Entertainment

Enter the bizarre mind of Takashi Miike with these 10 mind-blowing movies

From direct-to-video films to films which set festival circuits on fire, Miike has made films which are extreme, graphic and bizarre to an extent but unapologetic in showing wavering emotions. Here are ten essential films you should watch to get a glimpse of Miike's cinematic mind.
Takashi Miike can be called one of the modern day auteurs overlooked by many film circles. From direct-to-video films to films which have set festival circuits on fire, Miike has made films which are extreme, graphic and bizarre to an extend but unapologe
Takashi Miike can be called one of the modern day auteurs overlooked by many film circles. From direct-to-video films to films which have set festival circuits on fire, Miike has made films which are extreme, graphic and bizarre to an extend but unapologe
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'Audition' (1999) is about a widower who stages an audition to select a partner since his son asked him to remarry. He finds a girl but her past affects their relationship when they start dating. The protagonist, Aoyama, is unable to find anything about the girl he is interested and when he starts to dig deeper into her past, she disappears.
'Audition' (1999) is about a widower who stages an audition to select a partner since his son asked him to remarry. He finds a girl but her past affects their relationship when they start dating. The protagonist, Aoyama, is unable to find anything about the girl he is interested and when he starts to dig deeper into her past, she disappears.
An extremely violent and graphic film, 'Itchi the Killer' (2001) is also Miike's most famous. The film follows Itchi, a psychologically damaged man, how he sees the Yakuza gang wars and the resulting blood shed. Highly controversial for its violence, 'Itchi The Killer' was banned by the British censor board from releasing in Britain uncut. In Hong Kong, 15 minutes of the movie was cut.
An extremely violent and graphic film, 'Itchi the Killer' (2001) is also Miike's most famous. The film follows Itchi, a psychologically damaged man, how he sees the Yakuza gang wars and the resulting blood shed. Highly controversial for its violence, 'Itchi The Killer' was banned by the British censor board from releasing in Britain uncut. In Hong Kong, 15 minutes of the movie was cut.
A remake of a 1936 film by Elichi Kudo, '13 Assassins' (2010) is about 13 soldiers (12 Samurais and a hunter from the forest) who plots to assassinate an Akashi clan leader. Lord Matsudaira Narisugu of Akashi clan had raped and murdered citizens and Shogun's Justice gives an unofficial command to his old friend and Samurai, Shinzamenon to execute the Narisugu. Compared to 'Itchi' and 'Audition', the film is less graphic and follows a straight narrative style.
A remake of a 1936 film by Elichi Kudo, '13 Assassins' (2010) is about 13 soldiers (12 Samurais and a hunter from the forest) who plots to assassinate an Akashi clan leader. Lord Matsudaira Narisugu of Akashi clan had raped and murdered citizens and Shogun's Justice gives an unofficial command to his old friend and Samurai, Shinzamenon to execute the Narisugu. Compared to 'Itchi' and 'Audition', the film is less graphic and follows a straight narrative style.
A black comedy, 'Visitor Q' (2001) is about a stranger who enters the lives of an already dysfunctional family and completely changes the dynamic when he leaves. Absurd and distorted in parts, Visitor Q uses documentary style film making to contradict the film's bizarre moments.
A black comedy, 'Visitor Q' (2001) is about a stranger who enters the lives of an already dysfunctional family and completely changes the dynamic when he leaves. Absurd and distorted in parts, Visitor Q uses documentary style film making to contradict the film's bizarre moments.
A bizarre, cartoonish action thriller, 'Dead or Alive' (1999) is about a Yakuza of Chinese descent and a cop who fights the Japanese mob in the crime-ridden Shinjuku qaurter. The film was followed by two sequels in 2000 and 2002.
A bizarre, cartoonish action thriller, 'Dead or Alive' (1999) is about a Yakuza of Chinese descent and a cop who fights the Japanese mob in the crime-ridden Shinjuku qaurter. The film was followed by two sequels in 2000 and 2002.
A remake of Masaki Kobayashi's 1962 film, 'Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai' (2011) is a 3D drama film by Miike which is centred around a poor Samurai who becomes aware of his Ronin (a Samurai without a Shogun/master) son-in-law's fate.
A remake of Masaki Kobayashi's 1962 film, 'Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai' (2011) is a 3D drama film by Miike which is centred around a poor Samurai who becomes aware of his Ronin (a Samurai without a Shogun/master) son-in-law's fate.
'Rainy Dog' (1997) is about Yuuji, a Yakuza and his relationship between his hooker/girlfriend and her son. Things get twisted when a reward is placed on Yuuji's girlfriend because of her relationship with him. A tale of deception and desperation, 'Rainy Dog', is about unlikely relationships and (spoiler), unlikely endings.
'Rainy Dog' (1997) is about Yuuji, a Yakuza and his relationship between his hooker/girlfriend and her son. Things get twisted when a reward is placed on Yuuji's girlfriend because of her relationship with him. A tale of deception and desperation, 'Rainy Dog', is about unlikely relationships and (spoiler), unlikely endings.
When a Yakuza and a businessman are sent to China to assess jade. The resulting events open their eyes on how mediation has altered experience of the world. In 'The Bird People of China' (1998) Miike uses mellowed down narrative for the film at the same time, oscillating between immersive as well as distanciation to explore the the different realities we see.
When a Yakuza and a businessman are sent to China to assess jade. The resulting events open their eyes on how mediation has altered experience of the world. In 'The Bird People of China' (1998) Miike uses mellowed down narrative for the film at the same time, oscillating between immersive as well as distanciation to explore the the different realities we see.
A comedy-horror-musical, 'The Happiness of Katakuris' ( 2001) is inspired from a 'The Quiet Family', a South Korean film. The movie is about a 'family of failures' which moves into a former garbage dump and builds a drive-in to make business. The first two customers they receive commit suicide and the rest too die in various circumstances leaving the family stuck with fear and paranoia.
A comedy-horror-musical, 'The Happiness of Katakuris' ( 2001) is inspired from a 'The Quiet Family', a South Korean film. The movie is about a 'family of failures' which moves into a former garbage dump and builds a drive-in to make business. The first two customers they receive commit suicide and the rest too die in various circumstances leaving the family stuck with fear and paranoia.
'Agitator' (2001) is about the murder of a Yakuza and the retaliation which follows. The movie follows the crime boss' right hand to embark on a journey of bloody revenge which shakes the whole Tokyo underworld. The movie is regarded as one of the most stylish films ever made by Takashi Miike.
'Agitator' (2001) is about the murder of a Yakuza and the retaliation which follows. The movie follows the crime boss' right hand to embark on a journey of bloody revenge which shakes the whole Tokyo underworld. The movie is regarded as one of the most stylish films ever made by Takashi Miike.
Takashi Miike
Itchi The Killer
13 Assassins
'Dead or Alive
he Happiness of Katakuris
8. The Bird People of China
Rainy Dog
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai
Visitor Q
Japanese films
Top ten Takashi Miike films

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