Ichi the Killer is the story of a Yakuza gang run by Anjo, whom his underlings find missing (possibly killed) with 100 million yen gone as well. The functional head of Anjo's gang while he's absent is an off-the-wall sadomasochist named Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano). There is a former affiliate gang, now somewhat rivals, run by Fujiwara (Toru Tezuka), and there are a number of gang outcasts who hang out at a bar/brothel, with Jijii (Shinya Tsukamoto) as their head. Jijii is manipulating/grooming a bizarre killer named Ichi (Nao Omori), who is gradually taking out Anjo and Fujiwara gang members for him.

If you haven't seen infamous Japanese cult film director Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer yet and you're considering it, there is one "test" that might make the decision easy for you--do you like fairly regular over-the-top violence, torture and gore? If that's enough to turn you on to a film, do not pass Ichi the Killer up--you're sure to love it. This is one of the most brutal and gory films I've seen, and yes, I've seen Andreas Schnaas films. However, if those things are enough to turn your stomach instead, you shouldn't come near this film with a two-foot needle.

For me, I don't mind over-the-top violence, torture and gore, but that in itself isn't sufficient for me to like a film. Despite some admirable stylistic flourishes, including some very unique cinematography and editing as well as an unusual but extremely effective soundtrack, there were a number of things in Ichi the Killer that didn't quite work for me. I ended up liking the film, but just moderately. A 7 is a "C" in my rating system.

One problem I had with the film, which might be clear from the description in my first paragraph, is that the plot isn't exactly easy to follow. Writer Sakichi Satô, adapting the script from a manga (Japanese comic) by Hideo Yamamoto, introduces a large number of characters in each scene, and we do not always get their names or very clear dialogue explaining who they are. There were quite a few characters for whom I was never very sure about their identity. In conjunction with this, the film didn't always flow as well as it should have. It tends to feel like long scenes of establishing exposition alternated with violence/torture showcases.

But by the final "act", there are some very interesting revelations about characters and their relationships to one another. So it's not that the kernel of a good story isn't there. It's just told a bit awkwardly. This might not have been helped by the fact that Miike has stated that he was shooting for a kind of open-ended vagueness that is characteristic of Asian genre films. The impact of the revelations is somewhat dissolved by the time we get to the dénouement due to the intentional ambiguity.

The beginning of Ichi the Killer employs a lot of extended cinematographic techniques in rapid succession ala Oliver Stone--different film speeds, stocks, tinting and processing methods, and so on. While these are interesting, Miike forgets about them quickly as he works his way into the story. They pop up occasionally later in the film, as do a couple shots in the vein of Dario Argento, such as a tracking shot through someone's ear. Even when more conventional, the cinematography and production design remain admirable throughout--I particularly liked the shot of Kakihara sitting in front of a red background, with his purple coat and green scarf, but there is a lot of outstanding visual composition in the film.

Whether intended or not, Ichi the Killer frequently reads as more of a black (morbid) comedy. This is because the violence is so over-the-top that it is frequently cartoonish and ridiculous. Those are positive qualities in my book, but anyone looking for realism should beware. On the other hand, the emotional reactions from "victims" are fairly realistic throughout the film, including the fact that people do not die immediately after they are injured.

But Miike's concern, as with his other films, is more surrealist. The behavior of the principal characters is particularly wacky, especially Ichi, who often seems borderline mentally deficient--he cries and cowers before he brutally attacks his victims, and has a very odd sexual dysfunction associated with his violence. Ichi is also portrayed as something akin to a superhero, and Miike constantly bounces back and forth between showing him as an admirable vigilante and an anti-hero. Kakihara, who is giving something of a venerable "bad boy" rock star/punk persona, is also almost a hero through much of the film, and he also has some bizarre sexual dysfunctions, as do a number of other characters. This is one of the main subtexts of the film; it isn't entirely dissimilar to the later A Snake of June (2002). There is also another character who undergoes something of a superhero transformation, as he sheds his public appearance and becomes a muscle-bound avenger near the climax.

Be warned - as early as the film's titles - letters rising from fallen sperm - (The costumed killer ejaculated voyeuristically watching violence done by one of the other team of gangster killers). You should either run screaming from the theater or stay for an over-the-top exercise in so much violence it becomes white noise and almost disappears. Seen at the Cinematheque, here in Los Angeles, with an adult crowd - this unrated but surely X-cubed film was a delight to those who stayed A few patrons fled in the middle of the screening but most got the point. Bad guys pursuing bad guys - with genre formula being trashed at every point - the humor built and built. Any good characters (children included) were decimated or tortured. None were spared. Yet the film is a romp - from the complaining co-workers who grumble about having to clean up blood-drenched murder scenes (they found intestines everywhere) to the sado-masochistic special effects. The film has left turns into fantasy - then back again - it has intentional bad-acting scenes (from previously capable actors)- the camera work has a will of it sown - exposition that makes no sense.

This film posits the questions: If you are going to be a bad-boy film director and take screen violence as far as it can go - no farther than that - NO REALLY FARTHER THAN THAT - to the point of blood almost every minute - what would the result be? Apparently the director feels that on the far side of excess violence and blood letting in glorious technicolor and grotesque special effects, the cinema would revert to a twisted sense of innocence (beyond all that killing there is a comic sense of the universe).

A film that should be seen - but you should be prepared for it. Not a classic - but a definite statement - more a cinema-artist's statement than a traditional film. Museums will find a place for it - families will abhor it.

