Ichi the Killer
Media Blasters | Release Date: May 19, 2003
7.4
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 67 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
49
Mixed:
10
Negative:
8
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
etherAug 10, 2008
Against the grain of consumed and consumeristic US flicks, Ichi the Killer is a distinguished film because of the very aspect of being against the grain of mainstream horror film: horror for horror sake, or even worse, horror for the sake of Against the grain of consumed and consumeristic US flicks, Ichi the Killer is a distinguished film because of the very aspect of being against the grain of mainstream horror film: horror for horror sake, or even worse, horror for the sake of excess, no more. what may seem as excessive violence in Miike's film (the graphic scenes of slashing and cutting body parts) isn't gratuitous fright to put the viewers on edge. it is violence that delves deep into the darkest of the darks of human nature as defined by fear, nonsatisfactio, futility and the impossibility of achieving one's fullness. a fullness not defined by what brings humanity closer to its universally accepted good, but fullness as effect of total surrender to one's inner calling for complete surrender to the dark rather than the light of any utopian dimensions. a utopia of negative affirmation, if you will, where life ceases to be the unfolding progress that has so pinned modernity against barbarians and invaders. it's a progress of a different shape, color and smell: it is the progression of the purity of destruction, marred not by the human fusion of contradictions (sadomasochism), but the by the infinite singularity of the ultimate infliction -- sadism not qualified by any tinge of compromise.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
0
AulbathMar 1, 2006
Completely over the top. Silly and sad. If you want anime-violence... go and watch Anime. If you want a good movie... watch something else. This one is lacking anything positive, and has to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen! I Completely over the top. Silly and sad. If you want anime-violence... go and watch Anime. If you want a good movie... watch something else. This one is lacking anything positive, and has to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen! I deeply regret believing the hype, and spending more than 25 bucks on the really, really uncut DVD. And heck the violence sure is boring... cheap effects and wannabe-disturbing stuff like cutting off nipples from some poor girl isn't going to win my heart over either - if I am crazy you ask? Well, I would react on it, if it wouldn't be done by two idiots in dog-costumes. Seriously, Ichi is nothing but a big, bad, Rated-M joke that might only appeal to people who are a) very, very drunk or b) just love everything japanese because it's the hip thing to do. Characters remain sketchy till the end, and even the violence reaches it's peak long before the movie ends... so, why would you want to even watch the whole thing? Gripping story - no. Interesting characters - no. Anything else - not really. Do yourself and have it in the background on a party or something, but don't repeat my mistake trying to find greatness in this movie. You will just realize that it is really THAT bad. If you want asian crap that is actually fun, go and watch Rikki-Oh / Story of Ricky, which is by all means an awesome movie!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
KennethM.May 17, 2006
I felt that Ichi the Killer was a powerful poke at the consumption of slasher flicks (Like Saw [Came much later, I know, I know]) for the single purpose of self amusment, and on desensitization through film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
KenyanM.May 18, 2006
this movie was excellent simply for the frantic filming style, and the transition from horror to comedy.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
AndrewS.Nov 10, 2006
Miike's masterpiece... you could tell he really enjoyed making this.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
SavenQ.Jan 10, 2009
One of Takashi Miike's best. Styilsh, colorful, violent, funny and different.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
A.J.S.Jan 25, 2006
Obviously don't see this movie if you can't stand to watch a gory movie. And if you do not like gory movies and watch it anyway then don't write a bad review because it is gory. We know. Other than that, this movie is Obviously don't see this movie if you can't stand to watch a gory movie. And if you do not like gory movies and watch it anyway then don't write a bad review because it is gory. We know. Other than that, this movie is extremely entertaining, with bizarre, twisted characters truly not fit for this world. The plot has numerous twists which can be confusing at times, and the end is especially mysterious. Miike's cinematography in this movie is quite good, creating a visually aggresive ambience. I thought it was great and everyone who enjoys gory movies should see it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
FiresideMay 3, 2011
In a world full of not good films, there exists a few films that are very good. This is one of those films. This is creativity for the sake of creativity. This is a celebration of hedonism and chaos.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
4110May 20, 2012
Bland. Boring. The manga is perverse and extreme, which is not necessarily a "good" thing. I find Miike's general style is interesting because it doesn't adhere to certain cinematic rules, but his narrative doesn't captivate or hold gravitas.Bland. Boring. The manga is perverse and extreme, which is not necessarily a "good" thing. I find Miike's general style is interesting because it doesn't adhere to certain cinematic rules, but his narrative doesn't captivate or hold gravitas. It doesn't feel like an aesthetic or anti-aesthetic, but rides right down the middle like a dull Goldilocks. Only his use of extreme violence and taboo themes make the fanboys feel like they're counter culture. In two words, over rated. But he's certainly grown as a film maker to some degree over the years. His use of color is also fascinating. Love hate.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Meth-dudeMar 1, 2019
Ichi is a big disappointment. Not as violent or disturbing as what people say, the CGI is abysmal, the acting is okay at best, the comedy is average and the movie is boring as hell. At least the gore effects were good.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
JekSpaceyMay 11, 2014
" Ichi The Killer" is a real pulp made ​​in Japan , which took , however, the element of violence and has an extreme beyond belief . The film , in fact, not only shows rapes and gruesome scenes of sadism , but also of extreme masochism. These" Ichi The Killer" is a real pulp made ​​in Japan , which took , however, the element of violence and has an extreme beyond belief . The film , in fact, not only shows rapes and gruesome scenes of sadism , but also of extreme masochism. These scenes are a real film heritage , both for their originality in the field of horror , but especially for the skill with which they are filmed.
Excellent editing, deliberately confusing and perfectly collimated to fresh and grotesque screenplay , and directed by Miike , which shows no particular technical virtuosity but really elegant .
As for the actors, while Nao Omori ( Ichi ) and Tadanobu Asano ( Kakihara ) interpreters are really excellent, the rest of the cast is not quite up .
Obviously, " Ichi The Killer" is not a film for all tastes , given its content highly controversial , so I strongly advise watching the impressionable . However, those who are fans of the genre should not miss this gem.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
BentleyTurtleMar 22, 2017
Very cool movie. Love the setting and the plot, where we get a look into the japanse yakuza, and follow a yakuza henchman as he's searching for his boss. The gore maybe a little dated, but i love how bizzare and mysterious this movie is. TheVery cool movie. Love the setting and the plot, where we get a look into the japanse yakuza, and follow a yakuza henchman as he's searching for his boss. The gore maybe a little dated, but i love how bizzare and mysterious this movie is. The main character, Kakihara, is one of the greatest characters i've ever seen. 8/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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