Kikujiro

Rating:
Summary: Plenty of Action, Just not the kind You Would Expect
Review: Kikujiro is a fantastic movie that really surprised me. I was curious to see what would happen when Takeshi "Beat" Kitano stepped outside of his usual role so I decided to rent it. The story is interesting because it shows what happens to a tough guy who unexpectedly becomes responsible for a young boy's welfare.

The story uses a lot of symbology and fantastic departures from reality that give this movie an almost fairy tale feel, then moves to the reality that young children need to be provided food and shelter. Many of the people that the two main characters run into seem to serve two roles, they all have their surface level interaction, but they all briefly take on a symbological role that show the similarities between the grown man and the young child.

It's very interesting how this movie is presented in an almost playlike fashion at some points. This movie shrouds it's deep insights with a cute story of a gangster looking after a little boy.

I highly recommend this movie.

Rating:
Summary: So Amazingly Unique...
Review: Kikujiro is a the kind of film that you wouldn't expect to see coming from a man who did Violent Cop, Sonatine, and Hana-Bi (Fireworks) It's because of this point that the movie is so extremely refreshing. The story may not be the most original, but the execution of it all gives it life.

A combination of the sentimentality of Hana-Bi (Fireworks) and the just-plain-weird humor of Sonatine is the best way to describe this comedy-drama. Just like in his previous films, Kikujiro has an undertone of sadness throughout the entire movie, even during the funniest scenes. That brings me to another high-point of the movie: Beat Takeshi. This was only the second Kitano film I've seen after the U.S. cut of Brother. After watching the characters he played in both movies, it was hard to realize that they were being played by the same person. His humor and wit are so genuine, and the fact that he doesn't rely on cheap tactics to get laughs like U.S. humor gives this movie one more star itself.

If you want a movie so original in execution and is genuine in almost every sense, then you MUST pick up Kikujiro. It's appeal is international.

Rating:
Summary: heartwarmingly superb
Review: KIKUJIRO IS SIMPLY THE BEST MOVIE I'VE SEEN SINCE THE TITANTIC. It's themes are real issues in life , the hard side of life is portrayed of a little boy living in Japan with his grandmother , after being coldly abandoned by his mother who chose a new husband and new family over him sans explanation . The movie triumphantly carries the viewer through the beauty of Japan's culture and the harsh reality of the little boy's life superbly and eloquently. This movie offers adventures and suprisingly funny and hilarious moments thanks to Beat Takeshi's mean tough guy role. This movie is a must see. The soundtrak alone will bring tears to your eyes tears of joy and tears of sadness, yet tears that will replenish your memories of such a fine film.

Rating:
Summary: One Star is Generous With Kikujiro
Review: Kikujiro is the only movie that I can remember ever pushing the fast-forward button while watching. Perhaps I have come to expect too much of the Japanese cinema over the past few years, or perhaps my desire for new stories, an intelligent script and good cinematography has left a cold rock buried in my chest for anything less than excellent, but I would consider Kikujiro far from mediocre, and that is being generous.

Kikujiro is an old story that is told around the globe at least once a year. It has been a long standing theory of mine that a child as the main character of a film can either make or break a film. In this case, the young boy "Masao" breaks the film. Masao has one reaction to every single interaction that takes place in the film: he bows his head, lowers his eyes and sticks his lip out. This is what the boy does during the entire film, and by the 20th time within the first five minutes of the film you can't help but wonder if there is anything more to the character of this child and the film itself. There isn't.

But to blame the blunder of the film upon this one child would make me a simpleton. The script to Kikujiro is not clever. Some films show their mastery through their ability to communicate through short scripts (Kurosawa's "Madadayo"), but Kikujiro's two page script is short of a soul. This film moves slowly, not carefully or beautifully, and the different scenes are completely non sequitur. The film unravels across the screen not like the graceful steps and movements of a Kurosawa film, but much like a hippo in a tutu who has had one too many cups of sake.

If you're in the mood to see a touching movie about an unlikely relationship between a hurt child and a hardened adult, and if you want to keep your hope in Japanese cinema alive, don't watch Kikujiro.

Rating:
Summary: What a summer Holiday !
Review: Kikujiro no natsu is the latest offering by the Kitano. Unlike most of his back catalogue there is no death,suicide and shoot out (but Yakuza is still here , there is no way of getting away from these guys I guess) This film is basicly about a friendship between a little schoolboy and a rude, a bit thuggish middle aged man that is brilliantly portrayed by Kitano. After the arrival of the summer holiday little one wants to see his distant mum (whose father is also dead) and his neighbour forces kitano to accompany him during the journey. And a very strange road movie kitano style takes off. the friendship between two grows as the film continues. Kitano learns to be a decent caring man who can bear responsibilities unlike his past. Boy also learns how does it feel to have a father like person around. Duo meets many strange characters on the road and humor is stamped all around these strange guys.characters like Old pervert, motorcyclist duo, drifting poet etc will sure get your attention as well as loosen your nerves and will make your mouth fell off. Like every good movie story and strange characters are very well set and executed and all these are also served with some Kitanoish sad and cold reality in times. Of course camera and the colorful images of Mr Kitano is floatin' all round this movie. Kitano manages to portray an ordinary character brilliantly. So there is still life in him without being yakuza or the police indeed. If you want an interesting road movie with unusual humour and some touching moments rush to the store now. Difficult to comeby such movies these days.

