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Ichi The Killer
2001
Prolific director Takashi Miike (AUDITION) keeps finding new ways to test the boundaries of on-screen violence. ICHI THE KILLER is a masterful piece of filmmaking, simultaneously funny and horrific, but it's only for viewers with strong stomachs. One character, Kakihara (Japanese indie film heartthrob Tadanobu Asano), a .. Read more
| Starring | Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto, Sabu |
|---|---|
| Director | Takashi Miike |
| Genres | Horror, World Cinema |
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Ichi The Killer
Prolific director Takashi Miike (AUDITION) keeps finding new ways to test the boundaries of on-screen violence. ICHI THE KILLER is a masterful piece of filmmaking, simultaneously funny and horrific, but it's only for viewers with strong stomachs. One character, Kakihara (Japanese indie film heartthrob Tadanobu Asano), a masochistic yakuza lieutenant, has slits in his cheeks through which he blows cigarette smoke and gleefully hacks off his own tongue to apologize for his impudence. Then there's eponymous assassin (Nao Omori), a painfully shy but sadistic young voyeur who wears a leather superhero outfit to work. Manipulated by the cagey and mysterious Jijii (English translation: "Gramps," Shinya Tsukamoto), Ichi lashes out and massacres those Jijii deems bullies, and basically anyone else who upsets his frail psyche. Jijii uses the demented lad to start a bloody war between rival yakuza factions. Miike's film is full of grotesquely over-the-top violent set pieces, including flying entrails, graphic mutilations, and even a severed human face splattered against a wall and slowly sliding to the ground. It's all captured with kinetic camerawork and hyperactive editing. It's not for everyone, but bolder viewers will find it uniquely entertaining.
| Starring | Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto, Sabu, Susumu Terajima, Alien Sun |
|---|---|
| Director | Takashi Miike |
| Studio | SHOWBOX MEDIA |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs Blu-ray: 2 hrs |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Horror, World Cinema |
| Language | Japanese |
| Released | DVD: 02 Jun 2003 Blu-ray: not available Production year: 2001 |
| Format | DVD |
Ichi The Killer (2001)
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Prolific director Miike continues to push at the boundaries of taste and permissable violence; Quentin Tarantino's output looks like Enid Blyton adaptations compared to the gore, sadistic tortures and slicing of victims seen here, all done with excessive
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'All events and characters in the film are entirely sick, any resemblance to persons living or dead is a sad... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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33 out of 43 people found this review helpful
hard to follow
this film is foreign and although it has subtitles they only cover about 20% of the film! therefore i found it impossible to follow!!! unless you speak the languge i wouldnt bother even trying to watch it.
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Most recent members' review
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12 out of 13 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Please Read Carefully...
This film is based on a Manga comic book which is so nastily violent this seems tame in comparison. You have got to realise though that a lot of the violence is not intended to be taken seriously and if some of the special effects at times look dodgy, they are supposed to. There is even an element of slapstick to a couple of scenes. But please don't rent this if you are even mildly shockable - this is not for you! This film is for people with an open mind and not just an all out gore fest. There is a very good story in here but it sometimes becomes difficult to follow because the director Takashi Miike has had to fit so much in. I truly love this film which some people might find strange but i defy you to find a cooler bad guy then Kakihara. I own the Dutch version so know this one will be tamer but the film is not as bad as the trailer suggests - scared the life out of me - search the net and you will find it. Please don't watch the dubbed version. Subtitles are always the best! For those of you that feel ready - enjoy.
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Ichi The Killer - BLU-RAY Version
Prolific director Takashi Miike (AUDITION) keeps finding new ways to test the boundaries of on-screen violence. ICHI THE KILLER is a masterful piece of filmmaking, simultaneously funny and horrific, but it's only for viewers with strong stomachs. One character, Kakihara (Japanese indie film ...
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Ichi The Killer
Prolific director Takashi Miike (AUDITION) keeps finding new ways to test the boundaries of on-screen violence. ICHI THE KILLER is a masterful piece of filmmaking, simultaneously funny and horrific, but it's only for viewers with strong stomachs. One character, Kakihara (Japanese indie film ...
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