Kikujiro Reviews

• The gloomy boy and the ex-thug

  
  By A2B8GXSCB1R05T on 2004-03-16
  Takeshi "Beat" Kitano got his start as a comedian in Japan, before his movie transformation into the familiar deadeyed killer. "Kikujiro" shows that he has not forgotten his roots. Here, the two Takeshi's blend in the character of an ex-Yakuza, who may not have a heart of gold, but at least bronze. Together with the gloomiest boy in Japan, they head off in a traditional road movie full of bumbles and discoveries.
  "Kikujiro" is an incredibly sweet and of-kilter film. Quirky, subtly humorous, at times intense and disturbing, at times charming and disarming, Takeshi guides the film across the winding course of its plot, encountering a host of equally odd characters and situations. A woman juggler and her boyfriend the human robot, the fat and skinny bikers and the hippy thief all join in the journey with our odd couple. With each additional cast member, the story takes another unexpected twist.

  While a comedy, don't expect any gut-busting laughs. The humor is more bizarre and situational, the laughs are more smirks and good feelings. The pace is slow and patient, taking a long time to build the story and the characters.

  The images are beautiful, and the director takes some chances with his camera work that all work out well. "Kikujiro" is daring in its own way, while remaining heartwarming and affectionate.

  An excellent, highly recommended film.
  
  

• not where his bread is buttered

  
  By A3JAIZQ5RS064X on 2001-06-02
  Takeshi Kitano, of Sonatine and Violent Cop fame, acts like a mild(er) middle aged thug man who befriends a young boy, in this touching, sad, and funny little movie set in present-day Japan.

  A little boy, who looks like he is maybe 7 years old, takes off on foot to search for his mother. He lives with his grandmother, who tells him his mother is far away, and working very hard for him. Soon after he leaves with the house, he runs into Kikujiro, whom he just calls "mister."

  "Mister" is probably a low level thug in some gangster group. Anyway, he's not too keen on kids, but his girlfriend sees that the boy takes off with mister, and they start across the country to find the boy's mother.

  At times this movie is very sad. The little boy has a timeless quality that many a child has evoked in the cinema, from 400 Blows to My Life as a Dog. When he acts sad, he seems to be so genuinely sad that when he finally does smile, you're that much happier for him. Kitano doesn't know how to handle life with a kid, at first, but being around him seems to lighten the old boy up. Still, he plays the stone faced unemotional thug through the movie, though he (almost) doesn't beat anyone up.

  Later, mister and the kid encounter a few oddball characters. They all do what they can to cheer the kid up. This is a great movie. I wouldn't recommend it for children (children wouldn't like much of it anyway, the humor is so lowkey), but I came to this movie with moderate expectations, and they were exceeded.

  Takeshi Kitano stepped outside the roles that butter his bread, and helped to make this great movie KIKIJURO.

  Big ups to Takeshi Kitano.

  More ups to Yusuke Sekiguchi for his portrayal of the kid.

  ken32
  
  

• Disappointing

  
  By AXUNG38XE5QHX on 2006-09-17
  The beautiful music, cute young actor and the plot that is presented at the outset led me to anticipate a delightful escape into a "slice of life" in a different culture. Half way into the movie I decided that either this was a lousy movie or I don't understand the Japanese culture at all. The main character is simply too unlikeable to engender any real sympathy in the viewer: as we learn more about his background, the facts certainly tell us we should feel sorry for this man, but his obnoxious behavior throughout make him a totally unsympathetic character. And it is even difficult to understand why so many people immediately cower at his bullying - perhaps this is somewhat a cultural difference? The young actor is cute but has a very limited emotional range, but the biggest problem was the series of odd, to say the least, stilted scenes involving off-beat characters met on the road, who are never really developed as characters with any depth. Near the end of the movie, my wife and I almost gave up on it, but we stayed until the end. I would definitely not recommend the movie.
  
  

• Kikujiro is a heartwarming magical treat!

