echo5delta

I've dug through the threads in this forum and found several mentions of his name, by those who have seen his films.

This pleases me greatly, to be honest. Sort of confirms the level of perversity and eccentricity I've grown to assume TFP has built-in with its members.

But after having my own little Miike film festival the past few days, I felt it would be worth giving the man - and his films - a totally dedicated thread.

And for those of you who've never heard of him... trust me, you might want to follow this thread regardless. It's either going to freak you right the fuck out, or endear you to one of the great filmmakers of our generation.

So - please discuss. Favorite films? Best moments of those films? Questions? Comments?

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Halx

Kuri kuri kuri kuri kuri

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Bacchanal

The only ones I've been able to find around here are Audition and Ichi The Killer. I like both very much, and have since bought them, but I'd like to know what else he's done that's worth a look...

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roachboy

here's the link to mi-ike's imdb page, which lists most of his work.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586281/

mi'ike is great--he works in a bunch of forms and isn't terribly predictable from genre to genre--which is good, i think.

i'm particularly fond of the happiness of the katakuris, which i think is hilarious.
visitor q operates at the edge of my capacity for the fucked up on the oedipal axis.
audition is excellent, as is ichi the killer.
many treats await.

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echo5delta

To be honest, I first saw Ichii in 2005, while deployed. I immediately ordered it, Audition, Happiness, Visitor Q, and Dead or Alive from amazon.

Been re-watching them over the past few days, and it's a real treat. I roughed out a synopsis of Visitor Q last night, which I'll post once I figure out how to do the "hide" tags to avoid spoilers.

What amazes me the most is how each of these films is so radically different in style, yet they're each just as compelling as any movie I've ever seen. And yeah, I think he's more or less cornered the "sick and fucked up" genre of film. If there's anyone else that comes close to pushing the edge like he does, I'd love to hear about it.

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ironman

Ichi is one of the best Asian films I've ever seen, it was amazing in so many levels that I don't know where to start. Maybe I'll derail a little here, but if you liked Ichi, you should try Old Boy, its Korean and downright sick and unespected.

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fresnelly

I'm not judging here but what exactly draws you guys to the "sick and fucked up" genre? How do you stomach it? What do you get out of it?

I couldn't even stomach a WRITTEN plot summary for the Audition. I'll take your word that his style is unique and that he's a master at what he does (this intriques me), but I just don't think I could get past the violence.

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RetroGunslinger

There are several factors at play here that have to be considered when understanding just what we (generally) get from and enjoy about Miike's movies, as well as the others of that particular "sick and fucked up" genre, if you wish to call it that.

Firstly, when one recognizes that a film is just that, and nothing more, it becomes very easy to stomach much of the imagery. If it gets too bad, we can easily wake up for a moment to tell ourselves it is just a movie. Me, I've never really had to do this except for when watching Session 9, which is neither a Miike film nor of the same variety, but the rule remains the same.

Secondly, when it comes to Miike's gruesome fare (Gozu, Audition, Visitor Q), it is much like a roller coaster (an oft-used example, I realize) in the same way an action film is. It gets our hearts pumping, maybe gets us scared if we're lucky, and may even make us cringe. This is all part of one fun ride, which takes us from our normal lives and throws us into these peculiar situations.

Thirdly, it's human nature to enjoy a little blood and violence, and that in turn can relate directly to enjoying the bizarre and terrifying.

And fourthly, normality is boring.

That's why and how I stomach and enjoy the work of Takashi Miike and his ilk. Though it should be noted that much of his work is either without gore or uses it in a very stylized way (sort of like Kill Bill, but more twisted), such as is the case in Ichi the Killer and all three Dead or Alive films, which have some of the best endings of all time, FYI.

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Bacchanal

Personally, I'm interested in anything that makes others cringe. I want to see if I have the same reaction, and then figure out why I did or didn't have that reaction. I watch these movies and wonder why anyone wouldn't want to watch them, at least to say they've seen the most (fucked up/gross/disturbing/whatever) movie.

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guyy

I don't think the "Happiness of the Katakuris" was really any more sick and fucked up than say, "Arsenic and old lace." They're both funny.

echo5delta

Is it wrong of me to describe Happiness as sort of a Japanese Rocky Horror? I've always thought of it that way, but I'm not sure how accurate that really is.

Another thing that's probably just me (or maybe not) is that I'll watch the hell out of some Takashi Miike and enjoy it, but I still refuse to watch the Saw films or many other horror movies that everyone else has seen - because they squick me out.

Then again, Miike's films are worth the ride.

(And ironman, I've got Oldboy as well; loved it!)

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Nikilidstrom

Nothing is more disturbing then Visitor Q, especially with how lightly he treats the subject matter, which is disturbing in and of itself. Gozu and Audition were run of the mill, sometimes laughable (the "pop" at the end of Gozu), compared to Q, and Ichi the Killer was almost too comic bookish to be disturbing. The DOAs were just fluff compared to the others. Having said this, I love almost all of his movies that I have seen, including the kiddey one, the Great Yokai War.

boink

this is exactly what I was thinking.
pritty good explanation Retro...one thing,
so, what would you call it ? seems like an apt name for this kinda stuff lol.

I haven't seen any of Mikes movies but there was a time I sought out pritty foul eye candy. I still prefer the off beat film...but needles make me cringe hard...it's a phobia.

someday I'll definatly see at least one of his flicks.

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chucktaylor

I absolutely love Miikes work and have watched a lot of his movies. I'll have to say they`re all great but I think the yakuza/gangster movies (e.g. Graveyard of Honor) are a little bit weaker than most of the movies he has made (still great, but theyre missing this special "tick") . Usually if Miike is written on it, I must have it. The funny stuff (Zebraman; Katakuris), horror (Gozu - Yakuza Horror Theatre; One missed call) and... well its hard to put most of them into genres so I stop it here. Iam reall looking forward to watch Sukiyaki Western Django, his tribute to the Italian Spaghetti western, with a lot of japanese actors speaking english with a really hard to understand accent. What freaks me out a little bit is that Hollywood discovered his movies and already remade One missed call and just like ring, grudge and all the others I refuse to watch it and hope they'll leave the rest of his films alone.

About the "gross, sick and fucked up" things in his movies, well, I think thats what makes them different and its exactly why I watch them. I don't want to see movies where I can tell from the start what is going to happen and how its going to end. And thats why especially Audition screws you really over in the second half. Who would expect whats happening when watching it the first time? Besides that, japan is always a little different, with everything

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