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Brother Actors: Takeshi Kitano, Kuroudo Maki Director: Takeshi Kitano Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Format: Color, Widescreen, Closed-captioned, Dolby Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Running Time: 113 minutes Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2002-01-02 Buy from Amazon |
 "Stunning movie"I only planned to wach half this movie one day and the other the next as i had to work but ended up watching the whole thing on acount that this film blows me away. The acting is super from the whole cast down to epps. The blend of the diffrent familys puts you in the world of organizerd crime giving validity to the film (making it believable instead of some knockoff yakuza/mafia film,)Also very welcomed in this film is the humor generated between Denny and ANKI. If you like "mob films" but want more (good story, humor, acting, purpose) then watch this movie  "FIREWORKS AGAIN? NOT QUITE..."Kitano Takeshi's first American directorial effort plays it safe thematically, while upgrading production quality and the level of violence. BROTHER is almost a remake of SONATINE, including his trademark touches of long, quiet scenes followed by sudden eruptions of violence, important events taking place offscreen (which Kitano learned from Mizoguchi Kenji) and so on. There's even a reference to a shootout visible only via flashing lights in SONATINE. Another odd thing is the movie taking time to explicate the value system of the Japanese yakuza, as if Kitano felt it necessary to show to American audience the ABCs of the yakuza genre. Seemingly no one remembered to tell him that there already is Sidney Lumet's excellent YAKUZA with Robert Mitchum and Takakura Ken, wherein Mitchum cuts off his pinkie in the end to show appreciation for Takakura. (James Shigeta, a veteran Japanese American actor, who plays Yamamoto's accountant in BROTHER, was in it too) BROTHER is a disappointment to those who take Kitano seriously as a cineaste and not just a genre filmmaker, but the film is not without its charms and strengths. The central relationship between Omar Epps and Beat Takeshi is well-developed, and even though the redundancy of the very last scene has been pointed out, I would have to say that it works in the context of Epps' character. As for the censorship, a mid-80s actioner such as THE CHALLENGE was far more violent than BROTHER, so I have no idea why they even bothered. In fact, THE CHALLENGE clearly showed a man's intenstines dangling from a sword slash, whereas a similar scene was obviously censored in this movie.  "A movie that makes Sopranos look like a network soap opera"Ok never heard of this guy knew of Omar Epps seen him do mostly Black Dramas so along comes this movie that had it not had him on the cover I probably would have ignored it so I picked it up read the back cover put it down came back a week later on one of movie nights at home and pop it into my DVD player and was loving it from the moment it started Takeshi kitano is pure genius he made me chuckle at his mannerisms but I loved his intimate relationship with Omar Epps character after running into him on the street. I'm glad there was a mix of races in this movie from Asain ,Blacks,Hispanic and,Italian.It gave the movie depth it made it seem more realistic. The only reason I gave it four stars was that the pacing threw me for a couple moments and I was tempted to fall asleep until the action started other wise it was a treat to see definently a buy when I can track it down on DVD. "Senseless & Beautiful ? Like the Life Itself"A Japanese yakuza henchman (played by Kitano) named "Brother" came the States after his clan was destroyed in a mafia war back in Japan. Here the Brother organised his friends into a clan and started a cruel war on local mafia families to win a space. The newcomer is cruel and does not think twice before killing his rivals. However, what makes this movie worth watching is natural looking Darwinist style violence and relationships within his band beautifully played by Kitano and his actors. What always appealed me in Kitano's films is human interaction between central characters including the most negative ones. The Brother is cruel, strong, and a good marksman. He is not a kind of person you ordinarily would like to meet on a street. However, he ultimately sacrifices his life to save Danny, his black companion, from the band of Italians. But in the beginning of the movie those two characters had very few if any reasons to like each other after the Brother pokes Danny in the eye with a broken bottle, then cheats him in a game. Another moving scene is when the Brother's right hand man sacrifices his life to persuade another local Japanese criminal ring to merge with the Brother's operation. Simple, convincing and incomprehensible at the same time! I gave this movie five stars and highly recommend it to anyone interested in action. This film is The Action itself! "WOW THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!"Hands down the greatest movie of 2001.WOW!what a gangster perfect mafia pic.TAKESHI "BEAT" KITANO IS THE MAN!He directed and stars in this great action mobster YakuZA flick evryone would love.It is well thought out and concept is great.A blen of SCARFACE and RESERVOIR DOGS but very different and unique .After you see this movie you will rush to the video store and buy it i assure you! WOW *****"s.Check out also "FIREWORKS" with Beat Tkeshi also directed and "SONATINE".BROTHER IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!BUY OR RENT AT ALL COSTS_---"TWO THUMBS UP, WAY UP!"______EMAIL ME about what you think or info ...ENJOY!!!!!!!!!! |