I got into it to my amazement. It stretched my mind about what should be so.

Ichi the Killer is definitely not a film for people who have weak stomachs or who are easily offended. This film contains some of the most shocking images you'll ever see and includes some very disturbing characters that won't be forgotten in a hurry. It is always a very brave move for a film maker when they decide to adapt from a manga as manga often has aspects within it that can not be replicated in to a live picture. Takashi Miike makes the transition possible and blows away all walls of reality with an outstanding and totally unforgettable film.

The plot involves Yakuza boss Anjo going missing with a huge stash of cash, his gang members investigate and a classic game of cat and mouse is involved. This seems simple enough but what is out of the ordinary is that the leader of the investigation, Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano), is a major masochist and Anjo's killer, Ichi (Nao Omori) is the ultimate sadist with a tormented soul. This is where Ichi the Killer's shocking and graphic imagery really come in to force. Miike is uncompromising in his approach with regards to what he delivers on screen. There are no subtleties, no off camera goings on; it is all there for the audience to see, in full detail! The torture scenes, and their results, are especially horrific. If this film had been made in America or Europe, it would have been banned within a second of being made, it's that graphic. What disturbed me more than the disgusting imagery however, were the characters. Ichi's character I found genuinely terrifying as whilst he often comes across as a cartoonish character, there is a disturbingly real quality to his character. Ichi's childlike naivety draws many parallels to past psychotic killers that have existed in real life and his sexual excitement at causing pain and death is incredibly unsettling. Also unsettling is the character of Kakihara. His badly scarred face and clips either side of his lips immediately make him appear a scary figure and the only thing more disturbing than his pleasure for torturing others and watching their pain is his unparalleled love for being beaten and tortured himself.

What I like about many Asian films is that the acting is often very good and Ichi the Killer is no exception. Tadanobu Asano is brilliant as Kakihara. His performance is charismatic and terrifying, he does a great job of making the role his own. Nao Omori plays Ichi perfectly. The way that he can act tormented, childish and merciless all in one scene is incredible to watch and, as I said before, gives the film a genuinely disturbing edge rather than just immense gore. Alien Sun is very sexy as Karen and the way she speaks more than one language in an almost random fashion adds further mystery to this film. The fact that Karen is the only character who has Ichi's past explained to her from Jijii makes the audience able to empathise with her character more than anyone else. Shinya Tsukamoto is also very good as Jijii. His character is unravelled throughout the film and Tsukamoto is very convincing in his portrayal of what turns out to be a very complex character.

The purpose of this film is to shock and it achieves its goal to the point where you almost can not watch. With extremely graphic gore and some intense surrealist imagery that Salvador Dali himself would have been proud of, Ichi the Killer will never be forgotten and deserves to be watched by a lot more people (even if they can only watch it once!). Miike is very clever with his direction. The way he blends Kaneko's flash back sequences with the present does wonders to keep the audience's attention. The ending is also done with great style and is very effective in ending the film so it is down to interpretation of the audience.

Despite being very hard to palate, Ichi the Killer is a fantastic film. Directing, acting, writing and score are all spot on and the quality of the film is very good. Not a film I could handle watching too regularly but definitely a film I'll want to watch a few more times in the future.

Takashi Miike's "Ichi the Killer" is a masterpiece of insane cinema.This film is surely challenging-filled with enough sadistic violence and rape to satisfy fans of Japanese harrowing cinema.It's based on the popular manga by Hideo Yamamoto.The character of Ichi is truly amazing-he is a mysterious figure who slices various individuals into numerous bloody pieces with razor sharp blades strapped to his boots.The gore is pretty extreme as Ichi literally slices people in half with his razor-sharp boots.The acting is surprisingly good-Nao Omori and Tadanobu Asano are impressive as Ichi and Kakihara.Highly recommended,especially if you have strong stomach.9 out of 10.

What can one say about Ichi the Killer? I do have to say, without a doubt, it is one of the most unique films I have ever seen. I was afraid going in, after hearing all of the hype, that it would be gore just for the sake of gore. But the way it is portrayed and the characters are what really drive the movie and make it stand out from other gorefests. It may be my sick personality, but I found myself laughing a lot throughout the movie. There is a lot of black humor in the film, which I enjoy. I would not consider this a horror movie by any means though, as I was not scared at all while watching it and it had none of the tendencies of a traditional horror film. The only thing that kept me from giving it 10 stars is the ending, which is a bit abstract, but I'm sure it was intended that way. But I would recommend this film to anyone, cause it's something everyone should experience. The only movie I could compare this to would be Dead Alive, and that is a very loose comparison. Just do yourself a favor and watch it.

This has to be one of my greatest experiences in the Asian cinema. I have been watching Asian movies since the eighties where I saw my first martial arts movies and I have been an Asian fan ever since.

They have a unique way of making movies and a boldness you don't see in western cinema. I have a few friends that share my sick fascination in the gory and shocking side of Asian movie making and Ichi the killer is the best in it's genre. I have seen a lot of Miike's movies which I won't mention here but Ichi is by far my favorite Miike movie.

Takashi Miike spits out movies faster than speeding bullets and some of his works are not even worth watching. But once in a while he hits the spot and delivers a masterpiece and Ichi is by all means a masterpiece. A lot of people only see the blood, torture, gore and humiliation of the human body in Miike's movies but mostly he has a hidden or at least partly foggy agenda.

