Rating: 
Summary: Grittier Than Some, More Contemplative Than Most
Review: Perhaps not the best of Takeshi Kitano's movies (I have to admit to preference for Hana-Bi on many levels) but this is by far the grittiest of Takeshi's work. In his directorial debut, famous Japanese television comedian Takeshi Kitano (more commonly known as `Beat' Takeshi) plays Azuma, a brutal but honorable cop who runs out of patience - a Dirty Harry of sorts. Azuma's stifling daily routine necessitates him dealing with - among other things - a naive new partner as well as taking care of, mentally challenged sister. Azuma reaches his breaking point when a fellow cop is killed and drug dealers take prisoner his sister. It is time to take matters in his own hands and Azuma begins taking a different approach - vengeful course that crescendo in a shocking finale. AS mentioned previously, Violent Cop is a startling first feature from Kitano, who replaced director Kinji Fukasaku. First and foremost a television comedian, Kitano allegedly reworked the script to better suit his dark mis-en-scene visualization of the film. This turn of events serves an absorbing introduction to his one of its kind directorial style. Kitano intermixes scenes of intense violence with beautifully contemplative shots - as is evidenced in Hana-Bi aka Fireworks and Boiling Point (both also available on Amazon.com). Notches above in the yakuza genre by adding a contemplative twist, Kitano's films are signposts in 20th century Japanese cinema.
Miguel Llora
Rating: 
Summary: Progressively Violent
Review: Pretty good movie, where vioelence creeps up as the movie goes on. Kitano plays a cop which gets violent as the movie goes on. He starts by slapping a street punk, then moves onto kicking a businessman who had a one night stand with his sister, continues with punching a dope dealer, and finishes by killing several drug dealers, and his own sister. This is a very good and entertaining movie, but it is purely fictive. As a foreigner living in Tokyo since 1998, I never heard or seen any violence in this country. I would recommend this movie for a few reasons. It is a good cop movie, it shows good scenes from Tokyo, and gives some insight to Japanese culture (except the violence part)
Rating:
Summary: Kitano is bruatal and great.....
Review: Takeshi "Beat" Kitano has gained notoriety and acclaim in Japan as well as a large fanbase in the States, mainly due to his unique genre of films and his uncompromising vision and style. Kitano does a great job in all of his films in protraying the brutal and violent world of the Yakuza, usually playing a character that seems cold at first but eventually having some amount of humanity in him. A common theme I have noticed in many Kitano films is the "unhappy ending". No peaches and cream here folks. The title Violent Cop sums it up pretty nicely. Kitano plays Azuma, a cop who goes beyond the line that cops cannot cross legally. The movie is much deeper than the title suggests, however, because there are underlying themes of humanity, honor, and consequence. Tarantino has nothing on Takeshi, and after watching Violent Cop you can see why. Not many can pull off cold and brutal as well as Kitano can, and his characters are always intriguing. This film isn't Kitano's best, but it's up there with "Fireworks" and "Sonatine". If you've seen Kitano's recent U.S. film "Brother", you'll love "Violent Cop", because it is more raw and disturbing, yet wonderful at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Cinema
Review: Takeshi Kitano hits all the right notes in Violent Cop. Brutal at times, this is the movie about THE TERMINATOR made human. The movie has all the attitude you could ever hope for and smooth technique too boot! Takeshi's deft touch on character are someting to be prized. This is really one of my favorite movies and easily my favorite from Takeshi.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Cinema
Review: Takeshi Kitano hits all the right notes in Violent Cop. Brutal at times, this is the movie about THE TERMINATOR made human. The movie has all the attitude you could ever hope for and smooth technique too boot! Takeshi's deft touch on character are someting to be prized. This is really one of my favorite movies and easily my favorite from Takeshi.
Rating:
Summary: Quiet (When the Guns Are Silent) Brilliance
Review: Takeshi Kitano plays Azuma, a cop dirtier than Harry ("Dirty Harry") as he's decided that the world truly has descended into anarchy -- an anarchy the results of law or its lack of true enforcement. Taking justice into his own hands (literally), Azuma achieves results but (inevitably) not without a cost of his own. VIOLENT COP is a picture of quiet brilliance, and the intelligence is found largely in moments of silence -- Azuma walking down the street, Azuma staring emotionlessly at a criminal before administering his own form of punishment, Azuma walking several paces ahead or behind of whomever he's with. Once the weapons are drawn, even these moments are captured with tremendous subtlety but plenty of blood. The film cleverly gives Azuma an adversary -- a tight-lipped assassin -- who is as violent as he is, and, once the killer offs one of Azuma's oldest colleagues, a clashing of polar opposites is inevitable ... and well worth the 103 minute wait.
Rating: 
Summary: a good start for takeshi but those final 20 minutes...
Review: the last 20 mins or so of VIOLENT COP is really not for the squeamish. it's bleak and very disturbing especially what happens to poor kitano's sister in the movie. but before that, it's a fine cop thriller and it's darkly hilarious. one of the wackiest car/foot chases ever filmed along w/ a jazz score! the folks in hollywood wouldn't think of that. kitano has done much better later w/ SONATINE & FIREWORKS.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: The title hit it on the head. Beat Takeshi was perfect.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films ever made.
Review: This film has humour, intelligence and extremely beautiful camera direction, which offers some of the most stunning and imaginative scenes since Hitchcock. Oh yeah, and it has lots of both realistic and comic violence. What more do you need? Go on, watch it.
Rating:
Summary: Action Speaks Louder than Words
Review: Violent Cop is a definite Five Star Rating all around. Takeshi Kitano is one of the greatest directors to come out of Japan since Akira Kurosawa. This film draws heavily on the types of psychological crime dramas that we tend to associate with France. Like many of his other films, the dialog is very minimal creating an intense dark mood which is constantly built upon. The characters body language and actions give way to an emotionally complex story and make us undeniably attached to these rich characters. Fans of The Sopranos, and early John Woo action flicks will definitely enjoy; but Kitano is in his own league, with an ability to cross over many genres and appeal to more than just your average action fan. This is a great starting point to your "Beat" Takeshi Kitano collection, which only gets better as you watch and collect his other works.
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