Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen (Japan, 2015)

Ryuzo is a retired yakuza gangster who lives a quiet unassuming life with his son. One day, the old gangster receives a call from an impostor pretending to be his son asking for ¥5 million. Ryuzo sees through the trick and learns from police detective Murakami (Beat Takeshi) that a member from the Keihin Rengo gang is responsible. Re-uniting his seven former henchmen to strike back, Ryuzo learns that they have all grown weak with their old age.

Director/actor Takeshi Kitano is once again back with a Yakuza film, and oh how I missed it. Ryuzo let's him have a lot more fun with the genre than his previous Outrage-series which were very straightforward and by-the-book. This one is a far more enjoyable Yakuza romp that's actually both funny and dark while also being lovely violent. The main characters all have the usual traits; one is way too old for action, one is wise and more laid-back, another is a revolver maniac, but it really doesn't feel as been-there-done-that as it should. Instead it's charming as hell to see a bunch of old men trying to relive their long past Yakuza years for a good cause. 

Genre: Action/Comedy

Violent Cop (Japan, 1989)

Kitano plays sociopathic detective Azuma, a Dirty Harry-type whose single-mindedness leads him to self-destruction. After the suicide of his friend and colleague Iwaki (a vice cop who was involved with drugs), and the kidnapping of his sister by yakuza gangsters, Azuma breaks all the rules of ethical conduct. He responds to every situation with violence, and resorts to unethical methods if they produce results.

Violent Cop is the directorial debut by now famed actor and critically acclaimed filmmaker Takeshi Kitano, who starred in films such as Battle Royale (2000) and Hana-bi (1997). Violent Cop is in many ways the type of movie he would continue to make for years to come; whether it's the Yakuza, young thugs or a corrupt police force, Kitano is up against them all by himself and everyone standing in his way is about to have a really bad day.

Genre: Action/Crime/Drama

Hana-bi (Japan, 1997)

Nishi, a violent and unpredictable police detective who quits the force after a terrible incident results in his partner, Horibe, needing to use a wheelchair. After his retirement he spends much of his time looking after his wife Miyuki, who has leukemia. At the same time, the Yakuza is pressing him about debts he owes them. Luckily, Nishi is as tough as they come.

Moving at a deliberate slow pace, Hana-bi (a.k.a. Fireworks) takes its time to show a relationship between a man and his sick wife who's slowly withering away, with various engrossing subplots. The soundtrack, composed by Studio Ghibli's Joe Hisaishi, is hauntingly beautiful and gives the film an incredible emotional depth. There's some very violent scenes, but because they're sparse they become much more effective. Praised by critics all over the world, Hana-bi is an instant classic.

Genre: Crime/Drama/Romance