  
  By A2P49WD75WHAG5 on 2001-08-08
  With the deaths of Akira Kurosawa and Juzo Itami, I wondered if there was anybody who could take their place. The answer came in the form of Takeshi Kitano's 1999 release, Kikujiro. Funny, tender, heartbreaking, full of hope are a few adjectives I'd use to describe this brilliant movie.

  The story involves Masao, a sad-faced Tokyo boy who lives with his grandmother. With his best friend going away to the sea, he only has a long lonely summer ahead of him.

  After finding a snap of his mother, along with an address in Toyohashi, Masao wants to go visit her. Thanks to a married couple who are friends of his grandmother, he gets his wish. As the woman says, "Someone must accompany you."

  The next shot shows exactly who that somebody is; it is her husband, Kikujiro, and he's not too thrilled. Kikujiro, played by Takeshi Kitano, is an unemployed former small-time yakuza, as evidenced by a horrifying tattoo on his back. He is selfish, lacking in common sense, financially irresponsible, bullying and insulting people into getting his own way.

  Poor Masao has to suffer through Kikujiro's bullying, not only toward him but to those they encounter. Kikujiro gambles away all their travelling money at the bike races. His reactions and outbursts after each race result are simply funny.

  A constant problem is getting a ride to Toyohashi, and Kitano injects a comic element in their hapless attempts. Kikujiro even bullies a hotel desk attendant to abandon his duties and drive them, which he does to a truck stop. There, he picks a fight with a trucker disgruntled by his abruptness. Kikujiro not only smashes his driver's side truck window with a rock but beats him with a stick(!) Kikujiro's attempts to finagle a ride playing a blind man come to naught. One driver refuses, to which Kikujiro insults him and in the process, blows his cover. The other driver simply hits him without stopping. Another time, they try to get a car by placing a nail in the middle of the road. The car's tire blows out and careens down an embankment, to which the pair leg it down the highway. The next scene, they are in a car, to which Masao tells his guardian how better it is to simply ask, to which Kikujiro says, "Shut up, smartass."

  Of the strangers whom they encounter, the Travelling Man, an idealistic poet who travels across Japan singing songs and reading poetry, is the nicest of the bunch, and not only is it he who takes them to Toyohashi but also suggests they camp at a beach for a few days.

  Second place goes to a teenage girl, who persuades her boyfriend to take the pair at least partway. She masterfully juggles oranges and has her boyfriend imitate a coin-op toy that does a hip-hop dance. Kitano adds mechanical sound effects during his performance.

  The scene where Masao and Kikujiro reach Toyohashi and discover what has happened to Masao's mother is simply heart wrenching. Not as heartbreaking is when Kikujiro goes to where his own mother resides, but it is the first scene where Kikujiro softens towards the boy. When he suggests they go back home, Masao holds his hand for the first time.

  Kikujiro's bullying ways finally catch up to him at a fair, where the local yakuza beat him up. He apologizes to Masao for causing trouble, and from here, his transformation is complete.

  Two bikers who join Masao, Kikujiro, and the Travelling Man at the beach, are actually pussycats, despite the Nazi helmets worn by the pair and the Danzig III T-shirt worn by the fat biker. Kikujiro, having met them earlier after finding out about Masao's mother, bullies the fat one into giving him an angel bell charm. He gives the said charm to Masao as a consolation gift and tells him that an angel will come if he rings the bell. Masao rings the bell, to no avail. Well, at least for a while, anyway.

  The few days spent at the beach to entertain Masao form the best moments of the movie. There, Kikujiro displays his talent as a promoter or show organizer. His gruffness and insults return at times, but overall, he has fun. Among his best devised schemes involve placing a hollowed watermelon rind over the fat biker and having Masao strike him on the head. Another is the Naked Statues game, a strip version of America's "Green Light/Red Light." The skinnier biker, nicknamed Baldy, really enjoys himself, playing an Indian, an octopus man, and a space alien. The fat biker, Fatso, has the misfortune of falling into a pit used by farmers for depositing their animal waste for future fertilizer. The others laugh and run away from their smelly companion.

