Full Metal Yakuza DVD Review:

Kensuke (Ujiki) is trying to make a name for himself as part of a Yakuza family. He admires his boss Tousa, wanting one day to be his right hand man but he just can’t bring himself to become the hard man he needs to be to standout in a Yakuza clan. When Tousa is released from prison, after serving seven years for killing the head of a rival clan, his own Yakuza family decides he is too much of a liability and places a contract on him. Tousa is gunned down in a fail of bullets and Kensuke is caught in the crossfire, only to awake in a lab not feeling himself at all.

As Hollywood turns to the Far East for inspiration and new ideas, Japan looks the other way to produce their own version of Robocop.

Full Metal Yakuza takes the concept and gives it a uniquely Japanese twist. Coming from director Takashi Miike in 1997, who would go on to make the Dead or Alive series, Audition and Ichi the Killer, you know what to expect from a man with a unique style and a passion for violence. While not as shocking as the movies that would follow, Full Metal Yakuza is filled with his distinctive touches and a willing to shock.

Anyone who has seen a film by Miike will be glad to hear that his mixture of comedy, drama and excessive violence well and truly evident in this movie. The performances are suitably over the top, especially the mad scientist who is a cross between Doc Brown from Back to the Future and Dr. Frankenstein. The bad guys can be instantly disliked and our hero isn’t the super clean, fighting for justice type you would expect in an American production.

While it takes the Robocop idea and gives it a Far Eastern twist, this is a revenge of the weakling movie as Kensuke takes his bloody revenge on all of the clan members and people who have picked on him over the years. This all finishes is a blood bath, that you should have been expecting from the off but as this is a Miike movie, expect a few shocks and an awful lot of blood.

Miike’s unique, surreal style bares early fruit as he blends over the top violence and shocking images with comedy which will become his trademark in his later work. Taking you from a scene of pure repulsion to a laugh out loud moment, witness how Kensuke protects himself against gunfire for example, it is hard to categorise any film that Miike brings to the screen. The brutality of the Yakuza, the sorrow of lost, the power of revenge and the eccentricities of an obsessed scientist combine to bring use a weird, low budget oddity that transcends genres and refuses to be pigeon holed.

Full Metal Yakuza is an interesting peculiarity that is a must see you anyone who has recently discovered this unique and imaginative filmmaker. Takashi Miike injects originality and creativity into his movies, like no other director working today, anywhere in the world. Hollywood should take some lessons from a man who pushes the envelope to shock and amuse, never failing to grab your attention.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 16:9 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack, the transfer is actually quite good. Remembering that this is a low budget movie, which would have never have looked too fantastic in the first place, Artsmagic have done a great job of transferring the movie to DVD. The picture is slightly grainy in places, especially during the nighttime scenes but the colours are quite sharp. The sound is fine with the dialogue been very clear. The subtitles are also very well done.

BONUS FEATURES

Takashi Miike Interview (33.16 mins)

The cult director talks in-depth about his influences behind making the movie and how it was originally to be a straight to video release. He also expresses how pleased he was that it became a cult hit, not just in Japan but also in America and Europe. He reflects on the entire process of finding the script to bringing it to film and how the Japanese film industry changed during the 1980s and 90s.

Yasushi Shimamura Interview (14.11 mins)

Takashi Miike’s friend and editor talks about his professional and working relationship with the man. He reminisces about how they became friends, starting from their TV background and their move into film. He then talks in-depth about the editing process used for Full Metal Yakuza.

Tom Mess Commentary

The writer of Agitator: The Cinema of Takashi Miike gives a very informed commentary about the movie and the unique director. Tom Mess knows everything about the director and his films, revealing lots of behind the scenes information and giving a true insight into Miike and his movies. He also passionately defends the filmmaker’s use of excessive violence and disturbing imagery.

Bio/Filmographies

Detailed information on the careers of director Takashi Miike and stars Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Tomorowo Taguchi, Shoko Nakahara and Ren Osugi.

Previews

Trailers for other Artsmagic releases, Malice@Doll, A.LI.CE and Blue Remains

Artwork
Covers from other DVDs in the Arts Magic Range

Website

A link to the Artsmagic Eastern Cult Cinema website

OVERALL

Arts Magic have produced another good DVD in their Eastern Cult Cinema range. Anyone who is a fan of Takashi Miike will be enthralled by the interview with one of cinema’s shining lights. The inclusion of a commentary track only adds to the value making you wish that all low budget releases were approached with this much care.

DVD Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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