Anyone expecting "just another Miike flick" might get very disappointed, as I'd claim this remake, of Kinji Fukasaku's 1975 success, to differ quite much from Miike's other works. There's a lack of comic events here, while the amount of violence is steady and non-compromising straight throughout the movie. While Miike's other works may have a sort of balance between the cold terror of Yakuza violence and fun punchlines, dark and light or whatever you'd like, this piece is leaning way more to the darker side. No one gets away with anything, women and men, they're all facing their dramatic paths down the line.

As I've mentioned above, the piece feels quite different, and at the beginning I thought it may even be bad. However, such a case didn't await me and afterward I thought it was all good. Different, but good. I prefer the other works of Miike, but that didn't disqualify this one to be a good view. Shattering, touching and filled up with non-sympathy. 7/10.

Or better Miike Style. Although this one is different from his other movies. Not in terms of violence (he likes his violence and blood, so be aware of that, no faint hearted should watch this),but more film-making wise!

He changes Genres as he likes (from Horror to Action to Thriller),but his movies all feel kind of the same. Maybe this one is different, because it is a remake of another Japanese movie or maybe he went out and thought, let's try something different this time. Whatever the reasons, the result is indeed one of his better offerings (in my view) of all his output. This will not be the movie he will be remembered by, his cult status was achieved by movies like "Ichi The Killer", "Dead or Alive" series or "Audition", but it's one you should watch!

There are decades between the worlds of Kinji Fukasaku and Takeshi Miike, but this is the movie that unites both of their lengthy resumes. They're very different filmmakers, so seeing them both tell the story of Goro Fujita's book and the life of Rikio Ishikawa.

The original film takes place in the years following World War II, but this version takes place in a very different time, as the late 80's economic boom is about to give way to the depression of the 90's. It also changes how its protagonist enters the world of crime. Here, he bluntly - literally - saves the life of a boss when an assassin (Miike) comes in like he's in a completely different film, double guns blazing, only to be knocked down with a chair.

But just like in the previous version of this story, Rikuo cannot be tamed. Or reasoned with. Or expected to act like a normal human being. He drags down everyone he comes near and turns on anyone close to him. He is a force of horrible nature and corrupts everything he touches.

This is perhaps the most restrained movie you'll see Miike. Don't take that as boring. Even a more dramatic version of the director is still more whiplash than three lesser talents put together.