Rating: 
Summary: Where is the justification for gore?
Review: This is a story about Kakihara, a member of the Yakuza, searching for the boss he so dearly loves, and a pure masochist, in spite of what the film's initial scenes may lead you to believe. Kakihara posseses meaning, flamboyance, and confidence, not so much desiring to die in the suicidal sense, but to live greatly and experience the ultimate joy and ecstacy of death. Ichi is his complete polar opposite. He has been conditioned and trained to kill, and to kill without mercy. Ichi is sexually aroused by murder--the movie's title emerges from his semen after he watches a beating and rape, and thus, he is a pure sadist. He realizes, at the most crucial point, that people do want to be killed because they do not want to be killed--precisely Kakihara's mind. But Ichi is like a little boy, innocent and unable to act against his brain-washing. And it is Kakihara searching for his missing Yakuza boss through torture and mutilation, and Ichi despondently slaughtering Kakihara's followers that leads them to ultimately meet, but neither are in control of their selves. The movie can be seen in varying lights, from social commentary to psychoanalysis, but it never explains most of the questions it raises, the most important being why, both the plot and the film itself. The dialogue and humour are both incredible, but there needs to be some sort of justification for the level of violence and gore. A Quentin Tarantino film is enough blood to serve as social commentary, but Ichi the Killer seems excessive. Yet, I do have to say...I cannot describe the movie, you must see it. And after you see it, you will want to show everyone else.
Rating: 
Summary: Hits the spot!
Review: I have seen many extreme and violent films over the years and the problem with this, is that it's very easy to become somewhat jaded and too demanding of onscreen mayhem. Most American films these days just aren't that shocking, so it's being left to our Asian cousins to supply the goods. Even so and despite the film's and Director's reputation, I wasn't expecting too much from this one.Boy, was I wrong! Firstly, let me say that to do the film justice you do need to see the full uncut version (the UK R2 is missing over 3mins and thus I had to import yet again). The film itself is both horrifically violent and beautifully made - it is simply a highly entertaining and disturbing movie. The levels of violence achieved are frankly awesome and yet its mixed very cleverly with darkly black humour. There are several scenes which almost had me wincing, including the infamous torture sequence and 'nipple slicing' scene, which were honestly a breath of fresh air since the Director did not pull any punches at all - you go into this expecting to be taken to the edge and you are. Oddly, the only thing I will give away about this movie is the fact that Ichi the Killer is NOT the blonde guy with the mouth clips that you see on all the posters. This was quite a suprise to me, but actually heightened the film's effect. The effects are simply incredible and whilst some of the violence may be far beyond most tastes, for those feeling a little war weary having enjoyed the more transgressive Italian and Asian flicks of the past, you won't be disappointed. Hats off to the Director for pulling off what could have been very easily a real mess, but instead is a work of vision, violence and knowing. If you can go beyond some of the more extreme visceral shocks in store, you will find a film that is compelling, cleverly written and well acted - you cannot imagine anyone else playing these characters (especially the two leads; Kakihara and Ichi are played with precise relish). Not for all tastes but any regard, but for once a film both refreshingly violent and deserved of it's increasing reputation. It isn't a one-stop gory horror, it's far more. I have seen the future of violence and it is 'Ichi the Killer'!
Rating:
Summary: Yakuza, Homicidal Man-Child, Gore, Super Strong Ex-Cop
Review: WOW! Takashi Miike is a man that has interested me lately because he is such a HUGE topic of interest and discussion in movies and movie making in general. It's hard for me to find any of his films but when I seen a copy of Ichi The Killer I picked it up without any hesitation at all and I do not regret it. This movie will make you cringe, laugh, and just shock you out of your seat wondering what the heck is going on! Now I didn't take this movie seriously but if YOU are than I think it will give a less positive effect. I'm gonna go watch it again now!
