Takashi Miike

[throcrates]

I took a scroll through this topic, and I didn't see anything about Takashi Miike, so I am wondering who has had the oportunity to watch some of his work? I'm sure a lot of you have seen "Iichi the Killer" or "Audition", as those are his most infamous movies known to most outside of Japan. But I'm guessing some Michelle Reis fans have seen "City of Lost Souls", also known as Hazard City, because of her being in it.

[Brian Thibodeau]

I've seen quite a few Miike films, and for some reason, CITY OF LOST SOULS and ONE MISSED CALL are the only ones that I've ever kept on DVD and watched more than once (and one missed call is actually one of the more mainstream things he's done). I can't deny the guy's gonzo charms, but I just never feel like revisiting any of his films.

I've seen

ICHI THE KILLER
HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS
RAINY DOG
GREAT YOKAI WAR
IZO
GOZU
DEAD OR ALIVE 1, 2, 3
VISITOR Q
FUDOH
AUDITION

Every one of these has some absolutely brilliant moments, but on the whole, they just don't appeal to me each in their entirety, which probably means I shouldn't even comment on the man. He's a visionary, to be sure, but sometimes the vision seems like its on overdrive!

[MrBooth]

I think I've seen most of Miike's films, and consider the man to be one of the best directors working today... but I agree that his films don't always stand up to a rewatching (though there are a couple that I only properly appreciated when I watched them a second time, so maybe it's just because his films can be so mood-dependent).

I've seen (with vague marks out of 10)

Shinjuku Triad Society (7 - one of those that I only enjoyed 2nd time round)
Fudoh (7 or 8 - need a rewatch)
Young Thugs - Innocent Blood (6? hardly remember it tbh)
Rainy Dog (9)
Full Metal Yakuza (8 - super low-budget but hilarious)
The Bird People In China (7 or
Andromedia (5 - fun if not taken seriously)
Blues Harp (6, but needs a rewatch because i think it should be higher)
Young Thugs - Nostalgia (didn't finish it - needs a 2nd viewing)
Audition (9 - after 2nd viewing)
Ley Lines (don't remember! need a 2nd viewing)
Dead Or Alive (7.5 - loved it first time, not the 2nd)
Salaryman Kintaro (7 - quite mainstream, but good)
Tennen Shojo Mahn Next (6.5 - shot on video, weird but good)
MPD Psycho (8? haven't finished it yet... very weird tv series!)
City Of Lost Souls (9 first viewing, didn't enjoy on 2nd at all... hmmm)
The Guys From Paradise (8? memory fuzzy, but I liked it)
Dead Or Alive 2 (9? loved it - first viewing at least!)
Kumamoto Monogatari (2 - couldn't finish it)
Visitor Q (10 - still not rewatched it, but LOVED it on first viewing)
Ichi The Killer (10 on first viewing, not so good for rewatching)
Happiness Of The Katakuris (6, but needs a 2nd watch)
Dead Or Alive: Final (8 for first watch)
Sabu (6 - decent, but mainstream)
Graveyard Of Honor (4 on first watch, need to see it again)
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka (8, but only after 2nd viewing)
Gozu (10 - only seen once though)
Kikoku/Yakuza Demon (6)
Negotiator (7... actually I couldn't remember if I'd seen it, but I checked IMDB and my review is the 'featured' review, so I guess I did :p)
One Missed Call (1 - pile of crap!)
Zebraman (9 or 10)
Izo (couldn't finish it.. have to try again)
The Great Yokai War (9 - great fun!)

[PAUL MARTINEZ]

I'm a Miike fan and I'm sure I had a post last year about him. I've seen about 7 of his films. I recently saw One Missed Call and cannot believe this is his work. By far the worst that I've seen from him. Outside of that film I have loved his work. It's very in your face & confrontational visually. I have seen nothing like it. Totally original, which is what I look for in any media I enjoy.