Ok, time for me to start on the discussion I've been waiting ages to be posted.
I'm not really sure how to express my love for 'Ichi the Killer'. To me, it's a nearly flawless movie. It combines many film styles, from art film, to gutbustingly funny comedy, to just pointless exploitation.
The only thing I find confusing about 'Ichi the Killer' is its lack of defined sides. Who's really the bad guy, and who's really the good guy? It seems like Kakihara and gang are off to seek vengenance for Boss Anjo's death (which was done by Ichi), or is Ichi really the protector of the world, removing those pesky yakuza members one slice at a time.
The scene where Ichi kicks the kid in the stomach because he was picking on him and Kaneko's kid proves to me that maybe Ichi is the Superman of the movie, and Kakihara is the Lex Luther. Because in all superhero movies, doesn't the good guy always suceed over the bad guy? But then again, the ending of this movie might change this...
Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):| I mean, isn't that Ichi hanging from the tree at the end of the movie? |
Is 'Ichi the Killer' just the BDSM version of a superhero movie? Or am I just delusional?
Another thing people try to find in this movie is if there's any kind of deeper meaning to it. I've watched Ichi at least 6 times, and I can safely say that though it comes off as like "This movie is so pointless that it MUST have some kind of satire built-in". It doesn't. From what little I know of Miike, I seriously doubt this movie has any real philisophical point to it. The fact that it's based on a manga makes my point even more solid. There's nothing in 'Ichi the Killer' that makes it some deep art film. It's pointless and is just an action/exploitation movie in the truest sense. But that's the genius, I think. Most exploitation movies come off as just that --- exploitation movies.
But 'Ichi the Killer' comes off as an exploitation movie with a deeper point --- a pure delusion. But, isn't Jijii deluding Ichi into thinking these yakuza guys are the grown-up kids that picked on Ichi in high school? The movie is a whole delusion. Everybody in the movie is delusional. Ichi is delusional from Jijii, Kakihara is delusional because of his thinking that Ichi is a sadist by himself (though Ichi does show differently with the demise of Karen), and Karen is delusional because of her thought that she could give Ichi a blowjob, maybe fuck him AND talk like she's some S&M freak without getting her throat slashed in the end.
Technically this movie shines, also. It's shot with a very stylish feel; the couple of shots of Ichi that have that extremely overcontrasted look are awesome. Karera Musication's (a Boredoms side-project) soundtrack suits the movie very well, also. It's minimalistic and doesn't overcome all the wonderful sound effects of blood being spewn.
Compared to the few Miike movies I have seen, this one is still my favorite, and I think it just might be for a long while.