Rating:
Summary: Wild and unconventional
Review: Ichi the killer is one of the latest offerings from acclaimed cult director Takashi Miike of "Audition" and "Dead or Alive" fame. It is an exploration of the seedy underworld of Yakuza gangs and street violence in Tokyo. More specifically, the film focuses on the torture devices and off-the-wall techniques the Yakuza famously employ to extract information that is of use to them. Jijii (played by Tetsuo director Shinya Tsukamato) is a former Yakuza gang member who seeks revenge against some of the Yakuza who he feels wronged him. He doesn't kill the Yakuza by himself but uses his hypnotist powers to control the mind and make a killer out of "Ichi", a young tortured soul. One of the people Ichi slays is a sadistic yakuza boss who has a reputation of beating up and mistreating prostitutes. Kakishara (the man who's face is on the cover) wants revenge for the murder of his boss and will stop at nothing to get his hands on Ichi. The Miike staples are all here; a high body count, scenes of torture and misoginy and lots of dark humor. The biggest strength of this film is the characters. Although all are an unlikeable bunch, they are fascinating nonetheless especially Kakishara who looks like he came straight out of a manga comic book. His face is scarred with 4 deep cuts, 2 on each cheekbones, 1 on his forehead and 1 across his chin. When he smokes cigarettes he is able to blow the smoke out of those cuts! This guy is an extreme sadochist who's so hardcore that he will slash his own tongue in front of his gang members just to prove his mettle and then calmly answer his cell phone afterwards and who invites others to punch him in the face because he relishes the pain. With Kakishara Miike truly has created a cult figure for the ages within Japanese cinema. Being an off-kilter Japanese flick this scores quite high in the weirdness and odd humor departments. In one scene a cop sniffs a dead woman's crotch in hopes that the scent will lead him to her killer (!). We have a character named Karen whose speech keeps alternating between Japanese and English but no one seems to notice... And then of course there's Ichi the feared killer a grown man who constantly breaks down crying like a baby after killing people. Anyone seeking a high-octane Asian actioner might be disappointed. Battle Royale this is certainly not. The film tends to drag on in between scenes of action and torture. I found the film to be quite hard to stomach at times with its constant scenes of woman-beating and rape and torture. The fact that the movie seems to try to hide under the veil of extremity and cartoonish violence did not lessen my unease at seeing such things. Although I generally dislike sadistic violence I do love gore but again I found myself disappointed in this department. When Ichi slashes people in half with the knife under the sole of his boot it so looks to be a CGI that it is laughable. There is also a scene where Ichi kills a dozen or so Yakuza members in a small room but it's somewhat concealed, all the viewer really sees are the guts flying out of the room but not the action itself. I found this strange because this is a movie with a very violent nature but in some cases like these it seemed to avoid any opportunities to show off lots of gore. Heaps of praise has been lavished on this film since its inaugural release and though I found Ichi the Killer to be worthwhile viewing I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's Miike's best work or that it's anywhere close to being the goriest or most violent film ever, as its reputation may lead some to believe. When all is said and done it is however an entertaining and zany bloodbath, of which the japanese have been producing lots of in recent years.
Rating:
Summary: A Japanese Bunuel?
Review: Miike is a filmmaker capable of transfiguring your concept of what film can be. See this film as soon as you get the chance, but only if you have a strong gut. The DVD has a director's commentary and some trailers.
Rating:
Summary: Hail the new king of experimental film
Review: Takashi Miike is, by far, the most original and visionary director to come along in years. Following in the footsteps of Cronenberg and Lynch, Miike takes regular, real-world situations and spins them on their head, churning out surreal, fantasmagorical films that transcend genres and affect every viewer in one way or another.
Ichi The Killer might be the best example of Miike's work so far. Here he combines sweeping, amusingly erratic camera angles and effects with a plot that involves gangs, yakuza killers, crooked cops, and Ichi, a timid man who may be the most violent killer to ever splatter the screen.
I could go on for pages, but in the end Ichi The Killer must be seen to be believed. If you're looking for a challenge to your distended outlook on modern cinema, Takashi Miike and Ichi The Killer are it.
