hold back or cut away from the violence and how over-the-top the violence really is. another thing that i like about this movie was the characters and just how utterly INSANE these guys act and look. this movie was based on a manga of the same name, and the characters look like they are especially kakihara, the main character. i recommend this movie to anyone who doesn't have a weak stomach and likes highly stylized movies.
Rating: 
Summary: MAKES NO SENSE, HAS NO PLOT
Review: Like most of Miike's movies, this makes no sense whatsoever. It has a couple good, graphic yakuza torture scenes (one involving fish hooks and boiling tempura-oil) but otherwise it is plotless nonsense. All style and no substance.
Rating:
Summary: Eh.
Review: I dig violence. I dig it a lot. And obviously, that's the first thing I'm going to mention in this review. Call me narrow-minded if you want, but how the hell could I help it? However, like I said, I dig "violence." I don't really dig pain all that much. And that's exactly what I got from this. Yeah, it was pretty cartoony most of the time, but there were occasions that were downright unforgiveable. What kind of sadist enjoys seeing a women raped, beaten, de-nippled (yes, it's a madeup word), and battered to death. Sadistic is indeed the word. This includes the film's first of many torture scenes involving hooks, needles, and hot oil. It's slow, drawn out, and simply not pleasant to watch. (And by "not pleasant," I'm not talking about the kind of violence you saw in Schindler's List.) Now that I've discussed the hot topic, there's another matter to be discussed. This film is plagued with unnecessary characters. The biggest examples are the ex-cop (who got fired for losing his gun) and his son. As for the other unnecessary characters, I guess it was just more people to torture to death, or murder in some other gruesome way, kind of like B horror movies from the 1980's, which no one ever claimed was art. And if you try to say that they were imperative to a complex story, I say p-lease. Good movies, like Snatch or Gosford Park, that have large lists of characters usually employ them cleverly into the overall plot. They each mean something important, and have a substantial impact. You get the feeling that this story wouldn't have been nearly the same had that character been negated. In the case of Ichi, these characters were all just characters who knew other characters; simply more blank faces for the camera. I'll give some credit to cinematography, and rushed filmmaking (I'm a huge Robert Rodriguez fan), but aside from that, this film is only worth seeing out of curiosity.
Rating:
Summary: Takashi Miike strikes again
Review: Based on a notorious manga (comic book), it follows the exploits of Kakihara (portrayed by Tadanobu Asano, dubbed the Johnny Depp of Japan), an albino, multi-pierced torture expert. "Ichi" is one of Miike's most violent and sadistic movies, filled with squirting blood, throat-slashing, limb-hacking and other forms of mutilation too gruesome to describe here. Kakihara tortures one rival by hanging him in midair by hooks sunk into his back.
Another poor chap gets cut in half from head to crotch. (Ouch!) Every now and then, Miike throws in a bit of absurd humor, like the woman hopping down a hall after one of her ankles has been chopped off. Viewers who are easily shocked shouldn't get anywhere near "Ichi the Killer."
One report said they handed out barf bags when this screened at the Toronto Film Festival.
Those who want to be jolted out of their gourd should drop everything and run to "Ichi."
Rating:
Summary: Another winner from Takashi.
Review: Ichi the Killer (Takashi Miike, 2001) Takashi Miike is a very, very strange man. The director who had runaway (okay, relatively) success in America with 2000's Audition has resurfaced with this much-loved cult film from 2001. Instead of treading the same ground, Takashi did what many Japanese directors do; bent another genre, in this case the Yakuza film (Americans, think spaghetti western, or maybe spaghetti western as directed by Sam Peckinpah). As usual, the gangs are at war in Shinjuku. Boss Anjo, who heads the Anjo gang, disappears without a trace one night, despite guards being right outside the door. His right-hand man, Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano), is bent on finding his kidnapper. It's probably not a spoiler, given the film's title, to mention that that would be the mysterious Ichi the Killer. Kakihara's search takes him through the nastiest parts of the Shinjuku underworld, but he keeps getting closer. Or so he thinks. Despite Ichi being named in the film's title (and, when it comes right down to it, being the single most interesting hit man to find his way to celluloid in decades), Kakihara is the film's star. Kakihara is a sadomasochist without parallel, or so he thinks until he starts hearing about Ichi. His obsession grows with the idea that Ichi may be able to give Kakihara the kind of death he craves (a violent, painful one, naturally). As seems to happen in even the most mediocre Japanese films, American audiences are likely to be surprised by the depth of storyline to be found here and the honesty of the emotions involved. Assuming, of course, they can get beyond the violence. Those who have seen Audition probably have a basic idea of what to expect. But the violence in Audition was confined to the last fifteen minutes, whereas it permeates every bloody second of Ichi's two-hours-plus. It has the same grimly comedic feel as does the violence in, say, Kei Fujiwara's film Organ, simply because it's so over the top that any nod to realism goes out the door early on. (Kakihara holding up a string of guts by a pen and making admiring comments as to Ichi's technique will probably have the reader snickering and squirming at the same time.) All of which is well and good, and Ichi the Killer is a fine way to kill two hours. But it doesn't have the same "wow" factor as did Miike's earlier Audition, nor, say, the films of Hideo Nakata. So expect a lot of good, gory fun, but don't expect to think too much about it afterwards. *** ½
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