Rating: 
Summary: Violent indeed, and very funny.
Review: "Beat" Takeshi Kitano's movies aren't so much about story as comic situations, a mix of horror, humour and pathos (a tone later appropriated by Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction), and characters whose unmoving consistency tends to lead them to tragedy.Violent Cop is the most accessible of his films I've seen so far, with strangely staged but compelling action sequences (witness the white-knuckle knife-in-hand scene), some perfectly timed physical comedy, and more of Kitano onscreen than, say, Boiling Point. Though seemingly stiff, Kitano's persona is actually perfect for his movies and the more he writes himself into the story the stronger the movie tends to be. Violent Cop, like many of his other films, has an extremely languid pace that you'll simply have to accept if you're going to accept this movie on its own terms. But the rewards are many: The final plot twist (including a hilarious familiar low-angle frame of his partner walking down the street); kicking at the man who slept with his mentally disturbed sister; playing video games; a strange car chase.
Rating: 
Summary: Blunt-nosed, funny, and horrific all at once.
Review: "Beat" Takeshi Kitano's first film wasn't really meant to be his first film -- it was originally to be directed by long-time Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku (lately of "Battle Royale" fame). When Fukusaku fell ill, Takeshi stepped in as the director and rewrote the script from the ground up. The result was a movie that even by Japanese standards is as bleak, deadpan, and brilliant as anything yet put out from the country that has mastered the cinematic version of the thousand-yard stare. Kitano stars as Azuma, a poker-faced metropolitan police detective who seems to operate without a shred of remorse or internal conflict. He watches a young hoodlum beating up a bum, then follows the kid home and beats HIM, too (and gets the kid to turn himself in the next day). His supervisors don't know what to do with him, and the eager-beaverish rookie that gets assigned to him can barely even get him to exchange a hello. But bit by bit, in shreds and shards, we get more of a hint of what or who is really in there. Azuma's sister, who is mentally unstable in some way (it's deliberately not made clear), is the only person he really seems to care about. Unfortunately, his care for her borders on the pathological. When he comes home to find his sister in bed with a young man she met somewhere, he hustles the kid out the door and all the way to a bus stop, kicking and slapping and punching him non-stop. A plot accrues. Azuma's friend in vice, Iwaki, appears to be the liaison for a gang of heroin dealers. Their resident tough, Nitto (who has a thing for sweaters, young men and stabbing people to death), wants to go gunning for Azuma, but the ringleader of the operation doesn't want to create undue trouble. Eventually Azuma's anger begins to burn, and the final thirty minutes have him go gunning after the bad guys when they abduct his sister -- the conclusion of which is nearly beyond language. "Violent Cop" is one of those rare movies that manages to suggest far more than it ever actually shows. Having the director or screenwriter come out and tell us what makes Azuma tick would have been a case study. Just watching him -- the same way Bresson showed his pickpocket at work -- proves to be more than we need.
Rating:
Summary: Violent indeed, and very funny.
Review: "Beat" Takeshi Kitano's movies aren't so much about story as comic situations, a mix of horror, humour and pathos (a tone later appropriated by Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction), and characters whose unmoving consistency tends to lead them to tragedy. Violent Cop is the most accessible of his films I've seen so far, with strangely staged but compelling action sequences (witness the white-knuckle knife-in-hand scene), some perfectly timed physical comedy, and more of Kitano onscreen than, say, Boiling Point. Though seemingly stiff, Kitano's persona is actually perfect for his movies and the more he writes himself into the story the stronger the movie tends to be. Violent Cop, like many of his other films, has an extremely languid pace that you'll simply have to accept if you're going to accept this movie on its own terms. But the rewards are many: The final plot twist (including a hilarious familiar low-angle frame of his partner walking down the street); kicking at the man who slept with his mentally disturbed sister; playing video games; a strange car chase.
Rating:
Summary: Makes "Resevoir Dogs" Seem Like a PTA Meeting
Review: "Beat" Tekashi stars as Azuma, a veteran, street smart detective who has well, issues. His over the top style of interrogation has gotten him in trouble with his new boss, but that is the least of his worries. Takeshi's signature pacing never fails to shock me. Wierd "artsy" scenes are suddenly interuppted with realistic ultra-violence. The tone is very frank, and this isn't for the timid. Beat is finally getting some attention here and it's about time.