Rating:
Summary: Let's Play Statue!
Review: Okay, for those of you who know Takeshi Kitano, you'll know that most or all of his films are a must see. He usually does the action genre and does it well. But with Kikujiro( his character ), the story is more of a Land of Oz kind of adventure, but in the real world. Definitely a family flick with a lot of comedy and sad bits. You'll need a hanky. *sniff*
Kikujiro needs to be owned, it's just one of those damn movies that leave you feeling that you need to stop watching movies and get a job.

Rating:
Summary: A different side of Beat Takeshi
Review: People often pigeon hole Beat Takeshi as a violent and twisted auteur. Because of his films released in the United States, it is easy to understand why that is the case. The films that received US release like Violent Cop, Gonin (which he only starred in), and Sonatine are bloody, masochistic and some might argue misogynistic. The one dimension of Beat Takeshi that is often overshadowed by the violence is his humor. Sonatine, Hana-Bi and Boiling Point (not the Wesley Snipes movie) although gruesome, have many irreverent and light-hearted moments. Hopefully films like Kikujiro will change people's perception of this multi-faceted film maker.

Kikujiro thankfully is a fun departure from the usual world of death, mutilation and rape. It, like Hana-Bi (still Beat Takeshi's best effort), is a road film. Kikujiro is a different take on the genre, it is about a small-time thug who is ordered by his wife to accomany the grandson of a friend to find his mother in a far off town. What I liked about this film was that Beat Takeshi toned down everything that he is known for, but kept the essence of a "Beat Takeshi film" in tact. The dead pan delivery, the quirky humor and tight story telling all remain in this successful attempt to broaden his audience.

Rating:
Summary: Best I've seen so far.
Review: Readers,
Though I've only seen his film in VHS, it is perfect! It stretches from humorous to dramatic. The film is about a boy who goes on a trip with a manipulative jerk to find his mother. On the way he encounters lovers, bikers, perverts and many other people. He learns all about how life has its ups and downs. This was one of the best foreign films I've seen that didn't have sexual overtones or excessive drama. I've even given this film to my dyslexic(has problems reading) brother and he loved it! It's a must have movie for the whole family enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: A fun film, but too long at some points
Review: Summary:

In this delighful film Masao, a gloomy, lonely elementary school student decides to travel south to find his mother who abandoned him with his grandmother several years ago. Unfortunately for our young hero he has little money and his destination is quite a ways off. However, luckily, or maybe unluckily, for, he encounters two of his grandmother's ormer neighbors: a tough talking woman and a former yakuza, played by Kitano Takeshi. The woman feeling sorry for the young boy, has her husband escourt the young boy to his mother's home, giving her husband 50,000 yen for travel expenses. Unfourtunately, instead of using the money to make a quick trip to their destination, the former yakuza gambles the money away at a bicycle race. This episode begins a sequence of events that results in the unlikely duo meeting vast variety of individuals, including two not so tough bikers, a traveling musician, a juggling girl and her boyfriend, a scary man, and many many others.

Review:

If you are expecting the same Kitano Takeshi in this film as he appearx in _Fireworks_ or _Violent Cop_ prepare to be surprised. Kitano's character in this film, although he can be quite rude and crass, is really a sweet guy at heart, and it shows through out the film in the compassion and concern he shows for Masao. However, this compassion can be a bit too saccharine at times, such as when Kitano's character, the musician, and the two bikers, camp out and play with Masao. There are some funny scenes here, but it makes you feel like you are going to become a sugar cube at any moment. Also, there are also a couple of disturbing scenes in this movie such as when Masao meets the scary man who promises to take him to his mother. I won't say why, but guard yourself when you see the bald man. Overall this is a good film that seems to drag at points, but makes up for it with a few very funny sequences.

Rating:
Summary: The gloomy boy and the ex-thug
Review: Takeshi "Beat" Kitano got his start as a comedian in Japan, before his movie transformation into the familiar deadeyed killer. "Kikujiro" shows that he has not forgotten his roots. Here, the two Takeshi's blend in the character of an ex-Yakuza, who may not have a heart of gold, but at least bronze. Together with the gloomiest boy in Japan, they head off in a traditional road movie full of bumbles and discoveries.
"Kikujiro" is an incredibly sweet and of-kilter film. Quirky, subtly humorous, at times intense and disturbing, at times charming and disarming, Takeshi guides the film across the winding course of its plot, encountering a host of equally odd characters and situations. A woman juggler and her boyfriend the human robot, the fat and skinny bikers and the hippy thief all join in the journey with our odd couple. With each additional cast member, the story takes another unexpected twist.

While a comedy, don't expect any gut-busting laughs. The humor is more bizarre and situational, the laughs are more smirks and good feelings. The pace is slow and patient, taking a long time to build the story and the characters.

The images are beautiful, and the director takes some chances with his camera work that all work out well. "Kikujiro" is daring in its own way, while remaining heartwarming and affectionate.

An excellent, highly recommended film.