Fudoh: The New Generation

Product Description

The Berserk Gutts plush measures approximately 9 inches. Made by Media Blasters.

Customer Reviews:

Miike Fires A Dart and It Hits The Target.......2006-12-20

Since being off on sick leave and discovering Amazon, I have also had the time to discover Takashi Miike. A Japanese director who was a bit of a thug in his youth, he fell into directing just because, well, it was there. Films which I have seen of his and reviewed include Audition (Hitchcock on steroids) and Bird People In China (a remarkable character study). The only film of Miike's I have not liked to date is 'Visitor Q', which just plain pushed my buttons--and the wrong ones. However, lately I have been feeling bad about that. I posted a positive review of Ichi The Killer, but it disappeared into cyberspace--but plenty of people have already reviewed that remarkable film.

Miike is a provocateur. For the most part, he makes direct to video films. The budget is low, the money is made back by DVD sales, and he can cut loose. Often cutting loose for Miike involves chopping off feet, but can include people being cut in half. Miike likes to be outrageous. I first came across him when, cruising Future Shop, I came across "Imprint." This was a one hour film commissioned by Showtime for its "Masters of Horror" cable tv series. However, it was too much even for that series, and was released independetly on DVD after Showtime refused to air it.

Fudoh is something else again, even for Miike's work. It is a revenge story, with some real similarities to Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven"--one act of violence leads to an endless cycle of more violence. The violence gets worse and worse.

Although I will be judicious in this review about plot points, and not give away too much, you should still beware:

SPOILERS AHEAD. IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS, STOP!!

The film begins with Fudoh as a child. His father and older brother are both gangsters. After what can only be described as a toilet massacre that makes Sam Peckinpah's films look like The Sound Of Music, Fudoh's father kills Fudoh's older brother to placate other gangsters upset by the massacre. To say Fudoh's dad gives the other gangsters a head's up on Fudoh's brother, or that he heads off their concerns...well, you can guess, eh?

Cut to Fudoh as a high school student. This is one rock and roll high school. Fudoh is running his own gang. Helping him are two young boys, perhaps eleven or so years old, who look like they can barely carry their machine guns. These boys don't, uh, kid around. They help Fudoh with his gang, and that includes assassinating the gangsters connected with Fudoh's brother's death.

My favourite Fudoh aide is a cheerleader type, a girl who shows a remarkable ability with darts. She does not use her hand to throw darts, nor does she use her mouth. But she does blow the darts out. Do I have to be explicit? Let's say her aim is remarkable, given she shots the darts while on her back.

The film is beautifully shot and paced, and contains, as one should expect from the above descriptions, a whole truckload of dark humour. I've seen Peckinpah, I've seen Scorsese's gangster movies, heck I've seen Friday the 13th. But I ain't never seen nothing quite like this!!

The film, while hilarious in parts, is equally dramatic. Miike makes it serious when he has to, yet there is no vibe clash when he switches tones. I'm not sure yet how he pulled it off, but he did.

As the revenge cycle gets worse, the violence increases and things get nastier and nastier. Unlike with Visitor Q, though, this is an entertainment that does not rub your nose in it (in fact, unlike Dead or Alive, which tended to also rub your nose in it). Also, unlike some Miike films, it does not feel rushed, with things thrown in for the heck of it. Everything works, right to the end. No scenes stick out like a sore thumb. Or, for that matter, like a dismembered thumb.

Stylish, clever, violent, sexy--did I mention the scene involving two women making out, only one of them is also a man?--this is a unique film that is well worth checking out. Except you'll never check it out of any video store except a speciality store, you'll have to buy this sucker. It ain't coming on cable any time soon!!

Average customer rating:

What's not to like?
The Crying Game
Nothing Special.
Not as bad as a stick in the eye but it comes close
A Revenge Film with Distrubing Moments in Miike Style...

Fudoh - The New Generation
Starring: Shosuke Tanihara , Kenji Takano , Marie Jinno , Tamaki Kenmochi , and Tôru Minegishi
Director: Takashi Miike
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005R5GR
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Customer Reviews:

What's not to like?.......2007-02-27

Six-year-old hitmen. Hermaphrodite soft-core porn. Death by acid. Stripper high school girls who fire darts from their you-know-whats. A North Korean assassin who flies into a killing rage over bad kim-chee. This early effort from autuer Takashi Miike is a totally uninhibited, exhuberant, blood-soaked low-budget mess, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't know why. Most people probably won't like it.