Ichi is basically a film about a loyal yakusa henchman trying to find meaning in his life after his boss has been murdered and a murderer trying to find himself in a labyrinth of deception and lost memories. It is well played and very well made.Tadanobu Asano excels as Kakihara and Nao Omori is extremely good as the violent insane killer Ichi. The special effects has a realistic feel about them and you can almost feel the pain inflicted in this movie and there is plenty of pain to go around.

Ichi is not a film for people with weak nerves or a dislike for blood. Miike likes to shock his audience and is a master in this field. He delivers the meat for the gore hounds and has a weird sense of humor....

I give this little blood feast a 8.0

If you've heard of "Ichi the Killer" then you've heard about it. Before watching it, I was told that it will be, `absolutely the most violent, grotesque film you have ever seen.' It was for this reason, sick I guess you could say, that I was compelled to know more.

What few reviews I was able to find did nothing to give me more insight. Ok, it's gross.ok it's violent.ok, I watched the trailer.but how bad could it be? I looked all over to try and find it, but this won't be at your local video store, for obvious reasons. So, I broke down and purchased it online. I don't know if it's available stateside, but I found mine overseas, the `uncut version;' which is kind of strange to say considering the graphic nature of the movie.

The movie has English subtitles, which are distracting and hard to keep up with at times. Too many lines too quickly, I found myself rewinding frequently to catch the dialog. This certainly has a plot, and you find yourself wanting to understand it. Some of the subtitles are misinterpreted and on occasion do not make sense, but that is typical and infrequent enough to deal with.

I won't give you any spoilers on the plot, violence or gore.but I will say this, it is because of the plot that the violence, rape and gore are, to say the least, striking. Perhaps the rape and extreme violence to women is the hardest to view. To watch a `slasher' movie in the States is nothing, we find it mindless and many times comical. However this movie is certainly a big step above. The other person who reviewed this movie referred to it as a, `hysterical comedy' but for me it was a barrage on the senses. He may refer to it as such because he has seen others of comparison and hence desensitized; not unlike many Americans are to the aforementioned `slasher' movies. Although there are places where comedy is inserted, for me it was lost as I attempted to swallow the violence, gore or rape that had just preceded it.

I would say this movie would be like seeing `Texas Chainsaw Massacre' if it had been viewed in the 1940's. Imagine seeing TCM in 1974 when it came out, it was messed up to most people who saw it THEN, much less how it would be perceived 20 or 30 years earlier.no matter how hokey it might seem now. Actually, to combine a couple of movies, I would say that if you took the violence and gore of TCM and mixed it with the violence and plot of `A Clockwork Orange' and put it out in the 40's or 50's, you would get the same reaction that I got, in present desensitized 2004, to Ichi. If you are sensitive to violence, rape or gore, stay far away.

Takashi Miike is Sam Peckinpah, Stanley Kubrick, Oliver Stone and Quentin Tarantino wrapped into one. This movie would never be made in present day USA, but I could see the likes of it in the years to come as directors or Hollywood push the envelope in an effort to be "trailblazing" or cutting edge. It's scary to take a peek what will essentially be our slasher films in 20 years, if not sooner.

Someone may say I am silly for such comparisons, but I would ask, could you have made TCM or Clockwork in the 1940's? Could you have made Natural Born Killers in the 1950's? Kill Bill in the 1960's? None of these movies, when I saw them, shocked me.Ichi did.

Ichi the Killer, is hands down the number one hardest film for me to sit through.... so far. The acting is so good, characters so charismatic, that you are compelled to keep watching.

The story is about 2 characters, one a member of the mafia, the other a man without direction. Kakihara is expelled from the Yazuka gang for his methods, which are altogether too brutal for them - and takes over the Anjo gang. He is a sado masochist, who lives his death with a sort of destined death wish.. looking for the one who will be worthy to kill him.

In a way it's a film about two extremes... desensitization and over-sensitization by a broken society.

Ichi is in love with a local prostitute, but she belongs to the Yazuka boss, who beats her, rapes her.. so Ichi kills the head Yazuka boss for the girl he loves, but he accidentally kills her too. He has never quite gotten over his childhood best friend who was raped in front of him, and he was too afraid to help her.

The story is very graphic and very dark, but has a very interesting message, and the directing,music, and acting are all surprisingly so good, that they actually get the message across flawlessly even though you might have to turn the movie off every 20 minutes just to catch your breath!

So, Kakihara teaches his new girlfriend on the humane treatment of masochists, and when he tells her to come at him as if to kill him - she although worn out after beating on him for so long, takes fist to his face one more time... and he simply says - "That's enough, you're not the one," and walks away. Talk about a different first (and last) date.

Kakihara is cold, calculating, fearless, and crazy. A sado masochist with delusions of grandeur and a love so misguided it's more of a deathwish then anything else.

Ichi is emotionally stunted, psychotic, and sad, garbed in a black superhero costume, or uniform of some type, and out for revenge.. Together, they make one hell of a pair in ICHI THE KILLER.

I have not seen a lot of Asian extreme films, they're honestly a bit much for me - Ichi had a very charismatic cast which compels you to watch through to the end.

To be honest, I don't know what to think of this film. Personally, I couldn't think about it in a critical way like I do with most films purely because of the extreme levels of on screen violence. Essentially, the violence is the protagonist of this film and anyone who thinks otherwise is sorely mistaken. How can anyone know what the hell is going on when every five minutes or so there's another scene of extreme brutality?

