Customer Reviews

Kikujirô no natsu [Region 2]

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Takeshi "Beat" Kitano got his start as a comedian in Japan, before his movie transformation into the familiar deadeyed killer. "Kikujiro" shows that he has not forgotten his roots. Here, the two Takeshi's blend in the character of an ex-Yakuza, who may not have a heart of gold, but at least bronze. Together with the gloomiest boy in Japan, they head off in a traditional road movie full of bumbles and discoveries.
"Kikujiro" is an incredibly sweet and of-kilter film. Quirky, subtly humorous, at times intense and disturbing, at times charming and disarming, Takeshi guides the film across the winding course of its plot, encountering a host of equally odd characters and situations. A woman juggler and her boyfriend the human robot, the fat and skinny bikers and the hippy thief all join in the journey with our odd couple. With each additional cast member, the story takes another unexpected twist.

While a comedy, don't expect any gut-busting laughs. The humor is more bizarre and situational, the laughs are more smirks and good feelings. The pace is slow and patient, taking a long time to build the story and the characters.

The images are beautiful, and the director takes some chances with his camera work that all work out well. "Kikujiro" is daring in its own way, while remaining heartwarming and affectionate.

An excellent, highly recommended film.

Don't remember how I put this on my Netflix list, but I always like watching Japanese films beyond the normal J-horror/yakuza/martial arts/anime realm, 'cause it gives you somewhat of a glimpse into everyday Japanese life. This isn't exactly normal, more of a very whimsical roadtrip movie with a very Wes Anderson kinda feel. It's about a very ill-behaved guy taking a very shy boy on a trip to see his mom, and that's essentially a thin framework for a very fluffy, episodic series of encounters with all sorts of eccentrics, sweet-natured bikers and surly hotel managers. I don't know what kind of message this sends for Japanese kids, though - if you set out on the road, you will most likely not meet nice guys who will camp out and play games, put on shows and dress in silly costumes to make you laugh. Still, it's charming nonetheless, especially as you watch this shy, quiet boy come out of his shell thanks to the company and attention of his new friends. Beautiful piano score by Joe Hisashi, who, if I'm not mistaken, also did the music for Spirited Away. 3.5/5.

I have seen Brother, which included Takeshi Kitano, and I loved him in that film. But after renting this movie from Blockbuster, I will definitely buy it to have as part of my Japanese movie collection.

Takeshi (Kikujiro) played a brilliant role as a man of all sorts of emotions and actions which made me feel bad for him at times, and for others in different moments. The connection between him and the little boy (Masao) was very real and touching. The plot, though at times a little slow, was still cute and sentimental. The music, the acting, the story, the whole package was amazing when I decided to see it for the first and third time. I suggest this film to any person who enjoys a nice story without minding the subtitles. My little brother who hates subtitles also fell in love with the film!

For fans of other Takeshi Kitano movies: be aware; this movie is quite different from his tough, violent, or crude films. Kikujiro is a very serene movie with excellent direction and beautiful cinematography. The music is playful and the story is delightful. I wished more information was given about the two main characters but it wasn't necessary for the overall pace. It is often humorous, and sometimes sad but fun to watch if you enjoy film with a "slice of life" feel.

Takeshi Kitano, of Sonatine and Violent Cop fame, acts like a mild(er) middle aged thug man who befriends a young boy, in this touching, sad, and funny little movie set in present-day Japan.

A little boy, who looks like he is maybe 7 years old, takes off on foot to search for his mother. He lives with his grandmother, who tells him his mother is far away, and working very hard for him. Soon after he leaves with the house, he runs into Kikujiro, whom he just calls "mister."

"Mister" is probably a low level thug in some gangster group. Anyway, he's not too keen on kids, but his girlfriend sees that the boy takes off with mister, and they start across the country to find the boy's mother.

At times this movie is very sad. The little boy has a timeless quality that many a child has evoked in the cinema, from 400 Blows to My Life as a Dog. When he acts sad, he seems to be so genuinely sad that when he finally does smile, you're that much happier for him. Kitano doesn't know how to handle life with a kid, at first, but being around him seems to lighten the old boy up. Still, he plays the stone faced unemotional thug through the movie, though he (almost) doesn't beat anyone up.

Later, mister and the kid encounter a few oddball characters. They all do what they can to cheer the kid up. This is a great movie. I wouldn't recommend it for children (children wouldn't like much of it anyway, the humor is so lowkey), but I came to this movie with moderate expectations, and they were exceeded.

Takeshi Kitano stepped outside the roles that butter his bread, and helped to make this great movie KIKIJURO.

Big ups to Takeshi Kitano.

More ups to Yusuke Sekiguchi for his portrayal of the kid.

ken32

...cinema. Words at first fail me when I try to describe the wonder that is this film. Even if you are one who has a hard time reading the text in a subtitled film you will probably enjoy it. That is one of the beauties of this film; it goes well beyond the boundaries of the culture and language that are contained within. It's a movie that touches the heart primarily through its imagery. I found myself at times not even reading the subtitles because I inherently knew what was happening on the screen. The actors don't just act, when Masao (the young boy featured on the cover) is sad you are sad. A heartless human is one who doesn't come away affected in some way by this brilliant work.

Those of you who are used to Takeshi Kitano movies may be in for a surprise with this one. The first time I watched this movie I was engulfed in a waterfall of emotions from falling off my couch comedy to eye watering sadness. This movie gives the audience a diffrent look at Japans infamous Yakusa. We can come to understand the circumstance that may lead a child to grow up and become a member of the Yakusa. With out giving away the movie I ask you all to pay careful attention to the similarities between the two main characters in this movie as this may clue you in to the deeper meaning of this movie. A must see...absolutely wonderful.