The Crying Game.......2005-07-06

Remember the Neil Jordan flick "The Crying Game", about love and death and terrorism and gender-bending confusion in Great Britain?

Well, my critical reaction to Takashi Miike's "Fudoh", one of his roughly bazillion flicks about Yakuza doing that voodoo that They do so well (which is to say: killing other Yakuza)will be called just that: The Crying Game.

Would you like to know why?

It's not because at one point (between killings), its sailor-suited schoolgirl Yakuza assassin unveils her own little biological---erm---surprise, literally amidships.

It's not because at its warped, twisted, diabolical core "Fudoh" is really about Love. Yes, Love---the kind that boils up a the murderous, acidic rage in the heart of its hero, Riki Fudoh (played with admirable poise and with zero sarcasm by Shosuke Tanihara, who acts for all the world that all this insanity is just a by-the-numbers Yakuza flick, demanding dignity), who declares war against his own father for the murder of his older brother years before.

No, it's none of those things. Basically, "Fudoh" is unhinged, deranged, possibly evil. And when you get done watching it, *you* will be crying.

That's right, *crying*.

Depending on how warped you are, you'll be crying from a)utter shock at having wasted two hours of your life you won't get back, or b) from a state of uncontrollable giggles.

"Fudoh" is not an epic. It's not well-paced, or particularly coherent (very few Miike films are, which is part of their sick charm). Its take on filial piety left me cold; its strange thrusts and feints at mainstream humor rattled and died.

Miike's flicks are always a mixed bag, reflecting the Master's madness, profligacy, and prolificity. Some are screamingly hysterical outburts of shameless chaos (as in "Ichi the Killer"), the violence almost tastily juicy, the carnage ratcheting up into a kind of baroque geyser of gore.

Some are meticulously restrained little jaunts into madness where the gibbering insanity, almost mood pieces: the sheer, monstrous, unholy Wrongness is kept tightly leashed, in the cellar, just beneath the blindingly hip, leather-skinned, sinfully rad surface, ready for Miike to give the leash a tug (as in "Audition" and "Gozu").

And then there is the last category: the Sh*t. Fudoh falls squarely in this last category, because it is, undeniably, even to the most die-hard acolyte of Miike, total sh*t. And that's understandable, because this is one of the Master's first movies, and showed enough lunatic promise that after "Fudoh" he could get seriously bankrolled and really start exporting the madness.

With that in mind, though, "Fudoh" is a tight production, and the constraints show. Those gory, ghoulish fight-sequences? Mostly non-existent here, though they happen: remember, though, Miike made "Fudoh" for just 40 million Yen (400 grand if my exchange rate gears are cranking), which in Tokyo gets you lunch and a motel room for two nights.

So yeah, while there are flashes that will slake the thirst of the high-end gorehound, don't go in expecting "Ichi".

Second, for any Yakuza flick---especially a Miike jaunt---the hero and his chief nemesis (Daddums) are boring. Riki Fudoh stalks around looking somber (if stylish!) in his school uniform, often accessorizing with a white trenchcoat, which makes him look like he's about to launch an invasion of China at any minute.

Nah, the fun in Fudoh is transferred over to Riki's triumvirate of assassins: a big goofy guy for pratfalls, and two Sailor Moon-esque lasses for slaughter and kink.

So why FOUR stars for "Fudoh"? Because like all of Takashi Miike's art, you will see things in "Fudoh" you have never seen before. Things, quite honestly, you will never see again, outside of another Miike flick or Hell.

Think of it this way: when's the last time you went down to the neighborhood cineplex and scoped out:

1) A vicious Yakuza gunbattle with about 10,000 rounds exchanged---all in a toilet stall?

2) A poisoned Yakuza gangster getting some bad morning coffee and turning into a human blood geyser in the back of a police car?

