Takashi Miike's controversially excessive manga crime film is the subject of this In Extremis, but is it all just insanity and perversion? Paypal: cynicalcelluloid@hotmail.co.uk Website: cynicalcellulo... Facebook: / cynicalcelluoid
I think it’s a brilliant film that gets better with every re watch. There’s so many layers to it that help to elevate it above being just a shameless gore fest. The anti climactic final battle is a big part of its brilliance to me. The whole movie has been an orgy of violence and what should be the ultimate climax turns out to be a disappointing flop for not only Kakihara but all involved. It’s a movie where in the end no one gets what they want. Kakihara doesn’t find his ultimate lover to replace the boss. Ichi is left in torment. Jiji, the voyeur and puppet master, is also left unfulfilled as his created ultimate killing machine fails to deliver on what should have been his defining moment. It’s almost a perverse search for happiness that leaves everyone thoroughly unfulfilled. It’s kind of brilliant on that level alone.
Tadanobu Asano, the actor who portrays Kakihara is electric in this film, and there's no doubt why his is the face most people associate with this film. Haven't read the manga, but there is a lot more going on in the film then I was led to believe when I was first enticed into watching it simply for the gore, and I can guarantee most people probably aren't going to get it all on one viewing or even several viewings. Also it would be interesting to know if Ichi influenced the interpretation of The Joker in TDK, since Ichi was released seven years before that film came out, and there were no versions of the Joker like Heath Ledger's take (scars and all) previous to that film.
