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Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition) Director: Takashi Miike Number of Items: 1 Format: Color Audience Rating: Unrated Running Time: 129 minutes Studio: Media Blasters, Inc Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2003-11-18 Buy from Amazon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 86 Average rating: 4.0 "Sick, Twisted, and Surprisingly Well-Made" Based on the manga, Takashi Miike's "Ichi the Killer", is, like many of his other films, extremely difficult to watch. And like his other films, he is so gifted as a director, that even the graphic violence and difficult to swallow themes do not detract from the enjoyment of this film. Which is not to suggest that I have a problem with violence in motion pictures. It is just that, the violence in "Ichi" is so horrific it often feels like violence for violence's sake. Picture the infamous torture scene from Miike's own "Audition". Now imagine that scene played out for a full two hours and six minutes. That is a pretty good idea of what it feels like watching this film. However, the characters in the film are all intriguing and well-developed, even if the story (a revenge tale at its heart) may be a little weak. There are no heroes in this film. In fact, it could be argued, that there are two anti-heroes, Kakihara, a criminal with a "torn" face and Ichi himself. Kakihara, despite the horrific acts he is shown committing, comes off as strangely likeable through his dialogue and background actions (he is shown in one scene watering two plants, right before biting off most of the skin on someone's hand.) Ichi, a very obviously psychologically disturbed young man, is being manipulated to kill, and as a viewer you often feel sorry for him, despite the often horrific acts he commits as well. One restaurant scene in particular is difficult to watch because you simply feel so sorry for Ichi. No one under 18 should be watching this movie however. It features excessive violence (cartoonish at times), violence towards women, and scenes of graphic torture and rape. If you can stomach that, then this movie comes highly recommended. "Just a little torture" I wanted to see tis film, since my friend said it's alot more graphic than versus. Man but when I popped it in, I did not expect the things this movie threw at me to be sooo.... sadisticly sick. The main story is on a Yakuza boss who's gone missing. One of his henchmen(Tadanobu Asano) is going as far as tourturing a man not responsible whatsoever(And this guy is freaky, he'd rather torture people for fun instead of information). But he has yet to interrigate a pure deluded sadistical maniac, Ichi(Nao Omori). I'm telling you, if this guy starts crying, take te next plane out of whatever country you're in, unless you want to see your own intestines and blood slattered all over a wall. This movie just goes directly into some of the sickest of demented human sicknesses I've ever seen.(Possible spoilers) I mean, a woman who loves being beat up, and raped, a man who wants his woman to hit him like she wants to kill him, and aw man not to mention the torutre tactics: denipiling, hanging off your back from hooks, and man this movie is just sick. The only thing that left be really baddazzaled was the ending. I didn't understand it, and it leaves questions that will never be answered. That's the only thing that kinda let me down. This movie explores the way a human mind can effect the real world, if they don't get any kind of help, and man, it's pretty freaky. Anyone who loves gore and stuff, should check this out. Anyone who says the directer is over his head, and needs help should understand that this is a movie, it's entertainment. I mean magic in a movie is more rediculas, where in the real world, there can be some people like this. peace "twisted and bizarre!?!" I really didn't know what to expect before seeing this film so I can't say that I was disappointed. That being said, this film was not as great as it could have been. It doesn't seem to know which genre it wants to belong in: dark comedy, revenge-crime, martial arts, gangster, etc. I suppose it has elements of all of these, and yet they just don't seem to gel all that well. There are definitely some memorable scenes in this film, but the violence was just too over-the-top and cartoonish for my tastes. I wouldn't recommend this film (except maybe to hard-core misogynysts) and yet I wouldn't try to talk someone out of seeing it either. I suppose I don't really feel all that strongly one way or the other. "fantastic great film Ichi the Killer" Miike's brilliant camera work and imagery freakishly intense world, the tormentor and the tormented are locked in a cycle of retribution and outlandish violence where torture, dismemberment, and evisceration are the norm. Crisply edited and employing some mind-boggling camera techniques, the film ,creates mordantly funny moments that are as pungent as they are memorable. At one point, Kakihara, as an act of atonement, cuts off his pierced tongue only to take a cell phone call immediately afterwards. this is entertaining articulate film that everyone should see. "Awful but Wonderful" My introduction to Japanese Gore-fest movies, and what a wonder it was. A perfect way to purge the brain. After the...opening sequence I had to say I was wondering if this movie would sit with me as well as the zombie-horror types I love so well, but, indeed it did. Kakihara has to be my favorite character, by far, I was almost disappointed when the ending came around, but what happened definitely completes the characters cycle, and I just...these sorts of endings never fail to excite and complete. I'm always in awe of what seems to be the Asian ability to kill off anyone and everyone throughout one of their films, never get attached to anyone, please! I really need to see more Miike. We have "Audition" and "City of Lost Souls" now I just haven't had chance to watch them.