3) A tender, touching, deeply sensitive (yeah, right!) love story between a confused, angst-ridden Ninja schoolgirl Yakuza assassin who fires lethal poisoned darts from her---umm...well, she uses pressure generated in her, erm, nether regions---anyway, between the murderous hermaphroditic Yakuza schoolgirl and the new English teacher who shows her the meaning of Love? Awww.

4) Death by acid bath, on stage, during a striptease?

5) Death! This time by lethal poisoned dart, shot across a lounge by the aforementioned hermaphrodite killer, launched from the boiling depths of his/her...umm...from its---hindquarters?

6) Or a brutal revenge scene at a local Shinto shrine, with the victims two lisping twin Shinto priests and the assassin sent to protect them, who---well, who likes to spend quality cuddling time with his two charges.

And we're just getting warmed up. If God isn't dead, He will be when he checks this demented thing out.

JSG

Nothing Special........2004-12-09

Lately I've been getting into Asian-Cinema, and the king of it seems to be Takashi Miike. Releasing 63 films in the last 13 years, he's certainly a busy man, and he does his best to make some of the most bizarre movies out there, this being no expection.

The first problem with this DVD is the actual DVD.
It has no DVD Menu, no Sound options (Japanese Stereo + English Subtitles), and no extra features. The movie does have 3 trailers for other films which play right before the movie (Much like a VHS Tape). The video on the DVD Is nothing special either.

The story follows young Riki (A model high school student), son of one of the biggest crime lords in japan, who murdered his other son (Riki's brother) -- Riki swears to avenge his brothers death, and recruits a group of bizarre people from his school (Including a man known as the japanese elvis!), to take out his father, and gain control of the Yakuza.

The movie sounds real interesting (And when you see some of these characters (For instance, the girl who shoots poisonous darts out of her privates)), it truly is bizarre.

Unfortunately the story doesnt unfold so well, and is a large letdown (I wanted to love this movie after hearing about it).

It does feature Miike's typical "over the top violence" at parts, but its not as good as his typical films unfortunately.

I'd recommend renting this one, but I'd hold off on purchasing this movie unless you can find it for under $10.

Not as bad as a stick in the eye but it comes close.......2004-12-01

The plot of "Fudoh: The New Generation" goes some thing like this. Father kills son. 10 years later younger son takes revenge using a gang made primarily of pre-teens. Now that you know what the movie is about you don't need to watch it. This has to be the worst movies I have ever seen. It is even worse then Starship Troopers II. There is no character development the plot line is about as good as a porn movie. Im not saying this because of all the nudity but rather it is just unbelievably lame.

With the exception of the first action scene the action sequences are slightly worse then what you would find in an average American TV show but they try to cover this up with massive amounts of blood. Which brings me to the one thing this movie does have, shock value. This movie is filled with situations that are intended to shock the viewers, but in most cases just made me giggle at its absurdity. Here are just a few of the situations:

A crime lord drinks a poison which seems to make all his blood shoot from his neck and mouth(lots of blood here).

Another crime lord is shot by a six-year-old kid (meant to be shocking but hey who really cares?).

Yet another crime lord is killed when a stripper shoots a dart through his head with a blowgun. The "shocking part" is that she uses something other then her mouth to blow the dart."

Oh yeah and what movie would be complete without a hermaphrodite sex scene?

In conclusion I can't believe I spent an hour and 40-min watching this. So pleas do yourself a favor and don't watch it or if you do watch it rent it so you wont be out so much money.

A Revenge Film with Distrubing Moments in Miike Style..........2004-07-11

Takeshi Miike is a cinematic visionary who has directed over 50 films and among these most memorable are Audition (2000) and Ichi the Killer (2001). Miike's films often bring the audience into a dark and disturbing world of crime and psychologically distressing themes. In Audition Miike depicts a love story that turns into a carnival of mutilation and degradation in which the audience still can connect with the mutilator. In Ichi the Killer the audience can be forced into a shockingly violent world of crime, but there is a deep sense for the understanding of the characters despite the violence. Miike's absurd fondness for the disturbed and dark shines through in his films, yet each film he directs has a unique touch and offers a new experience. In short, Miike who seems to do nothing but work as he releases film after film, reinvents himself in each film with his own characteristic touch, and each accomplishment leaves a new mark of Miike.

