This is a Journal entry by Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Started conversation May 31, 2003
In my continueing quest to seek out those bits of culture that the rest of the world cannot find (or in this case the rest of the UK), off me and Ed went to see Ichii the Killer at the Prince Charles Cinema.
Alarm bells started going when I realised that the movie is being shown uncertificated, under the auspices that the Prince Charles is a private club that you pay to get into.
2 1/2 hours later, out we wander, like the rest of the audience thoroughly shell shocked. Undoubtedly the second oddest movie i have ever seen. In the first ten minutes we are treated to a man watching a pimp violently raping one his girls. As he flees the scene, we cut to close up of a semen soaked pot plant, then to an extrmem close up (with appropriate sound effects) of the semen dripping onto the floor.
Torture, rape, incomprehensible plot and motives, a protagonist with one of the weirdest sense of dress since...well, forever and some of the most bizarre characters I've ever seen in a movie, this one has it all.
Blues Shark says check it out, but only if you have strong constitution and don't eat before you go...
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 1, 2003
Hmm, the DVD and general release version is missing 3 1/2 minutes of footage.
I'm fascinated to know which 3 1/2 minutes are missing,a nd by what criteria those missing minutes were felt to be more offensive than what remains...
Ichii the Killer
There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho Posted Jun 2, 2003
I have to ask - if this was the second oddest film you've ever seen, which is number one?
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 2, 2003
Still, without any shadow of a doubt, Shinya Tsakamoto's 'Tetsuo, The Iron Man.'
Ichii the Killer
There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho Posted Jun 2, 2003
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 2, 2003
I think it is no coincidence that both are Japanese...
Interesting piece about Takashi Miike in todays Grauniad, if you are interested;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,968331,00.html
Ichii the Killer
Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk Posted Jun 2, 2003
It sounds to me like a modern Clockwork Orange, with updated shock-level.
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 2, 2003
Miike is both less pretentious and more visually interesting than Kubrick.
Ichi has far less meaning than Clockwork Orange.
Ichii the Killer
Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk Posted Jun 2, 2003
Fair enough. I'm not a Kubrick fan in general.
I think there are some profound differences between Western culture and Japanese culture that make it difficult to make the transition without some of the meaning being lost. My sister and I are fans of anime and manga, and we often find oddities or bits that don't make sense to us. Some knowledge of various things is assumed, and that assumption doesn't hold when you cross cultures.
Of course, it's not helped by the fact that anime go through conversion from Japanese to American, then from American to English, each taking liberties to change or censor things as they go.
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 2, 2003
I t certainly helps to hav some knowledge of Japanese culture. Being what I would consider to be reasonably well informed about Japanese culture, I still don't think there is a lot to underpin the viloence in Ichi.
On the other hand, I think if you are the only nation where A-Bombs have been used in anger, you develop a different perspective on violence...
Ichii the Killer
Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences Posted Jun 2, 2003
Sounds like the sort of film I would find fasinating, unfortunately Derby's one and only independent cinema is not inclined towards Jap films 
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 2, 2003
Well, it is available on video from today, so if you have an independantly minded video rental place it's entirely possible you'll be able to find it.
Mind you, it'll be missing 3 1/2 minutes...which may be all for the better to be honest.
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 2, 2003
Though that being said, i'm seriously considering going to Stateside supplier for a region 1, uncut, dvd of it...
Ichii the Killer
Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences Posted Jun 2, 2003
Independent DVDs no probs, I can name four off hand! One of whihce may well supplu region one... I well a look 'round coming on after work.
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 3, 2003
Were you not entirely sober when you wrote that last posting, by any chance...
Ichii the Killer
Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences Posted Jun 3, 2003
Ummm, well I had certainly had a few 
, how could you tell 
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 3, 2003
'I well a look 'round coming on after work.', was, I think the phrase that gave me the hint...
Ichii the Killer
Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences Posted Jun 3, 2003
Oh, two of the letters are right for the word I wanted (feel).
Ichii the Killer
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 3, 2003
Blimey, better than some of your sober postings, then...
Ichii the Killer
Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences Posted Jun 3, 2003
So spelling has never been a strong point of mine- makes reading my posts more of a challenge....
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Ichii the Killer
- 1: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (May 31, 2003)
- 2: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 1, 2003)
- 3: There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho (Jun 2, 2003)
- 4: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 2, 2003)
- 5: There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho (Jun 2, 2003)
- 6: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 2, 2003)
- 7: Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk (Jun 2, 2003)
- 8: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 2, 2003)
- 9: Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk (Jun 2, 2003)
- 10: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 2, 2003)
- 11: Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences (Jun 2, 2003)
- 12: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 2, 2003)
- 13: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 2, 2003)
- 14: Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences (Jun 2, 2003)
- 15: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 3, 2003)
- 16: Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences (Jun 3, 2003)
- 17: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 3, 2003)
- 18: Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences (Jun 3, 2003)
- 19: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 3, 2003)
- 20: Kerr_Avon - hunting stray apostrophes and gutting poorly parsed sentences (Jun 3, 2003)
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