Being a hardened gore fan, I thought I'd seen the worst there can possibly be in terms of on screen violence (Hell even Saw pushed me) but this film dared to take it one step further. Mere minutes into the film, we are greeted with the grisly aftermath of an extremely brutal murder (blood covers literally every surface and innards are strewn around like confetti), and, for the first hour at least, the violence doesn't let up.

What follows is the most brutal portrayal of on screen violence that I have ever seen. Tongues are severed off, boiling fat is poured over people (with close ups of skin melting and such) and even a child is decapitated. The boundaries of what can be shown on screen are pushed to the very limits and even die-hard gore fans will feel sick to the stomach as the violence continues scene after scene after scene.

I believe that, in order to take a critical approach to this film, I will have to watch it again. The audience is so engrossed (or repulsed?) by the carnage that they see or take in very little else. On a second viewing, I may be able admire the film, as the violence is necessary to the story, but it is the carnage that will be remembered. A case of style over content maybe?

What can I say? Personally, with repeated viewings, this film may turn out to be masterpiece in the guise of a Japanese gore fest but until those viewing (and they won't be anytime soon), a Japanese gore fest is what it'll remain to be.

3/5

You know those revenge stories that are so often used in various Asian cinema, the ones that involve, like, Jackie Chan killing the killers of his brother or whatever? This film is NOTHING like that. However, that's as close of a basic foundational structure I can give you to help explain this amazing psychological look into a world defined by violence and masochism.

The storyline is much too deep to give a proper synopsis without either making it sound clichéd or giving away too much information, but basically it's a story about an ex-cop who brainwashes a tender, sensitive young man to kill all the "bullies" of the world in order to ignite gang violence. It involves a lot of gore and a crazy sadomasochist with a torn-up face who delights in feeling hunted by Ichi. Various characters all struggle to define their loyalties to violence which leads up to this absolutely stunning ending which frankly could never have originated in American cinema.

It's also quite visually appealing, both artistically and with gore. It's an amazing film that anyone with a strong stomach should take the time to hunt down and see.

--PolarisDiB

In 2001 Japanesse cult director Takashi Miike created one of the most unique and controversial movies ever to grace the screen. An adaptation of a manga with the same name, "Ichi The Killer" is a wild and crazy ride into the depths of human madness. As the movie creates its own parallel to our world where sexual violence and torture are common ways to express a character's emotional condition or thoughts.

Plotwise "Ichi The Killer" deals with an yakuza Kakihara (played by the diverse Tadanobu Asano) who along with his underlings starts a search for his missing boss. At the same time he finds himself chased by a mysterious assassin known only as Ichi. Kakihara's methods of extracting information become a similar sight throughout the film, with him torturing anyone that could know something about his boss.

The movie is presented as a dark comedy that feels more like a parody of humanity's most dark and hidden desires. With every character representing a sick and twisted version of a certain established type of behavior found in modern society. From the abused, passive and sexually inactive male being transformed into a crying psychopatic murderer whose's only excitement comes from seeing (or causing) massive displays of violence and rape (Ichi). To the violent gangster stereotype further villainized with the character of Kakihara whose never ending need to inflict pain to others or to himself has left him void to any other forms of arouse or emotion. Miike goes so far that he criticizes women in Japan for their often seen submissive behavior by introducing a more independent persona with the character of Karen, a notably western influenced person, her need to cause pain nearly borders Kakihara's.

The violence itself is presented in such an obscenely over-exaggerated way that one can not help but laugh at some of the situations created by it. Make no mistake this movie is definitely no kiddie ride, and people who can't stand horror or alternative films have no place in watching this. Miike has gone so far in this that even the title introduction in the begging is going to shock you. He also succeeds in creating a very dreamlike feel to the movie. More nightmarish than dreamlike actually. The finale itself is shockingly absurd with the two main characters "battling" it out from a third person's perspective.

A special note should be made concerning the movie's soundtrack. Whose unique use of completely different and diverse from each other sounds and styles fits with the film's own meddling in cinematic genres.

There is really no second like "Ichi The Killer" Takashi Miike created an original work that could disgust many but could also amaze any of those people who are searching for something more untraditional.

Ichi The Killer's storyline is absolutely brilliant and Takeshi Miike has turned the Anime comic into a masterpiece, combining "love", comedy and horror. You have to look passed the violence (which is quite humorous at times, ie; the prostitute trying to smile with a bruised face). If you watch this movie with an open mind, you will notice there is not one single dull moment and this is not an exaggeration. The ending is very mind boggling and leaves you to come up with your own conclusion, the soundtrack is awesome and the cinematography is very original; the camera angles displayed in the scene just after the Anjo group is kicked out of the syndicate amaze me, displaying a shot over Kakihara's right hand mans shoulder leaves me astounded, literally. Please, if you come across this movie, i beg you to see it; you certainly will not regret it.

Ichi The Killer rocks. 10/10

Ichi the Killer is a landmark picture in Japanese Cinema. It is an audio and visual attack on the senses (and gag reflex) which adopts a unique style of movie/comic book- hybrid film making. A real Miike masterpiece!

