Takashi Miike's repertoire as a director has been a controversial and colorful one. His latest offering, 'Yakuza Apocalypse', does not disappoint when delivering the Takashi Miike brand of films. However, 'Yakuza Apocalypse' is neither exactly a hit, nor a miss, as critics said.
According to Twitch Film, 'Yakuza Apocalypse' is a film that Miike's is "expected" from him. With almost twenty years in the international film industry, and varying genres and styles in his belt, only Miike can fearlessly do what he did in 'Yakuza Apocalypse': mixing and shaking up them in one flick, and hope that "the audience will greedily gobble the glorious genre-blending goodness."
However, 'Yakuza Apocalypse' posed a question of "innovation and self imitation." As this film has been in line with Miike's usual movies of "fantastical and seemingly outrageous" nature, nothing new has been presented. Miike and Kitano Takeshi have already revamped the yakuza film genre before. In a succinct summary, 'Yakuza Apocalypse' is an enjoyable movie but not a great movie, and definitely not Miike's best.
In an interview with Toronto Sun, Takashi Miike said that there isn't "a message he wants to convey to audiences," leaving the moviegoers free to "take away what they want" from 'Yakuza Apocalypse'. Acknowledging that he has a "cult kind of fans", Miike said the image built by his films might be vastly different from how he is as a real person.
Describing himself as a "regular guy," Miike explained that the violence in 'Yakuza Apocalypse' and his other films are commanded by the characters. However, he also mentioned that he is not inclined to "break that image", and that by doing so, he shows respect to his fans.
According to Slash Film, 'Yakuza Apocalypse' has played in Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival and has recently released a red band trailer for the film. While citing that the trailer looks "positively insane," the article has cited unfavorable reviews about the film, and ultimately, deeming that one has to see the movie to make a decision on what it's worth.
'Yakuza Apocalypse' might be worth a go for its entertainment value. However, Takashi Miike fans or not, moviegoers may do good keeping in mind the critics' reviews, and not expect too many new things or coherency in it. As it is a crime thriller, supernatural and martial arts all in one, audiences may have to prepare for a wild ride.
Join the Conversation