Rating: 
Summary: over rated gore bore
Review: read below to find what it's about... as a film this is not enjoyable...however it's set up nicely with all the pretty colours and interestingly dressed characters and so on...yet this movie is so incredibly nihilistic that it becomes boring with no real sense of morality to balance the film's ultraviolence. i appreciate some of the action and gore...yet as said before me, the torture and rape scenes are particularly CAREFUL and DELIBERATE in that Miike goes through great lengths to make sure we are disturbed by it all... and the story itself unfolds rather slowly. in short this is a gorey bore.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive film from Takashi Miike
Review: After watching Takashi Miike's powerful "Audition," I thought following up with "Ichi the Killer" an excellent idea. I don't see much of a comparison between the two films unless you wish to look at the disturbing scenes of gory violence and the fact that "Audition" has more of a social message than this gore extravaganza. I have come away with the impression that Miike is a brilliant filmmaker capable of forcing extreme reactions from his viewers. Hollywood should take note of this guy and bring him over here for a project or two. But doing so probably wouldn't work out; Miike's warped visions would send American censors scrambling for a sedative, and most mainstream viewers would recoil from the graphic nature of this director's films. A word of warning for those thinking of indulging in "Ichi the Killer": the movie is loaded with sadism, gore, black comedy, and all around unpleasantness. It's as though this movie turns upside down everything we associate with cleanness and decency. It's a tough watch, even for a gore fan like me, so prepare thoroughly--how, I cannot really tell you because I do not know--before diving in. Good luck. "Ichi the Killer" is based on a "manga," a Japanese comic strip of a type often embodying grotesque images and disturbing themes. The film follows several Yakuza gangs as they do what they do best: murder, torture, plot, and generally cause lots of unpleasantness. I am unfamiliar with the structure of the Yakuza, but I gathered from the film that there are numerous gangs (or families, as the mafia would say) each headed up by a boss. These bosses then report to a committee composed of other gang leaders and a sort of "boss of bosses"--played here by a wheezy little runt who pops up to mediate disputes every now and again--designed to keep everything from getting out of hand. When an anonymous killer named Ichi takes down a yakuza leader, the boss's underlings, including a bleach blond thug by the name of Kakihara, seek revenge. At first, Kakihara thinks rival groups had something to do with the disappearance, so he kidnaps some thugs and tortures them in an effort to get information. These gruesome antics go so far beyond the pale that the yakuza overlords send Kakihara and his fellow gang members into exile. Instead of putting an end to the out of control violence, this judgment only encourages Kakihara to even more extreme acts of nastiness. It turns out that this blond goon worshipped his boss because the leader possessed the ability to fulfill Kakihara's S&M cravings. This is sick stuff, to be sure, but it only gets worse as the movie progresses. Kakihara seeks out Ichi to avenge the boss but also to challenge the enigmatic assassin to a showdown. We soon learn Ichi is far from the icy killer we have come to expect. He's actually a meek sort who witnessed a brutal incident as a child and has since become a victim to his own guilt. A guy named Jiji expertly manipulates Ichi's psychological problems in order to carry out assassinations. All Jiji needs to do is tell his friend that certain people were involved in Ichi's childhood trauma and mayhem rapidly ensues. Clad in a black suit bristling with razor sharp blades, Ichi can turn a room full of people into sushi in about thirty seconds. After the murders take place, he often sinks into a weeping, cringing depression over what he has wrought. Jiji, completely indifferent to his friend's remorse, always has a few more targets lined up for the slaughter. Women, children, and men: all are fair game when Ichi goes on a rampage. As the movie progresses, and as Kakihara comes closer to his final showdown with the hyper violent Ichi, Miike throws in enough plot twists and turns to keep the viewer constantly guessing as to character motivations and the very nature of the reality these people move in. I am guessing I missed out on a ton of inside jokes and cultural references, probably because I do not speak the language, am not Japanese, and do not live in that country. I have never even seen, let alone read, a manga comic strip. Fortunately, Miike's film boasts plenty of black humor and gory violence to the point that being non-Japanese makes little difference in understanding the picture. You don't have to be an expert on Japanese cinema to laugh at Jiji's "muscular" transformation or the scenes where Kakihara expresses his disappointment at Ichi's subservience when the two finally meet (Kakihara actually attempts to pick his foe up in order to get him to fight! Funny!). And you definitely don't need any inside knowledge to gape at the violence. This is an insanely sick film packed to the rafters with bloodshed and carnage. My mouth dropped open, and stayed that way, when Kakihara administered a hot oil "bath" to a particularly close-mouthed gangster. Gorehounds the world over will flock to "Ichi the Killer." While you will need an iron stomach to get through this one, the film goes to great lengths to prove this is all cartoonish fantasy. I quit taking the whole thing seriously after the tongue scene, when Kakihara said, "It will get better if I keep talking," and then spoke normally in the following scene. I took this as a wink-wink, nudge-nudge from Miike, a message to the viewer that one should not take the film to heart. As far as the DVD goes, I think it should go without saying that watching the unrated edition is the way to go. If you really want to watch a movie like this one, why waste time and money fiddling around with a cut version?