Kakihara is not your typical Yakuza gangster. He is sadistic, masochistic, depraved, has a hair trigger for violence, and is really really upset that someone has kidnapped his boss, Anjo and taken off with 100 million yen. So, torturing his way through the underworld, he manages to get kicked out of the Yakuza and finds out, too late, that it was a man called Ichi that killed his boss and is now after him. Kakihara then sets out for revenge and vindication in the name of Anjo.

Ichi, on the other hand, seems to be a more simple kind of guy who works for an ex-cop who loves to wreak havoc on the Yakuza. Ichi's work is thought to be that of a brutally insane and blood thirsty maniac. But, upon meeting him, one can't help but notice his peculiar innocence and naiveté. However, it is this very feature that makes him so deadly.

When these two forces collide, it's endless violence, torture, rape, murder, blood, gore, and underworld danger and depravity. Ichi the Killer is a movie that directors like Quentin Tarantino only dream of making. If films were people, his Kill Bills would only watch and drool at Ichi the Killer!

Koroshiya Ichi is DEFINITELY not for the faint of heart. Maybe not even for the strong-willed. However, it is for movie buffs.

Ichi can gross out very easily in some scenes, and like some of the best Japanese films, the concepts for these gross-outs are original and horrible. But the storyline easily makes up for all the horror, and anyone who can stomach the film will most likely find themselves laughing at some of the more outrageous gory scenes, in the tradition (but not, in my opinion, the stupidity) of Dead/Alive.

I recommend this film to anyone who has an interest in any of the following: Japanese film: Required. Gross-out/gory humor: Required. Mob films: Recommended

And generally, anyone who can sympathize with a character who finds life so mundane that he wishes to die in the most interesting way he can.

I make it a point to mention that no one is killed by gunfire, but a lot of people die. Just to heighten your interest.

8/10.

What My title for this comment says should be a warning to some. That is why the viewer should probably be strongly warned of what this film has in it. Extreme Comic Book Violence. Before I watched this film, I knew that it would have a lot of violence, but I wasn't expecting it to reach heights greater than what I thought. I didn't think it was going to be as extreme as it is before I watched it. The film did shock me a bit.If you think films like Dead Alive, Battle Royale, Audition, Salo', and Caligula are as depraved as movies can be, be prepared to be disarmed. With that said, I will now talk about the film. The story is this. Kakihara is a bisexual sadist who enjoys doing sadistic things such as hanging people by hooks and dumping hot grease on them or pulling the flesh off of people's face's with his arms and legs. He is looking for his Yakuza boss who disappeared. Kakihara is sad because his boss used to play crazy and weird sexual games with him. Kakahara is sort of unaware of a boy named Ichi who runs around in a superhero outfit the the number 1 on it and has blades in his boots that he uses to kill evil people with in gory unrealistic fashions. Ichi is being summoned by a supposedly retired cop. From there on, the story of madness, rape, murder, and mayhem gets a little more complicated. This film, when you look past all the gallons of blood and the sadomasochism, is brilliant. It is full of humor and entertainment but that is not what makes it good. I admired it's story and it's completely risky way to tell what the adventure of all these corrupt people. The film is unafraid of shocking it's viewers or going a little bit over the top to show who the characters are. The film's style is that of a MANGA. It is very fast paced and quick in going on with the scenes. there is one scene in particular where a woman's fingers are snapped. This scene is more shocking then it sounds due to the fact that you don't realize it until it is made obvious. once it becomes obvious enough it jumps away from that scene. Not everyone will agree with me that this film is as good as it is. There are many people that see it just as a gross shocker with no purpose other then grossing us out. There is a purpose in this film though. Even if the meaning is harder then ever to decipher. But I like films that have a hard message to figure out. It makes me want to watch them more. I find this film to be a true Japanese classic that should be remembered by the few people that see it. Words cannot describe how much I love this film. ICHI THE KILLER is a true masterpiece that has a good plot, a good meaning, and a good, yet shocking, ending twist that will haunt you for days. Watch out for the gratuitous adult content though.

I was originally a little leery about seeing this movie (even though I'm pretty Boss and can usually take stuff like this)...I heard it was actually pretty hard to watch. So like 10 minutes ago, I finally finished it and felt like a pansy for thinking I couldn't. Don't let people come up telling you "OMG it's so horrible and blah blah blah." Um, no, it's awesome. I'm a HUGE fan of cool splatter-gore, crazy, freak you out movies and this one has it all...including a whole load of torture by the COOLest bad guy everrrr Tadanobu Asano (Kakihara) and his 2 foot needles. He looks like a pierced up rockstar who you want to get to know, but stay away from at the same time.

Best Lines: 1. Kakihara: "There's no love in your violence." 2. Kakihara: "Damn... Nobody left to kill me." 3. Kakihara: "Put some feeling into it, already! If you're going to give someone pain, you've got to get into it!" 4. Jiro: "Is it possible to rip someone's arm off with your bare hands?"

Other Super Cool Things: The acting by Tadanobu Asano (Kakihara) and Nao Ohmori (Ichi) is so right on point. There's never really a dull moment in the entire movie, which is kind of a mix of horror and comedy. But the real reason why this movie is so good, is because of how it makes you feel sad for these killers/heroes the whole time...especially Ichi who seems at one minute, completely mental, and the next, completely sweet and innocent. Not to mention the gore is pretty cool and the torture scenes are pretty cool also (especially what they do to the character Suzuki who really gets it) Some other stand out characters are the twins who will make you LOL toward the middle of the movie and Takeshi (Kaneko's son) who winds up having a big part.

