Review of Tokyo Drifter (1966) by Dave J — 24 Aug 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010.
(1966) Tokyo Drifter.
(In Japanese with English subtitles).
ACTION.
The first of two brilliant yakuza films from director (with the second Branded To Kill) Seijun Suzuki before getting the axe by Japanese head studio Nikkatsu because audiences and critics alike couldn't understand them resulting to poor boxoffice receits! Suzuki never made anything else after at least after 25 years later, what a waste when he could've made more films like this one. Before John Woo's action ridden 1989 "The Killer" or Jean Pierre Melville's 1967 "Le Samourai" about a lone assassin trying to retire but couldn't because either he wasn't allowed or that people were sent to take him out- this film started it all in terms of anti- hero!
Now considered as an instant classic, I have to say this film is defintely ahead of it's time both in the action department as well as it's style, because of it's colorful settings, the timing of the tune making it very catchy even if I don't understand it as well. And then there is the action, all I've got to say that I've never seen so much gun shooting action on a 60's film such as this one which is stylishly picturisque, chrismatic and melodic! Just like "Fistful of Dollars" 60's violence or action used to be controlled because films weren't allowed to show too much of it, now it seems like at times that their isn't enough! This is an extremely important film for anyone who crave for action cinema!
Major masterpiece!
4/4.
This review of Tokyo Drifter (1966) was written by Dave J on 24 Aug 2010.
Tokyo Drifter has generally received positive reviews.
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