  One of the most interesting things about foreign movies is how the translations come across. Two scenes in particular: when the pervert, in response to Kikujiro's question of what happens after he pulls down his pants, the subtitles say "You know." I was born in Japan and understand some Japanese. What the pervert actually said was "I (...) it." The subtitles as presented is more tasteful and diplomatic.

  Joe Hisashi's wonderful piano score is simply beautiful, and some parts really softened me.

  Masao discovers his guardian's name until the final scene, cementing the special bond formed during their travels together.

  If Kikujiro is a sign of the new Takeshi Kitano, let's have more of it!
  
  

• Kikujiro: An Epic of Japanese Cinema

  
  By A3VSSDB15FQQEJ on 2000-11-21
  After coming off two highly emotional, yet dark, yakuza movies, Kikujiro is a very welcome change from the typically hard-as-stone Beat Takeshi. With this film, you see the fun and gentle side that really is Takeshi Kitano but we rarely ever see through his movies. The sad tale of Masao, deserted by his mother for no logical reason, lives with his grandma and is hard-pressed to find any action alone during his summer vacation. With that, he sets off on a journey to find his mother and its only trouble from there on out.

  Kikujiro is everything wrapped into one; comedy, drama, action; and it pulls off each emotion flawlessly. There isn't a dull moment and when its over, you'll be begging for more. Hands down one of Takeshi Kitano's best movies. If you really want to have a nice, good time with a movie, Kikujiro is your best bet.
  
  

• Beat Takeshi's Audacious, Edgy and Heartwarming Road Movie
  By A13E0ARAXI6KJW on 2005-07-14
  In the title role of this highly original 1999 road movie, Beat Takeshi - with his twitching eye and bow-legged shuffle - looks and acts like a cross between Mickey Rourke and Harvey Keitel with a heavy dose of Walter Matthau's sourpuss demeanor (circa "The Bad News Bears") for good measure. He creates a truly memorable character - cynically profane, unapologetically insulting, childishly manipulative and somehow likeable. As the director and screenwriter of said film, Takeshi Kitano - the same guy - has fashioned something quite unique from a tired premise - a boy's search for his mother and the gruff man who begrudgingly helps find her. What could have been a predictable and sentimental wallow, especially with the indiscriminate use of angels as a pervasive symbol, is instead an idiosyncratic, emotionally adroit film that sometimes simmers on the cusp of violence.
  
  Yet it becomes ultimately affecting almost in spite of itself. In fact, Kitano does such a resolutely offbeat job that at certain times, the film reminds me of the narrative ellipses and low steady shots that were the trademark of Yasujiro Ozu's home dramas, intermingled with a surprisingly intense Quentin Tarantino-like, in-your-face edginess. The protagonist of the film is really the latch-key nine-year old, Masao, who is on a quest to find the mother whom his grandmother says is "away working". With his sad eyes and cherubic face, Yusuke Sekiguchi is perfectly cast as Masao providing the moral compass for the story. Whether he is running with his arms flailing or forlornly playing soccer by himself, he is poignant without being saccharine and completely natural. It is Masao's scrapbook that provides the framework for the film lending each chapter a descriptive title. Every chapter has a distinct character that is, in various turns, playful, hilarious, disturbing, surreal and heartbreaking. Case in point: Kitano is not afraid to use a child molester as first an uncomfortable source of black humor and then as the subject of Masao's nightmare. My favorite scenes come toward the end when Kikujiro organizes a motley crew of misfits to play games with Masao and have them masquerade as Indians, aliens, marine life and even watermelons. The variety in tone between chapters makes for unexpected tonal shifts, but somehow it works and adds to the greater context of the story.
  