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, clever, twisted and utterly incredible movie!
Review: The other reviews posted here seem to sum up pretty well my feelings about Ichi. For those of you who have NOT seen this yet, don't read too much into the reviews that didn't rate it well. Granted there are only a few people who rated Ichi with three stars or less - but based on those reviews it sounds like they didn't really 'get' the movie anyway. First of all, the movie is based on a manga, so the cartoony effects are there for a reason. Secondly, it IS a difficult movie to follow. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and a lot of action - this is not a movie you want to watch if you can't dedicate your full attention to it. I will admit that I didn't quite make total sense of the plot until after the movie had ended and I started mulling it over. Then all of a sudden scenes that didn't make sense before started coming together - and I have to say it's really well done! It's a movie that makes you think - Miike doesn't just hand you a cute little story all neatly outlined in chapters. He presents you with a lot of information and how you choose to process it is up to you. If you're open-minded and looking for something a little out of the ordinary, watch Ichi The Killer while keeping these things in mind. You'll love it!!
Rating:
Summary: It couldn't been so good... darn
Review: First, an apologies. I don't own the DVD. I just saw this with a friend, so I have nothing to say about it technically, special features wise, etc... Second, my rating would be 2.5 stars, it just wasn't a selectable option. Ok, here goes: Ichi the Killer essentially follows two opposing, incredibly violent characters. Jiji is pulling the puppet strings of one, but he's not nearly so important a character thematically. The title character, Ichi, is tightly wound up in hazy memories of being bullied and likely feelings of sexual inadequacy, and can't cut through the fog. Unable to control emotions himself, he is manipulated by Jiji to act as a (highly effective) slice'em dice'em style murderer. The opposing character, Kakihara is overly cool, full of cynicism and torture of others and masochism are all that gets him engaged. You get the feeling he's unsatisfied, though, and these just break the boredom. He's looking for the next thrill... Ichi. This could be a setup to a masterpiece, perhaps something on violence's emptiness and consuming power? Well, it isn't anything like that, folks. What's missing of course, is a character we can take a personal interest in. I wrote the next two paragraphs a mental accounting of the way to change the characters to fit my "allegory on violence", but really any of the changes would have helped the movie, even if they did not go remotely so far as making this my movie. Ichi is made too nice, and far too pathetic... the transformation into crazed killer doesn't work, it's too cartoonish. He and the movie would be more interesting and disturbing if undercurrents of the violent temper came out at times other than when he starting killing, if at some level or some of the time, he wasn't really fooled, and you could watch him killing without laughing because of how fake and stupid it all looked. If this movie took you from a plausible, somewhat sympathetic character to a bloody killer, it would be truly great. Instead, it takes you from an implausibly pathetic character to a demented superhero. At the very least, please loose the costume! They give Kakihara more viscerally intense stuff, (a particular torture scene certainly comes to mind) but don't do enough with his character either, preferring to concentrate on how cool he is with his slit cheeks and killer wardrobe. Exactly how and when did he get to be so messed up? If asked, it might have given the film some depth. It wasn't, at all. That's a terrible shame. Stripped of interesting, developed characters, the movie becomes largely a comedic splatter film with a few sideshows. It's watchable with that as the expectectation, but then the genuinely disturbing violence (which IMHO isn't the slice-dice, but the torture, and beatings/rape) is out of place to me. They had a great chance here to make the movie I was thinking of and they didn't even come close... argh!
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