Fudoh: The Next Generation is no exception to Miike's style as it takes on a yakuza revenge story where the young Riki Fudoh (Shosuke Tanihara) is severely traumatized by witnessing the murder of his brother as his father decapitates him in order to please the bosses of the other yakuza families. Riki promises himself to seek revenge on those who ordered the killing of his brother. Ten years later when Riki is in high school he has organized himself with well-trained six-year-old assassins with guns and stun-guns, two lethal high school girls, and a gigantic high school boy that can crush anything with his hands. Riki begins to take on the yakuza killing them off one by one in Miike style, which means that each killing offers a new disturbing experience. The question is can Riki make it, or will he also be a victim for the violence that he breeds around himself. Fudoh: The Next Generation offers an interesting cinematic experience as it offers notions in regards to social learning and violence.

Average customer rating:
Fudoh the New Generation

Manufacturer: Red Sun Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Audio Commentary, Shooting Locations

Cast/Crew Info.

Stills Gallery and more

5.1 Dolby Digital

Japanese with English subtitles

ASIN: B000KS8FZE

Product Description

Riki Fudoh is a young man whose appearance is misleading. A highly cultured model high school student on the surface, but underneath lies a vicious and silent killer. Successor of the Fudoh family, Riki devises a plan to recruit his own criminal organization made up of fellow classmates. His goal, to brutally assassinate the old generation of Yakuza bosses and take control. Hailed by critics the world over and winner of the International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award at the 1998 Portugal Fantasporto Film Festival! Get ready to take in the intense filmmaking experience that is Fudoh: The Next Generation--a nihilistic gangster saga you'll not soon forget!

Average customer rating:

What's not to like?
The Crying Game
Nothing Special.
Not as bad as a stick in the eye but it comes close
A Revenge Film with Distrubing Moments in Miike Style...

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ASIN: B00000JN38
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Description

Riki Fudoh is a highly cultured model high school student on the surface, but underneath lies a deep and Vengeful rage. He witnessed his brother's grisly murder at the hands of his own father. His father is a powerful Yakuza crime lord, so Riki recruits his own criminal organization. His goal is to assassinate the old generation of Yakuza bosses.

Customer Reviews:

What's not to like?.......2007-02-27

The Crying Game.......2005-07-06

Nothing Special........2004-12-09

Not as bad as a stick in the eye but it comes close.......2004-12-01

A Revenge Film with Distrubing Moments in Miike Style..........2004-07-11

Fudoh: The Next Generation is no exception to Miike's style as it takes on a yakuza revenge story where the young Riki Fudoh (Shosuke Tanihara) is severely traumatized by witnessing the murder of his brother as his father decapitates him in order to please the bosses of the other yakuza families. Riki promises himself to seek revenge on those who ordered the killing of his brother. Ten years later when Riki is in high school he has organized himself with well-trained six-year-old assassins with guns and stun-guns, two lethal high school girls, and a gigantic high school boy that can crush anything with his hands. Riki begins to take on the yakuza killing them off one by one in Miike style, which means that each killing offers a new disturbing experience. The question is can Riki make it, or will he also be a victim for the violence that he breeds around himself. Fudoh: The Next Generation offers an interesting cinematic experience as it offers notions in regards to social learning and violence.

Average customer rating:

What's not to like?

The Crying Game

Nothing Special.

Not as bad as a stick in the eye but it comes close

A Revenge Film with Distrubing Moments in Miike Style...

Fudoh: The New Generation [Region 2]
Starring: Shosuke Tanihara , Kenji Takano , Marie Jinno , Tamaki Kenmochi , and Tôru Minegishi
Director: Takashi Miike
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Similar Items:

Visitor Q (Sub)

Dead or Alive (Unrated Director's Cut)

Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition)

Gozu Gozu

Full Metal Yakuza

ASIN: B00009MGIZ

Customer Reviews:

What's not to like?.......2007-02-27

The Crying Game.......2005-07-06

Nothing Special........2004-12-09

Not as bad as a stick in the eye but it comes close.......2004-12-01

A Revenge Film with Distrubing Moments in Miike Style..........2004-07-11

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