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

Sonatine (Japan, 1993)

A world-weary yakuza in Tokyo is assigned to take his clan to Okinawa to help settle a dispute between two factions. He's suspicious of the assignment, but he goes, and within a couple days, his role remains unclear and several of men are dead. He retreats to a house on a remote beach to wait. The first night there, he rescues a young woman from an assault, and they develop a playful relationship. Over time, it becomes clear he's been set up, sent to Okinawa so that others can take over his lucrative territory. As his clan dwindles, he plans a revenge.

It's hard to believe, but Sonatine actually was a commercial failure in Japan so when foreign directors wanted to buy the movie and release it abroad, the movie company said no with the reasoning that it was "too Japanese" and that western audiences wouldn't understand it. Eventually, Sonatine found its way to foreign cinemas and the director, Takeshi Kitano (Hana-bi), was praised by critics all over the world. 

It's not a traditional Yakuza flick in my opinion, Sonatine has a deep emotional curve and Kitano (who also plays the main character) takes his time to develop his characters. So you could say the the film has more heart and soul than firepower. The shootout scenes are short, but very effective, sudden and graphic. If you want to see Yakuza films that's done with care and has personality, check out Kitano's stuff.

Genre: Action/Crime&Drama

Takeshis' (Japan, 2005)

Beat Takeshi, a prominent actor, meets a lookalike named Kitano, who is a struggling actor, and after that, Kitano's dreams take a violent, surreal turn.

Here's a very surreal and unique film. Directed, written, edited and starring Takeshi Kitano, one of Japans best directors. Takeshis' can be hard to figure out at times, but that's deliberate. We literally get inside this mans head and it's completely bonkers. Dreams and reality seems to collapse into each other, and in the middle of it all we have two Kitano's. So wonderfully strange and puzzling. 

It also was the first one in an autobiographical trilogy all done by Kitano, the second one was called Glory to the Filmmaker! (2007) and the third one Achilles and the Tortoise (2008). Achilles played out more like a traditional drama and was considerably more serious in tone, and Glory to the Filmmaker! kind of went the same direction as Takeshis', but the first one is by far the best one in my opinion. See it with an open mind and let yourself become lost inside the skull of Takeshi Kitano.

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Boiling Point (Japan, 1990)

Two members of a Japanese junior baseball team get mixed up with the local yakuza. After their coach is severely injured by the gangsters, the two boys set off to Okinawa to purchase a gun in order to get revenge. While in Okinawa they get befriended by a psychotic yakuza outcast who is planning a revenge of his own.

What happens if you mix Takeshi Kitano, black comedy, a story of retaliation and some small time Yakuza thugs that stirs up problems. You get Boiling Point, of course, one of Kitano's earliest films. One of his biggest strengths in my opinion is his ability to find humour in the damnedest of places, he has completely mastered the dark comedy genre and makes you laugh while almost wondering if it's okay.

The violence, while not at being the focus of this Yakuza film, is extremely stark and graphic once it surfaces. It's crazy to me that not even billion dollar blockbusters makes gun fights this realistic and tough, the scene where a box literally smashes into the head of a guy is worth more than ten boring fight sequences from the latest, biggest action flick.  

Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime

A Scene at the Sea (Japan, 1991)

Born with a hearing impairment, Shigeru is a part timer working for the sanitation service. His girlfriend Takako has the same condition as well. On his usual pickup route, Shigeru finds a broken surf-board in a pile of garbage, and is introduced to the world of surfing. Shigeru fails in his attempt to catch a waves, but un-hindered by the world around them, Shigeru and Takako commute to the beach every day. Not to be discouraged, Shigeru's love for surfing consumes everything around him. 

Behold, a film by Takeshi Kitano. This was actually his first project that didn't include crude violence and yakuza, which is almost what he specializes in for his other movies. A Scene at the Sea is instead a quiet, poetic portrayal of a relationship, that nearly becomes a love triangle between Shigeru, his girlfriend, and his strong love for his newfound surfing obsession.

Genre: Drama

Outrage Beyond (Japan, 2012)

As the police launch a full-scale crackdown on organized crime, it ignites a national yakuza struggle between the Sanno of the East and Hanabishi of the West. What started as an internal strife in Outrage has now become a nationwide war in Outrage Beyond.

The first Outrage was a brilliant Yakuza epic, it had the right attitude and the right amount of brutal violence (that dentist scene, wow). Outrage Beyond somehow manages to completely blow the first one out of the water. It's a film by Takeshi Kitano and is about what he does the best, the Yakuza.  It's a hard-boiled, well-told story about a huge power struggle between two Yakuza clans and everything that follows. Not to be missed by fans of Yakuza flicks, Kitano, or just a good crime fest. 

Genre: Action/Crime 

Dolls (Japan, 2002)

A young man rejects his engagement to his fiancée to marry the daughter of his company's president. When his former fiancée attempts suicide and ends up in a semi-vegetative state, he takes her out of the hospital and they run away. Another young man is obsessed with the pop-star Haruna; he blinds himself when she is involved in a disfiguring car accident. An aged yakuza, who tries to meet a girlfriend from his youth.

Dolls is made up of three stories about undying love. Directed by  filmmaker/actor Takeshi Kitano (Battle Royale), it's visually a feast for the eyes and Kitano proves to be incredibly artistic in how present his story. The explosion of colors and the excellent screenplay is what I reflected upon the most. The story involving the couple bound together by a rope is inspired by one of Kitano's memories where two people were known as "the bound beggars". A unique film with a somewhat slow tempo, but great as heck.

Genre: Drama/Romance. 1h 54min.

Kids Return (Japan, 1996)

Two friends visit the schoolyard of the high school they used to attend, and remember their young and carefree days. They used to be the bullies in the school, until they find their own ways of life; one as a boxer, and the other as a member of the yakuza. 

Around the time director/actor Takeshi Kitano (Battle Royale, Kikujiro) had his near-fatal motorcycle accident where he damaged most of his face, he directed Kids Return. Many thought that he wouldn't be able to ever direct again, but he did. He wrote a fantastic film about two guys who find themselves at a crossroad in life. The character development is amazing here, and at the end of the film you can't help but think back of all the things they've gone through and how small events became huge stepping stones on the road to something else. 

Kikujiro (Japan, 1999)

Brash, loudmouthed and opportunistic, Kikujiro hardly seems the ideal companion for little Masao who is determined to travel long distances to see the mother he has never met. Their excursion to the cycle races is the first of a series of adventures for the unlikely pair which soon turns out to be a whimsical journey of laughter and tears with a wide array of surprises and odd ball characters to meet along the way.

A heart-warming drama directed by Takeshi Kitano (Hana-bi, Battle Royale), that explores themes of alienation and isolation in the Japanese society. Along the way we meet a bunch of wacky characters and see an unexpected friendship unfold. It's a summer vacation filled with memorable moments and new experiences, joy and sadness balanced perfectly. A film that puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day, simple as that. Too bad that Kitano doesn't make movies that often anymore, because he's really one those directors you can trust to make a truly good film. Plus, it features a beautiful soundtrack composed by mastermind Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro). The intro music is enough to make me all warm inside and brings back a lot of fond memories from when watching the film for the first time. Do your music collection a favor and get it immediately. Kikujiro is a trip you should take every summer. 

Genre: Drama/Comedy