My Only Problem: They introduce most of the characters to you all at once so if you aren't realllly paying attention to the names, you might get a little lost toward the middle.

Best Scenes (Without Spoilers): 1. The very beginning when Kakihara turns around and you get to see his face for the first time...he's smoking...it's awesome. 2. The Suzuki torture scene and the torture scene with the...arm (as quoted above)...haha 3. When Ichi goes to the hotel (we see his work for the first time) and he speaks to the beaten lady from the club. 4. When you find out why Ichi kills people. 5. The new Anjo gang with leader Kakihara is shown walking down the street in slo-mo. 6. The entire ending scene on the roof. 7. When Jijii takes his shirt off towards the end...you will never see it coming...

Overall: It's not for everyone, but I will put it on my list of super cool foreign movies. This one has heart to it (and tons of gore) so if your up for it, do yourself a favor and sit through the 2 hours of great cinematography and splatter-gore/torture/love story/bullying story/horror/comedy. Then tell me what you made of the amazingly (left-open) ending.

9/10 Stars. Check out all my reviews at http://dianalynn5287.blogspot.com/

Japan's Takashi Miike is a fan-favorite of American filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth. I first came by Miike on the "Masters of Horror" TV show when he directed the segment called "Imprint." Last year, I came across Miike's infamous horror film "Audition," which is now considered one of my favorite and most shocking flicks in the genre.

Now I had the opportunity yesterday to watch 2001's "Ichi the Killer" with a friend.

Needless to a say, our opinions on the film were very different. He hated it. I really, really liked it. I saw it as something different from most crime thrillers. It had elements of horror, the crime thriller, and even some black comedy. I thought it was really cool. He saw it as basically two hours of non-stop torture, violence, rape, murder, and just overall insanity. Based on the Japanese Manga (comic book) by Hideo Yamamoto and set in Tokyo, Japan's, Shinjuku district, the plot concerns the search for the kidnapped boss of the Anjo Gang (who also disappeared with 300 million yen), which is apparently the most feared yakuza (Japanese mafia) gang in all of Tokyo. The body count rises steadily when the boss's chief henchman, the disfigured, pain-loving sadist Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano), assigns himself the task of locating the Anjo Gang's beloved leader at any and all costs.

Kakihara is in no way a hero or anti-hero. This guy is a bad-a** gangster to the highest degree. He's also a pain junkie: He loves torturing people and actually gets off from watching other people in varying states of pain & suffering, from inflicting pain & suffering upon others, and also having pain & suffering inflicted upon himself by others. He's the true definition of a movie psychopath (he may even make Hannibal Lecter blush with envy). Upon being tipped off on the location of a possible culprit, Kakihara strings up the poor fellow by inserting hooks into his back and pouring hot grease all over his body; Kakihara loves every minute of this particularly nasty torture session.

Kakihara's search for answers in the kidnapping of his boss is set against the backdrop of the psychopathic vigilante/serial killer known only as Ichi (Nao Omori), a mentally disturbed, sexually repressed young man who is the pawn of an equally disturbed third individual who is using Ichi to systematically wipe out the yakuza members. Needless to say that when Ichi goes into one of his murderous frenzies, you just better have a barf bag ready.

Obviously, "Ichi the Killer" is not a movie for all tastes. I learned that when I watched this movie with my friend and our vastly different responses to it. "Ichi the Killer" is an even more sadistic film than Miike's previous "Audition." But while the violence and depravity in "Audition" was genuinely shocking and horrifying, the violence and depravity in "Ichi the Killer" ceases being shocking and horrifying after about the second bloodbath and slowly becomes hilarious - just think about how people walk around with gashes in their throats bleeding all over the place before finally succumbing to the blood loss or when Ichi is able to cut a man in half with the blades in his boots.

I'm sure I'm probably wrong about this, but I think I got this film's "message" about the evil that human beings are capable of inflicting upon each other and the almost-sexual gratification that people can sometimes get from it. When Ichi rescues a prostitute from her physically abusive pimp, she confesses that she loves being beaten up and that he will gladly give her what she desires. Kakihara and his "methods" of getting information on the whereabouts of his missing boss are also worthy of exhibiting this pain-loving stuff.

"Ichi the Killer" is not a perfect film, though. The plot tends to drag along somewhere in the third act and can try the patience of some viewers. This was probably one of the few things me and my friend agreed on when we watched it, that there were some things that we felt were unnecessary, regardless of how chaotic the movie was aiming to be. The over-the-top violence and sadism has made "Ichi the Killer" a cult film amongst the aficionados in Japan and across the world. This is not a film for all tastes and I would definitely not recommend it to those who don't have strong stomachs for senseless violence and depravity. But for a movie with senseless violence and depravity and those who have stomachs for it, look no further than "Ichi the Killer."

8/10

OK I love everything horror from the bad 'b' movie to the high budget Blade type flicks...this was so much fun! It had gore that was used just enough to flip you out but not enough to GROSS you out. Loved the dual lead characters as well. BUT I would NOT watch it in dubbed American, be real and select the DVD and read the subtitles like a REAL movie fan, if not you miss a LOT. If you're in the mood for something that can take you for a ride and not leave you behind twisting your head saying "What did we just watch?", this is it.A lot of Japanese flicks leave too much dead time in between action/movement this one was timed just right.

