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.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpected Takeshi - Just as Expected
Review: Takeshi Kitano's follow-up after Fireworks (Hana-Bi).
This time around, he's going with a gentler road tale about a young dumpy boy and the gangster Kikujiro (played by Takeshi himself) who's taking him to see his mother during summer vacation. The story examines the way the boy sees the world and the effect it has on his new fellow friend. The result came up to a beautiful poetic and subtle movie.
This is nothing you have had from Kitano before. No deadpan depictions of violent hard scenes, but a pure sentimentality and such funny road movie. Of course you can still find Kitano's predilection for static long shots, poker-faced acting and elliptical narration. I found it brilliant. Definitely Kitano essential. ~G.
Rating: 
Summary: not where his bread is buttered
Review: Takeshi Kitano, of Sonatine and Violent Cop fame, acts like a mild(er) middle aged thug man who befriends a young boy, in this touching, sad, and funny little movie set in present-day Japan. A little boy, who looks like he is maybe 7 years old, takes off on foot to search for his mother. He lives with his grandmother, who tells him his mother is far away, and working very hard for him. Soon after he leaves with the house, he runs into Kikujiro, whom he just calls "mister." "Mister" is probably a low level thug in some gangster group. Anyway, he's not too keen on kids, but his girlfriend sees that the boy takes off with mister, and they start across the country to find the boy's mother. At times this movie is very sad. The little boy has a timeless quality that many a child has evoked in the cinema, from 400 Blows to My Life as a Dog. When he acts sad, he seems to be so genuinely sad that when he finally does smile, you're that much happier for him. Kitano doesn't know how to handle life with a kid, at first, but being around him seems to lighten the old boy up. Still, he plays the stone faced unemotional thug through the movie, though he (almost) doesn't beat anyone up. Later, mister and the kid encounter a few oddball characters. They all do what they can to cheer the kid up. This is a great movie. I wouldn't recommend it for children (children wouldn't like much of it anyway, the humor is so lowkey), but I came to this movie with moderate expectations, and they were exceeded. Takeshi Kitano stepped outside the roles that butter his bread, and helped to make this great movie KIKIJURO. Big ups to Takeshi Kitano. More ups to Yusuke Sekiguchi for his portrayal of the kid. ken32
Rating:
Summary: Not Kitano's usual, but it's worth it.
Review: This is not what most Takeshi Kitano fans expect from him. If you view this with no pre-conceptions of his previous style of films, you will see that this is a piece of art.
Rating:
Summary: the best feel good movie i have seen!
Review: this is one of the finest works of takeshi kitano! it has the elements of drama, comedy and almost everything a viewer would like to see in a movie! it will surely make you cry because of the funny scenes and because of the heart warming moments of the film! it really is a must see
Rating:
Summary: Simple movie
Review: This is such a simple movie it will touch your heart directly. You'll probably end up with tears in your eyes and a silly smile. This is made of small moments that don't need to contribute to a bigger story because they're enough by themselfs, still if you think of this movie as a whole it fits rather well together and shows a reality told in a poet's smile.
Rating:
Summary: a heart-stealing
Review: This is such a wonderful film. Not only does it captures the simplistic beauty of the culture, and also depicts the intensity of emotions through unspoken words and gestures by the child. Beat recoiled from the idealistic trend of a 'fairy-tale' happy-ending story, yet effortlessly wins the audience's heart by replacing the love of the boy's mother with a guardian angel disguised as the insolent thuggish babysitter. Some of the scenes were just hilarious, especially when the thug attempts to swim at the hotel pool wearing a lifefloat and ended up sinking head-down leaving the boy and the concierge looking dumbfounded and had to be rescued out. There are just too many special moments embedded through out such as picking winning numbers at the race, octopus man, the Martian, the lil guardian angel ornament etc. The moral of the story is that beneath all facet of human sordid facets, there's something universally humane and compassionate in each of us. When we don't get what we want, life surprises us with something better. It reminds me of the quote "if life gives you lemons, make some lemonade." There are some intransitive scenes inappropriately and awkwardly delivered ... the reappearance of the spooky dreams. Nonetheless, this movie is a delight to watch, you can't help but to fall in love with the cast. If you enjoy this one, also watch "Showers" directed by Zhang Yang.
Rating:
Summary: A good movie without real excitement
Review: This is the perfect example that shows how a movie can be exceptional without any action or excitement. For the narrow-minded movie-viewer, Kikujiro is just another boring foreign movie. As for the ones that are open, this film shows how kind some people can be even when things around them are harsh. One of the best things about Kikujiro is the music. At certain times, it can have an upbeat and happy tempo. When it is necessary, the music expresses a sense of being down, but still going on. Takeshi Kitano's character is a bad example for a father figure, but he learns to care for the boy that he guides. Nothing of significance is accomplished. However, that does not matter. Kikujiro is simply about life and the adventures we can have. That is why this film is one of my favorites that I can never get tired of.
Rating:
Summary: A good movie without real excitement
Review: This is the perfect example that shows how a movie can be exceptional without any action or excitement. For the narrow-minded movie-viewer, Kikujiro is just another boring foreign movie. As for the ones that are open, this film shows how kind some people can be even when things around them are harsh. One of the best things about Kikujiro is the music. At certain times, it can have an upbeat and happy tempo. When it is necessary, the music expresses a sense of being down, but still going on. Takeshi Kitano's character is a bad example for a father figure, but he learns to care for the boy that he guides. Nothing of significance is accomplished. However, that does not matter. Kikujiro is simply about life and the adventures we can have. That is why this film is one of my favorites that I can never get tired of.
Rating:
Summary: Kikujiro
Review: This movie was amazing. It was deep. It was light. It was intellectual. But most importantly this movie was hilarious. I loved it! A definite rental must, 9 out of 10 you'l by it after you see it!
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