  That Kitano is able to manage a consistent filmmaking style with a strong visual sense is a credit to the talent behind the camera - not only Kitano's direction, script and film editing but also his artwork showcased throughout the movie, Katsumi Yanagishima's sharply rendered cinematography and Joe Hisaishi's evocative Windham Hill-esque score. There are some funny sideline performances from Gidayu Great and Rakkyo Ide as Fatso and Baldy, two bikers who turn out to be the Abbott and Costello of soft-hearted slackers; Nezumi Mamura as a free-spirited drifter; Fumie Hosokawa as a relentlessly perky girl with a talent for juggling; and in the opening sequence, Kayoko Kishimoto as Kikujiro's take-no-prisoners wife. Kitano, however, elicits the most laughs if only for the film's central conceit that he gets away with his infantile gangster behavior. One would think the story would climax when Masao comes upon his mother, but Kitano confounds expectations with every new scene. The DVD really has no extras other than a couple of trailers not related to the film (not coincidentally, one is for Walter Salles' "Central Station" which has a similar story structure). I know this film has its detractors, especially among fans of Kitano's bloodier work, but I find it intriguingly ambiguous and thoroughly enjoyable.
  
  
• Fatso and Baldy ride again!
  By A283NP8NG7X11F on 2006-03-01
  There isn't any real big reason as to why I saw this movie. I haven't seen any of Takeshi Kitano's other films, so I can't relate to those who were surprised to see him in a role/make a movie like this. If anything, I got this movie for possibly the stupidest reason ever- I have a friend whose nickname is Kuji...and the main character's name has "Kuji" in it. Isn't that a terrible reason to see a film? Usually, I'm above things like that. But I -did- read the back of the box before finalizing my decision, so I knew what I was getting into. The movie sounded cute, almost like a coming of age story. But at the same time, the description doesn't come close to describing the movie in full. This is one of the strangest movies I've ever seen in my life. The back of the box mentions that a young boy is off to look for his mother with the help of a "surly, middle-aged petty crook Kikujiro who is none too happy with being the chaperone". That's not quite the case. There's no real hint that Kikujiro is a crook. In fact, most people wouldn't even guess it unless they have some Japanese culture education. The most we get is a semi-Yakuza tattoo on his back, something that not everyone's going to understand. So don't assume the guy's like, some grave robber or something. But either way, Kikujiro is definitely one of the sweetest movies I've seen recently, but it's a shame that it didn't get a proper dvd transfer. Note- the movie gets 5 stars, but there were some problems with the disc to keep it from getting the same score.
  
  Masao is a young boy in Japan, and school's just ended. He doesn't have a family, anywhere to go, or anything to do with his summer vacation. Even his best (and only?) friend doesn't get to do anything with him, as he and his own family go off for a few weeks for their own vacation. Masao is now left with nothing to do. He even goes to the soccer field, all dressed up, expecting to play with some of the other kids. But the season's over, and no one else shows up, except for a teacher to tell him just that. Masao goes home, where he's usually alone since his grandma works a lot, and whittles time away studying and looking at photo books of his mom, who is somewhere out in the world. According to his grandma's friends, she ran off with some other guy. Masao, by some amazing fluke, ends up getting the address of where his mother is, and sees fit to go see her. But he can't go alone. Grandma's friends make a plan- Kikujiro will go with Masao to find her. Kikujiro is quite the character. Middle-aged, tough, dynamic, street smart, yet manages to be a sweet heart at times. The two head off, but Kikujiro has a few things planned before getting around to that- he blows all of Masao's travel money on bicycle races, after thinking Masao has a "gift" for predicting winning numbers. The two are now without a way of getting to their destination right away, and depend on getting rides from other people. It turns out to be a fun journey for the two of them- making Masao start to live life and have fun, rather than being depressed for the entire summer, and having Kikujiro show that even the tough guys have good in them. Getting into trouble, seeing new things, meeting new people, that's what summer's all about, and Masao will finally experience this first-hand.
  
