Review of Ichi the Killer (2001) by Forrest E — 31 Dec 2012
OK, so we have cheap CGI... And??? What else? If Takashi Miike is a genius at something, it is at creating fully absorbing, 100% Japanese environments, depicting even the guts of an exceptionally-created crime underworld. The first two Dead or Alive deliveries were his first great successful achievements at such aim, but Koroshiya 1 makes truly exceptional deeds.
On one hand, you have Asano giving his most genius performance as a sadomasochistic, charismatic and hilarious badass guy. On the other hand, you have a mentally fucked, seemingly harmless yet incredibly deadly assassin trying to look for the answers of the past while fighting brutal inner demons and slashing guys with shoe blades and acrobatic movements. In the middle, you have a stunning visual style throughout with soul, a tremendously sick world by Miike towards the world he depicted and the funniest torture scenes ever. The result is, quite incredibly, better than the original (animated) source. Oh, and if you find rather odd the fact that you'll find yourself eating pizza and laughing hysterically during the hardcore scenes during the second viewing, don't be disturbed or shocked at yourself. Don't you think it may be the consequence of the work of a Japanese genius?
97/100.
This review of Ichi the Killer (2001) was written by Forrest E on 31 Dec 2012.
Ichi the Killer has generally received positive reviews.
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