With the deaths of Akira Kurosawa and Juzo Itami, I wondered if there was anybody who could take their place. The answer came in the form of Takeshi Kitano's 1999 release, Kikujiro. Funny, tender, heartbreaking, full of hope are a few adjectives I'd use to describe this brilliant movie.

The story involves Masao, a sad-faced Tokyo boy who lives with his grandmother. With his best friend going away to the sea, he only has a long lonely summer ahead of him.

After finding a snap of his mother, along with an address in Toyohashi, Masao wants to go visit her. Thanks to a married couple who are friends of his grandmother, he gets his wish. As the woman says, "Someone must accompany you."

The next shot shows exactly who that somebody is; it is her husband, Kikujiro, and he's not too thrilled. Kikujiro, played by Takeshi Kitano, is an unemployed former small-time yakuza, as evidenced by a horrifying tattoo on his back. He is selfish, lacking in common sense, financially irresponsible, bullying and insulting people into getting his own way.

Poor Masao has to suffer through Kikujiro's bullying, not only toward him but to those they encounter. Kikujiro gambles away all their travelling money at the bike races. His reactions and outbursts after each race result are simply funny.

A constant problem is getting a ride to Toyohashi, and Kitano injects a comic element in their hapless attempts. Kikujiro even bullies a hotel desk attendant to abandon his duties and drive them, which he does to a truck stop. There, he picks a fight with a trucker disgruntled by his abruptness. Kikujiro not only smashes his driver's side truck window with a rock but beats him with a stick(!) Kikujiro's attempts to finagle a ride playing a blind man come to naught. One driver refuses, to which Kikujiro insults him and in the process, blows his cover. The other driver simply hits him without stopping. Another time, they try to get a car by placing a nail in the middle of the road. The car's tire blows out and careens down an embankment, to which the pair leg it down the highway. The next scene, they are in a car, to which Masao tells his guardian how better it is to simply ask, to which Kikujiro says, "Shut up, smartass."

Of the strangers whom they encounter, the Travelling Man, an idealistic poet who travels across Japan singing songs and reading poetry, is the nicest of the bunch, and not only is it he who takes them to Toyohashi but also suggests they camp at a beach for a few days.

Second place goes to a teenage girl, who persuades her boyfriend to take the pair at least partway. She masterfully juggles oranges and has her boyfriend imitate a coin-op toy that does a hip-hop dance. Kitano adds mechanical sound effects during his performance.

The scene where Masao and Kikujiro reach Toyohashi and discover what has happened to Masao's mother is simply heart wrenching. Not as heartbreaking is when Kikujiro goes to where his own mother resides, but it is the first scene where Kikujiro softens towards the boy. When he suggests they go back home, Masao holds his hand for the first time.

Kikujiro's bullying ways finally catch up to him at a fair, where the local yakuza beat him up. He apologizes to Masao for causing trouble, and from here, his transformation is complete.

Two bikers who join Masao, Kikujiro, and the Travelling Man at the beach, are actually pussycats, despite the Nazi helmets worn by the pair and the Danzig III T-shirt worn by the fat biker. Kikujiro, having met them earlier after finding out about Masao's mother, bullies the fat one into giving him an angel bell charm. He gives the said charm to Masao as a consolation gift and tells him that an angel will come if he rings the bell. Masao rings the bell, to no avail. Well, at least for a while, anyway.

The few days spent at the beach to entertain Masao form the best moments of the movie. There, Kikujiro displays his talent as a promoter or show organizer. His gruffness and insults return at times, but overall, he has fun. Among his best devised schemes involve placing a hollowed watermelon rind over the fat biker and having Masao strike him on the head. Another is the Naked Statues game, a strip version of America's "Green Light/Red Light." The skinnier biker, nicknamed Baldy, really enjoys himself, playing an Indian, an octopus man, and a space alien. The fat biker, Fatso, has the misfortune of falling into a pit used by farmers for depositing their animal waste for future fertilizer. The others laugh and run away from their smelly companion.

One of the most interesting things about foreign movies is how the translations come across. Two scenes in particular: when the pervert, in response to Kikujiro's question of what happens after he pulls down his pants, the subtitles say "You know." I was born in Japan and understand some Japanese. What the pervert actually said was "I (...) it." The subtitles as presented is more tasteful and diplomatic.

Joe Hisashi's wonderful piano score is simply beautiful, and some parts really softened me.

Masao discovers his guardian's name until the final scene, cementing the special bond formed during their travels together.

If Kikujiro is a sign of the new Takeshi Kitano, let's have more of it!

Okay, for those of you who know Takeshi Kitano, you'll know that most or all of his films are a must see. He usually does the action genre and does it well. But with Kikujiro( his character ), the story is more of a Land of Oz kind of adventure, but in the real world. Definitely a family flick with a lot of comedy and sad bits. You'll need a hanky. *sniff*
Kikujiro needs to be owned, it's just one of those damn movies that leave you feeling that you need to stop watching movies and get a job.

...cinema. Words at first fail me when I try to describe the wonder that is this film. Even if you are one who has a hard time reading the text in a subtitled film you will probably enjoy it. That is one of the beauties of this film; it goes well beyond the boundaries of the culture and language that are contained within. It's a movie that touches the heart primarily through its imagery. I found myself at times not even reading the subtitles because I inherently knew what was happening on the screen. The actors don't just act, when Masao (the young boy featured on the cover) is sad you are sad. A heartless human is one who doesn't come away affected in some way by this brilliant work.