Kikujiro

Kikujiro

Takeshi Kitano amazes me with every one of his films. This one is full of life, real characters, and a beautiful score by Joe Hisaishi. It is a touching film, about a lonely boy, and the anti-social, bitter man that is determined to take this boy on the adventure of a lifetime. This one shouldn't be missed, as Kitano's unmatched sense of humour highlights the movie, as do the various characters that the two meet along the way. As far as I am concerned, this movie is a ten, and is in good company on my list of favourites. Check it out!

We had not seen a Kitano film before.People who know his films seem to have "docked his score" on this effort because they expected more violence(?) Too bad. This was a wonderful film. We enjoyed the pace, the character development, getting a glimpse of the Japan landscape, and in the end, savoring which character the movie really was about. On top of it all, the catchy piano score really makes the movie. As theater viewing, it probably is an "8" but as a rental,it's a "9"... especially if you have a couch to stretch out on and just enjoy it for what it is.

Though it is a departure from his previous films filled with violence and cold-bloodedness, this still is 100% Takeshi. His off-beat humor and his calm style of cinematography made me feel as if I was a kid enjoying my summer vacation once again. I loved every minute of the film, especially where at the beginning of the film, the kid decides to search for his mother and the determination on his face as he ran off made me feel so good. Still, much of the credit has to go to the composer of most of Takeshi's films - Joe Hisaishi - With his excellent composing and Takeshi's beautiful visions, Kikujiro no natsu is a must see.

As Hanabi was for me the best movie of 1998, I was waiting for this new Beat Takeshi movie for a long time. Could he make it more good than his last work ? The answer is: I can not answer. Why ? Just because Kikujiro no natsu makes a 180 degree change from Takeshi's usual works. No yakuza-police war, no gun shooting, no blood (or just a little)... In fact, if we could find a part of comedy un Hanabi, we can say this time it's a real comedy ! Takeshi's shows his "joke-maker" face, the one of his TV shows. The result is a movie I wasn't expecting BUT as great as Hanabi ! Kikujiro no natsu means 2 hours of laughing, brand new style of comedy (the Beat Takeshi style !) and beautiful direction ! If I add to this the, once gain, great music of Joe Hisaishi, this movie has everything to be the best of this year !

Maybe Takeshi Kitano remembered his travel with his father (Kikujiro), maybe he just wanted to show his father just like he wanted to see him. Anyway this film, despite of very few words and quite simple dialogue lines, shows so many emotions that after seeing it, sometimes laughing, sometimes sad and full of empathy, i have spent many days thinking of it. How can grown-up simple man witch is not quite good in relationships with people, can spent so much time with little boy. How so violent person can show beautiful world to sad little boy. Takeshi is one of my favorite actor/director/writer. I discovered him just by being bored with all-the-same Hollywood movies. Now, thanks to him, I'm in true "love" with Asian movies. For those who liked this movie, and wants to see some good others, see the Hana-Bi (little violent, but even more deep) and Dolls (i was crying - one reason was i was touched, second - beauty of the colors and form).....For me its just one word - Outstanding.

We have a movie club that meets once a month and views and critiques movies. We find IMDB to be an invaluable resource in researching movies to view. We as a club had never viewed a Japanese film before and were not sure what to expect. The movie started very slowly and as it picked up speed we found it to be increasingly funnier. If you do not exercise patience in following the story you may place this on the scrap heap before giving it a fair shot. We evaluate our movies on eight categories, 10 points each for 1)Direction, 2) Editing, 3)Acting, 4)Sound and or Humour, 5)Plot History or script, 6)Pace, 7)Cinematography and 30 points for 8)Entertainment Value, for example;(Would you recommend this to someone else? Did you like it?). Some of our members did not like the direction and pace, and some of us felt that the direction and pace were done on purpose. Overall we rated this movie at a 77.4 and everyone enjoyed the end result.

I would describe this movie as wonderfully balanced and tender. It express this tenderness without excluding the violent harsh side of life. It is a comedy, yet it also is deeply inspiring. Special effects are used in few delicate strokes, and not abused. Many myths are torn down, and other myths are offered. It is a road movie, a faery tale, and it has got some bloody fights too! After watching it, I was left in that deep tender reflective mood that takes so long to wear off.

I have seen "Kikujiro no natsu" at the Vienna filmfestival and I have to say, that for me it is an outstanding and excellent work by Takeshi Kitano. He took the story of a classic and common roadmovie and gave it a personal style and rhythm. The visual style is also very interesting. There are pictures with the character of a documentary, but also fairy-taled, dreamy sequences and scenes, which are perfectly put in action by Kitanos cameraman Katsumi Yanagishima. This altogether made "Kikujiro no natsu" to a real moving and entertaining film and a mustsee for all dreamers and fans of great indipendent and uncommon filkmmaking.

Kikujiro is a sweet road film full of amusing little scenes. I watched this movie with my nine year old daughter and she really enjoyed it. Parents thinking of watching this with a child should be warned that there is a scene in the film with a child molester but the scene is handled in a way that I feel teaches children the dangers walking off with strangers. The child escapes a serious episode but he is still troubled by the incident and has bad dreams after wards. I've seen most of Kitano's films and this is the only one suitable for children. Fans of Takeshi Kitano's other harder films such as Sonatine and Fireworks will be a bit disappointed in Kikujiro but there is still enough in this movie to make it worth your while.