  Again, this is an odd movie. Parts of it remind me of Amelie in the way it's shot, while others remind me of slapstick comedy skits. For an example of the humor, I'll talk about the bicycle race scene. Masao correctly guesses the winners the first time he's asked. After that, Kikujiro asks him for two more numbers. Masao tells him, and Kikujiro zones out with his hands on his hips, with that look of "yes, those are good numbers". Then, we see the scoreboard, and see that their numbers didn't even come close. There are a lot of quick cuts that lead to the punch line in this movie. Not all of them are hilarious (the one I just mentioned isn't even funny until it happens repeatedly), but they will make you smile. Other things are more obviously funny, like when Kikujiro and Masao go to a carnival and play a game where you have to catch fish. Kikujiro points out that the game doesn't work right, and proceeds to scoop up the fish. "Hey, you can't do that!" the carny exclaims. "I gave you my money! I'll do what I want!" is Kikujiro's response. This then leads into a small fight with the Yakuza. 'pretty random, ain't it? While this is a very lighthearted movie for the most part, there is one thing that definitely isn't for everyone. There's a scene where Masao gets taken away by a child molester when Kikujiro stops for a small meal. The scene isn't explicit by any means, and it stops when the old man tries to get Masao out of his pants, but some people will probably get disturbed by this. Don't worry though, Kikujiro teaches him a lesson, and it helps develop him as a character. Other memorable moments include two "tough" bikers that Kikujiro encounters, and threatens to steal their bikes if they don't give him an angel bell, a bow and arrow making scene, "naked statues" (with a hilarious censor bar), and Kikujiro trying to get a ride from cars on a country highway, pretending he's blind. This movie is also shot from a child's point of view at times. There are semi-chapters with cards showing you what the next scene's going to be about, with hiragana and kanji written over the image in crayon. It adds a lot of charm to the movie. There are also cute dreams/fantasies here and there when Masao's asleep. While the quick cuts and vagueness of some scenes may throw people off, I really don't see how anyone couldn't sit through this entire movie. It's so charming and interesting, that you'll have to stick around to see where Masao and Kikujiro end up next. This movie could've turned into your typical road trip comedy, but thankfully, was saved by the directing and writing. While definitely not for everyone, anyone who's interested in a more realistic look at modern Japanese culture, or even looking for a cute heartwarming film, would do well in watching Kikujiro.
  
  The back of thre box claims it got a great transfer, but that isn't the case. There's A LOT of macro blocking to be found. During the carnival scene, it was abundant. Some colors also come off as faded, which shouldn't be, as the country and more colorful scenes look a lot better in pictures I've seen from behind the scenes of the movie. I even noticed some grain and artifacts that were on the print for a few scenes. One had it on the same spot for about 10 seconds before it was gone. The audio fares better, though the movie's mostly dialogue driven. There's a great main theme that runs through the movie, and it can be heard beautifully. Available in only Japanese, the Dolby 2.0 track does the job. This isn't a movie that requires a fancy surround sound system. I would like to comment on the subtitles though, since the option for them is in the audio setup. They're about 70% accurate. As someone who studied Japanese for 4 years, there were a lot of things that I kept pointing out words that the characters said, which didn't appear in the subtitles, or were incorrectly done. It won't do much to casual viewers who don't know the language, but it's still something that could've been done better.
  
  Here's the other offender on the disc- no real special features. You get trailers for other movies by the studio, and a talent bio for Takeshi Kitano. That's it. The bio is just a short timeline of his work and a little bit of personal info like his birthday and the like. It's nothing you couldn't get online. Why wasn't there a commentary? Or a behind the scenes featurette? Or interviews with the actors? A movie this good deserved something more.
  
  I really wanted to give this dvd 5 stars, or even 4 stars. But the lack of special features, and the mediocre picture quality took the score down a little. Kikujiro is still a great film, no matter how you look at it. And while I hope a special edition comes out somewhere down the road, I still recommend buying it. It's one of those movies that perks you up if you've had a bad day, and takes you back to a simpler time in your life- when everything seemed like just a small chapter. While there are tons of movies that are like this, most of them tug at your heart with cheap ways to get a reaction out of you. Kikujiro is not one of those movies.
  
