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Kikujiro Director: Takeshi Kitano Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 116 minutes Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2000-12-12 Buy from Amazon |
 "a movie with a soul"Unlike other viewers, this is my first Takeshi Kitano film. This is far from a family film, though the topic matter is light, and happy, and childlike, there are dark and mature themes that undercurrent the movie. If anything, this film is like a return to innocence. The primary character, a gangster-yakuza type takes under his wing a young boy, w/ a promise to deliver him safely to visit his mother on the other side of Japan. What makes the film interesting is the hero is a flawed hero, the first thing he does is spend all the money that was given to him to help pay for thier fare, on the racetrack... what results for the rest of the film is a vagabond 'road trip' journey as he creatively helps them find thier way to the boy's mother and back, using every trick he knows from his criminal/vagabond existence. Along the way, the boy's innocence perhaps reminds himself of something lost a long time ago, and you are along not just on a physical journey, but a spiritual one as well; as the hero transforms from con-man/reluctant guardian to a true guardian-angel figure for the boy. Another thing that is lush, is the cinemetography, Almost every other scene seems like an illustration from a book, or a painting. The cenimetography is purposefully wide-scope, and the composition both w/ lighting and subject matter often frame the gangster and the boy in still-shots that seem like overlush realistic impressionistic paintings. It's harder to describe w/ words, but beleive me, the visual impact of the film is something you rarely experience, and done so, as much as it was done throughout the film. Whereas most movies use these grandiouse shots as sorta expository intros, the director places these shots throughout thier journey and involves the action and dialogue w/in it as well. Lastly, the music is as much a character, and vivid one as the rest of the live human cast. Apparently this is the same composer who did the musical score for Princess Momonoke, and you'll hear a similiar trademark mixture of both western and uniquely japanese sensibilities. His composition however succeeds in capturing and punctuating the various moods and undercurrents of the film, as if you could hear the spiritplay between the gangster-thug and his ward as they wander on this adventure. Overall, Kikujiro is unlike any other film I've ever watched, it is spiritual and deepwrought w/ meaning but in the uniquely Japanese-zen methodology, where you feel that you've experianced something profound, but it is as enigmatic as a passing breeze. The film on just a non-intellectual level is thoroughly enjoyable, and will leave you in awe, atleast that is my experience. "Simply Brilliant..."...cinema. Words at first fail me when I try to describe the wonder that is this film. Even if you are one who has a hard time reading the text in a subtitled film you will probably enjoy it. That is one of the beauties of this film; it goes well beyond the boundaries of the culture and language that are contained within. It's a movie that touches the heart primarily through its imagery. I found myself at times not even reading the subtitles because I inherently knew what was happening on the screen. The actors don't just act, when Masao (the young boy featured on the cover) is sad you are sad. A heartless human is one who doesn't come away affected in some way by this brilliant work. "Beautiful Work"I have seen Brother, which included Takeshi Kitano, and I loved him in that film. But after renting this movie from Blockbuster, I will definitely buy it to have as part of my Japanese movie collection. Takeshi (Kikujiro) played a brilliant role as a man of all sorts of emotions and actions which made me feel bad for him at times, and for others in different moments. The connection between him and the little boy (Masao) was very real and touching. The plot, though at times a little slow, was still cute and sentimental. The music, the acting, the story, the whole package was amazing when I decided to see it for the first and third time. I suggest this film to any person who enjoys a nice story without minding the subtitles. My little brother who hates subtitles also fell in love with the film! "great"I love Beat Takeshi's works and it was nice to see him do something different with this movie instead of the gangs and cops-type stuff. Dont get me wrong, I loved those too. I think his brave efforts paid off and this is one of his better films. You'll like the kid and the theme song will stick in your head. "Yakusa undone"Those of you who are used to Takeshi Kitano movies may be in for a surprise with this one. The first time I watched this movie I was engulfed in a waterfall of emotions from falling off my couch comedy to eye watering sadness. This movie gives the audience a diffrent look at Japans infamous Yakusa. We can come to understand the circumstance that may lead a child to grow up and become a member of the Yakusa. With out giving away the movie I ask you all to pay careful attention to the similarities between the two main characters in this movie as this may clue you in to the deeper meaning of this movie. A must see...absolutely wonderful. |