Rating:
Summary: A Film that Really Deserves it's Title.
Review: As the title suggests, it is about a violent policeman. The film starts with violence and ends with violence. But it isn't constant.
For those who don't know Japanese films, and want to try them out. This is a good one to start with. This film has many suprises in store, especialy to those who are used to the way that Hollywood makes films. It is a film that has both ultra-violence and Zen style serenity, all in a row. Not something that Hollywood does much.
Then theres Kitano himself. His wooden expressions actully make the film better rather than worse. There is also a certain darkness to his character Asuma that is almost Satanic, but at the same time there is allways some reason behind his actions. Even worse, is you find yourself agreeing with him.
Perhaps that is where the film's main power lies. It's ability to bring out your own darker instincts. It did more to make me scared of myself than Asuma or the Yakuza.
There is also a weird kind of humour to it. Again probably an another instinct brought up to the surface.
I'm certainly going to get some more Jap-Films. It is such a break from the predictability of Hollywood.
I wonder if Hollywood is starting to look at Japanese films? There are some interesting tricks to learn from them.
Rating:
Summary: One of the 10 best of Modern Japanese Film
Review: Darkly humourous, Violent Cop (Sono Otoko Kyobo Ni Tsuki) is the story of an abusive detective named Azuma, as he goes head to head with a rogue member of a tokyo organized crime family. Not for the faint hearted, Violent Cop, is not a hollywood type story, it is depressing and deeply symbolic - very japanese/eurpoean in the flavour of its pathos. Highly recommended for those who appreciate good film.
Rating:
Summary: In a word? Fantastic.
Review: Few have sampled the delights of Kitano's films, but for those of you who have, there is no need to continue reading this review. However, if your new to Kitano's films, or Japanese films in general then all I can say is, buy this without hesitation. Often gruelling, but most definitely engrossing, Violent Cop follows the story of a cop, played by Kitano, who is prone to bouts of severe violence against those who he despises in society. The fact that he works as a cop allows him to meet many of these sorts of people and he never hesitates to start kicking, and perhaps, ask a few questions later. His violent temper does not remain in hiding for the criminals of Japan, but is also unleashed against a man that has a one night stand with his sister. As the film progresses, Kitano'character, Azuma, discovers some shady goings on within the police force which cause grief extremely close to home. Now, if you are not a fan of violent films then I suggest you do not purchase this title as it contains shocking scenes that remain with you well after the film has finished. If you are willing to take the plunge then you will be rewarded with film making at its very best. Kitano's films are subdued to a point that may annoy the more impatient among us, infact alot of people have labeled Kitano's films Art House, which I would disagree with. This film, and all his others, deserve much greater recognition and respect. Do yourself a favour and buy this now. End of Days fans need not apply.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this film
Review: I suggest you buy this film now, it is an incredible film that should not be missed. Dont let the fact that its foreign or, shock horror, has subtitles put you off.
Rating:
Summary: good first effort
Review: kitanos first effort (he stepped up after the original director quit on the project kitano was signed to star in) and its a fairly conventional film with few of the trademarks of his directing style. the humour is all tv beat takeshi with that nasty edge to the humour. the final battle is totally tongueincheek john woo. the best thing in the film is actually the physical presence kitano brings to his own performance, using his low-slung off-centre gait and impassive features to great effect. certainly not art-house, will appeal to people who thought there was a lot of boring scenes between the violence in his hit films. the last kitano film id actually own i think, but worth renting.
Rating:
Summary: Violent Cop
Review: One of the best things about any film Takeshi Kitano has directed is that you can never be sure where the film is headed, no more than you can guess what the stone-faced characters Takeshi plays are thinking. As his first film, this already has many of the inventive elements that make his films so unique: the meshing of humor and violence, the turning of genre conventions if not on their heads, at least on their side. "Sonatine" with its broader array of emotions and visual poetry is still the standout among his movies and "Fireworks" and "Boiling Point" nearly as good. But still, all of his films are worth return viewings.
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