Old Takashi Miike certainly clings to his garnered reputation as an extreme cinema master. Indeed it seems the only thing that keeps him afloat. Covering up barren characters and inane plot lines with explicit ultra violence seems to be staple procedure in Miike's portfolio.

Ichi The Killer is no different, and perhaps enforces that point. Although it is based on a comic book, the film itself adopts a garbled approach to telling its story, using a mishmash montage of nonsensical imagery, bizarre dialog and bucket loads of sex and violence. Consider the following: Yakuza mob the Anjo clan have recently lost their leader. Right hand man Kakihara goes on a mission to find his boss, despite every suggestion that he might be dead, while fending off attacks from embittered ex-members of his clan who seek its total annihilation. He must also deal with the unwanted attention of gibbering, sexually frustrated retard Ichi The Killer who has a patent for slicing people into pieces with his deadly knife-boots and masturbating in public places.

Clearly attempting to bring such a perplexing plot onto a level that a human being could understand was too unrealistic a task for Miike, so he didn't bother. Instead he resorted to filling the film with explicit scenes of torture and mutilation that include a man being methodically impaled with giant needles and burnt with boiling frying oil, a tongue being cut out, an arm being wrenched from its socket and an entire body literally being cleaved in half. Most of the victims of this violence seem more puzzled at being skewered and torn apart then afraid. Indeed the lead character Kakihara, after effortlessly cutting off his own tongue, manages to have a polite yet muffled telephone conversation while blood spits out of his mouth.

Obviously the complete disregard for realism is meant to be funny, but the reaction it gets is more like the uncomfortable silence we hear when some idiot tells a stupid joke, and then laughs feebly to himself. This movie leaves you feeling almost as numb and empty as the characters themselves, with a slight residual sense of repulsion.

Be warned, for this movie is as graphic as it gets. Murder, dismemberment, torture, rape, mutilation... and that's just the beginning. This tour-de-force of sadism as directed by Japanese auteur Takashi Miike is an unbelievable display of cruel and inhumane punishment, both to the characters inhabiting the film and anyone with a weak stomach. Anyone familiar with Miike's other films, especially "Audition" will find this to be familiar, yet still interesting ground. The violence is so over the top that it's hard not to laugh while watching it. How many times have you seen someone get their throat cut, only to have a literal torrent of blood spray out of the wound all over everything? How about a guy who cuts off the tip of his tongue as an apology to his bosses, rather than the traditional tip of the finger? How about a guy who gets cut in half lengthwise by a concealed boot blade, only to split in half and fall to the floor in two? One of the main reasons to watch this film is for Kakihara, the character played by Tadanobu Asano. A bleached blond sadomasochist, this guy easily ranks up there with any other anti-hero you can think of. Think of him as a garishly dressed metro sexual with a penchant for needles and you'll come close to what he looks and acts like.

Describing the story isn't quite so simple but multiple viewings provide more insight each time into the labyrinthine plot. Kakihara is a Yakuza lieutenant on the hunt for his missing boss, who had disappeared with 300 million yen. His reasoning for finding him has nothing to do with the money but because of the fact that his boss was the one person who knew how to dish out pain the way he liked. Soon, Kakihara discovers that his boss has been murdered and begins the search for the man who butchered his boss. He discovers that the man responsible is an enigmatic figure named Ichi, a wild tornado of violence who holds the promise of giving Kakihara what he so desires: the ultimate experience in painful death.

Sounds messed up? Well, let me assure you, that it is. And I haven't even begun to describe Kakihara's methods in finding Boss Anjo. If at this point, I've gotten your interests piqued, I'll leave it for you to experience.

It's a yakuza movie of sorts but it really plays out as a kind of rhetoric on desire and our willingness to fulfill them or have them fulfilled. The film can also be viewed as just a straight up gore fest and it works on that level also. There is great use of physical and computer assisted effects. Also, the music by Karera Musication deserves mention as probably the most original film score I've ever heard in any movie, period.

If you want to see something daring, disturbing and groundbreaking, I strongly recommend this film for those that can handle the intense scenes of violence. Just make sure you find the unrated director's cut for the film and avoid it on cable, which shows the R-rated version. See it the way it was meant to be seen, as with every other film.

RATING: ****1/2 out of *****.

Plot one day yakuza boss Anjo goes missing with 100 million yen so his most loyal of men kakihara , kaneko , takayama and the yakuza syndicate turn everything inside and out in the crime world of Shinjuku.Jiji a washed yakuza and his group of thugs are responsible for anjo's sudden disappearance, he was killed by a man named ichi kakihara finally finds out and does what ever he can to find ichi and jiji.

Acting: Tadanobu Asano is absolutely brilliant as the sadist kakihara he shows absolutely no sympathy or remorse to his victims . Nao Amori manages to pull off an electrifying performance as the sex deprived brain washed ichi . All the co stars are brilliant as well in particular jiji , karen , kaneko and takayama

Direction: Once again Takashi Miike proves he knows how to mix extreme violence with comedy practically flawless.

Warning : Ichi the killer is one of the most unrlenting and violent films of all time even though it is comical . It is based off a Japanese manga so the violence is also funny at times the film however has very graphic scenes off rape and torture but don't let that throw you off . This is one of the greatest films that belongs in cinema history sadly due to it's content it will always be a cult film .

