Customer Reviews

Black Society Trilogy

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The first film in this collection does follow in the vein of dead or alive and ichi the killer in its subversive, twisting craziness. However, rainy dog, is much more conventional character study, and far less extreme than the majority of Miike's work. This film is beautiful and leisurely paced, using the literary device of pathetic falicy, where the external rain of the environment parallels the emotional states of its central characters. Ley lines is harder hitting with its look at racial bigotry, through its use of sex and violence. All three films are of his best caliber work and solidify the character's feelings of alienation by their own systems (governmental,yakuza/organized crime,family,racial circles).

To be brief,if you find yourself in need to fill a craving for raw and grit,you can either watch this series or have your backside wire brushed. There is nothing warm and fuzzy in any of these stories,none of them being related to each other except each having,in part,the theme of "half-breed", Taiwanese/Japanese kids and adults trying to survive in brutal societies,both in Taiwan and Japan. Murder,rape,homsexuality, gangs, treachery,drugs,poverty,more muder,etc. All the "good" stuff. Worth a least one viewing but I may opt for the wire brushing before I do it twice. These are brutal.