Foreign Films, Japanese, Action, Theatrical Release, Gore, Mafia, Hit Men, Violence, Horror Movies
Ichi the Killer 3-Disc Set; Special Edition DVD Description
Prolific director Takashi Miike (AUDITION) keeps finding new ways to test the boundaries of on-screen violence. ICHI THE KILLER is a masterful piece of filmmaking, simultaneously funny and horrific, but it's only for viewers with strong stomachs. One character, Kakihara (Japanese indie film heartthrob Tadanobu Asano), a masochistic yakuza lieutenant, has slits in his cheeks through which he blows cigarette smoke and gleefully hacks off his own tongue to apologize for his impudence. Then there's eponymous assassin (Nao Omori), a painfully shy but sadistic young voyeur who wears a leather superhero outfit to work. Manipulated by the cagey and mysterious Jijii (English translation: "Gramps," Shinya Tsukamoto), Ichi lashes out and massacres those Jijii deems bullies, and basically anyone else who upsets his frail psyche. Jijii uses the demented lad to start a bloody war between rival yakuza factions. Miike's film is full of grotesquely over-the-top violent set pieces, including flying entrails, graphic mutilations, and even a severed human face splattered against a wall and slowly sliding to the ground. It's all captured with kinetic camerawork and hyperactive editing. It's not for everyone, but bolder viewers will find it uniquely entertaining.
DVD Features
3-Disc Set Region 1 Keep Case Unedited Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - Japanese, English Subtitles - English - Optional Disc 1: ICHI THE KILLER Additional Release Material: Featurette: Featuring Horror Film Director Eli Roth Behind the Scenes: Making Of Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer Audio Commentary: Takashi Miike - Director; Hideo Yamamoto - Source Writer/Artist Text/Photo Galleries: Stills/Photos Disc 2: Special Features Additional Release Material: Featurette: The Cult of ICHI (Featuring Horror Writer Jack Ketchum, Fangoria's Tony Timpone, Director Mike Mendez, Actress Barbara Nedeljakova (HOSTEL)) Interviews: 1. Producer Dai Miyazaki, Actors Sabu and Tsukamotodiscuss, 2. Cast interviews with Tadanobu Asano (Kakihara), Nao Omori(Ichi), Sabu (SUZUKI) Susumu Terajimaas Sabu and Shinya Tsukamoto (Jijii). Disc 3: Special Features Additional Release Material: Trailers: Comprehensive Selection of Media Blasters Trailers