ICHI THE KILLER is Takashi Miike's version of mischievous fun on celluloid. What comes to mind is a scene where two delinquent boys are roasting a beetle with a magnifying glass. The two are giggling and snorting at the expense of the poor insect which is soon to go to insect heaven. Those two boys are Takashi Miike and Tadanobu Asano doing whatever they feel like with a flamboyant film they've entitled ICHI THE KILLER. The movie celebrates the sadistic little kid in all of us.

From the first twenty minutes or so, you might think that ICHI THE KILLER is your run-of-the-mill gangster flick. Oh my, that would be awfully boring. It's so much more! Plain wacky would be a good word to describe it. Characters pop in and out with no apparent association to one another. People get tortured and mutilated before we know who they are. Did the lady have a relationship with the gang lord? Who cares, since she makes such a lovely stain on the carpet!

Other words to describe the film are squeamish, bloody, and darkly humorous. Right when you think you've caught up with the story, it changes gear like a freak Tonka truck. One minute the lens may focus on a sophisticated crime scene, but the next minute it's catching a teardrop in a bowl of Ramen. While you may not find a single meaning for the whole story, you'll surely come away with a basket full of senseless images.

Let's suspend some poor Japanese fool from the ceiling with fishing line and pour boiling hot oil on his head.

The sneaky uncle figure takes off his coat to reveal a huge mass of muscles! He is Japan's champion body builder!

Open the door, and the wall is covered with blood and guts. Nobody says a word. Oh, did I mention that the guy over there has a twin brother? Oh well, it doesn't matter, since that twin just got killed.

And all through the audience you can hear the sound of people scratching their heads in confusion.

In closing, I'd like to comment on Ichi himself, the new breed of Japanese superhero. He's a seemingly normal young man who moonlights as a vigilante in a black rubber suit. His special move is a spasmodic razor-blade kick that can chop a person in half. He has anxiety attacks when speaking with other people. He fantasizes about women in twisted fairy tale scenarios.

Best of all, he plays Tekken under a blanket for a living. Now that is my kind of superhero! It's only a matter of time before the mushroom cloud breaks forth and Ichi wakes up in his perfectly tragic fantasy world.

In this world, his asthmatic gasp spells victory for the human race! It makes no difference -- he dishes out his own cocktail of justice to the evil gang lord or the little kid on the tricycle -- indifferently.

JY

Jimboduck-dot-com

Ichi the Killer is either one of the best or worst films you will ever see. If you are fond of rape, torture, and senseless brutality, then this is the film for you. If you are at all bothered by any of the above, this is not the film for you, as its scenes of graphic violence make the Saw series look like Sesame Street.

Ichi the Killer takes its name from an emotionally unstable young man who is brainwashed into linking sexual desire with homicidal rage. Woe be unto the unfortunate young woman who attempts to seduce the childlike Ichi. Never fully in control of his own mind, Ichi (Nao Omori) is actually the pawn of a man named Jijii who seems hell bent on revenging himself upon the yakuza boss Anjo's gang. The title is something of a misnomer however, as the film's protagonist is actually one of Anjo's lieutenants with a penchant for S&M named Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano). After Ichi eviscerates Anjo, Kakihara investigates the disappearance. He is elated to discover that Anjo was murdered by what appears to be a total sadist; one with no thoughts whatsoever of his victims' pain. The remainder of the film is dedicated to Kakihara's pursuit of the killer he hopes can grant him the joy of extreme suffering and death.

One of the telltale signs of any exploitation film is a complete lack of character development. Within the first few minutes of Ichi the Killer it becomes evident that the women of this film in particular exist as nothing more than objects to be beaten and raped. In one of the more cringe inducing scenes, a prostitute has her nipples sliced off with a razor blade before being stomped to death for the crime of weeping too loudly. I would call the film misogynistic but the men don't make out much better. Ignoring the standard brainwashing, mutilation, and disemboweling that both sexes endure, notable scenes of senseless violence towards men include a man being hung by meat hooks as he has hot tempura poured over his body, Kakihara slicing off his own tongue without anesthetic, and last but never least, a kidnapped man having his arm ripped off by his captor's bare hands just for laughs.

There really isn't much of a story to be found in this gore fest. For 123 minutes we are introduced to characters who have no purpose other then to suffer and die in scenes of pornographic violence. There are no moments of growth or discovery. No insight is given into the psyche of Jijii. We aren't even given a back story for how Ichi fell under his control.

I see myself as the farthest thing from a social conservative, yet I am appalled by the cult following this film enjoys online. Of the 247 reviews currently hosted on IMDb, the overwhelming majority of them are positively glowing. I imagine these are some of the same types who sent Richard Ramirez fan mail in prison.

I've seen reviews that talked about having to turn this film off every 20 min to catch their breath, how it's gag inducing, or the hardest film they ever watched. I ate dinner while watching this. It is not a cinematic masterpiece. It's simplistic, dumb, and show almost none of the violence people talk about. The most violent thing in the film is a girl that accidently gets her throat cut and bleeds out. I have seen films way more violent than this. For crying out loud kill bill is more violent. 99% of the violence in this film is simply implied or all you see is a bit of the aftermath. What is the big freaking deal with this film. There is nothing overly deep here. I expected way more than a guy with 2in blades in his shoes somehow slicing people in half. The film isn't the stylistic masterpiece it's made out to be. If this is a 7 on style scale then Crank is an 11 it has infinitely more stlye the story is just as bad. The hype around this film is dumb.