  
• Charming, sweet and odd
  By A3J2VL63SUVXVE on 2006-09-15
  Don't remember how I put this on my Netflix list, but I always like watching Japanese films beyond the normal J-horror/yakuza/martial arts/anime realm, 'cause it gives you somewhat of a glimpse into everyday Japanese life. This isn't exactly normal, more of a very whimsical roadtrip movie with a very Wes Anderson kinda feel. It's about a very ill-behaved guy taking a very shy boy on a trip to see his mom, and that's essentially a thin framework for a very fluffy, episodic series of encounters with all sorts of eccentrics, sweet-natured bikers and surly hotel managers. I don't know what kind of message this sends for Japanese kids, though - if you set out on the road, you will most likely not meet nice guys who will camp out and play games, put on shows and dress in silly costumes to make you laugh. Still, it's charming nonetheless, especially as you watch this shy, quiet boy come out of his shell thanks to the company and attention of his new friends. Beautiful piano score by Joe Hisashi, who, if I'm not mistaken, also did the music for Spirited Away. 3.5/5.
  
  
• Beautiful Work
  By AI9I51EN3FHS5 on 2002-08-01
  I have seen Brother, which included Takeshi Kitano, and I loved him in that film. But after renting this movie from Blockbuster, I will definitely buy it to have as part of my Japanese movie collection.

  Takeshi (Kikujiro) played a brilliant role as a man of all sorts of emotions and actions which made me feel bad for him at times, and for others in different moments. The connection between him and the little boy (Masao) was very real and touching. The plot, though at times a little slow, was still cute and sentimental. The music, the acting, the story, the whole package was amazing when I decided to see it for the first and third time. I suggest this film to any person who enjoys a nice story without minding the subtitles. My little brother who hates subtitles also fell in love with the film!
  
  

• Simply Brilliant...
  By A3TIT9O3DUVZEB on 2003-01-12
  ...cinema. Words at first fail me when I try to describe the wonder that is this film. Even if you are one who has a hard time reading the text in a subtitled film you will probably enjoy it. That is one of the beauties of this film; it goes well beyond the boundaries of the culture and language that are contained within. It's a movie that touches the heart primarily through its imagery. I found myself at times not even reading the subtitles because I inherently knew what was happening on the screen. The actors don't just act, when Masao (the young boy featured on the cover) is sad you are sad. A heartless human is one who doesn't come away affected in some way by this brilliant work.
  
  
• Simply Brilliant...
  By A3TIT9O3DUVZEB on 2003-01-12
  ...cinema. Words at first fail me when I try to describe the wonder that is this film. Even if you are one who has a hard time reading the text in a subtitled film you will probably enjoy it. That is one of the beauties of this film; it goes well beyond the boundaries of the culture and language that are contained within. It's a movie that touches the heart primarily through its imagery. I found myself at times not even reading the subtitles because I inherently knew what was happening on the screen. The actors don't just act, when Masao (the young boy featured on the cover) is sad you are sad. A heartless human is one who doesn't come away affected in some way by this brilliant work.
  
  
• So Amazingly Unique...
  By A1IGMVIGA9GIX3 on 2003-07-09
  Kikujiro is a the kind of film that you wouldn't expect to see coming from a man who did Violent Cop, Sonatine, and Hana-Bi (Fireworks) It's because of this point that the movie is so extremely refreshing. The story may not be the most original, but the execution of it all gives it life.

  A combination of the sentimentality of Hana-Bi (Fireworks) and the just-plain-weird humor of Sonatine is the best way to describe this comedy-drama. Just like in his previous films, Kikujiro has an undertone of sadness throughout the entire movie, even during the funniest scenes. That brings me to another high-point of the movie: Beat Takeshi. This was only the second Kitano film I've seen after the U.S. cut of Brother. After watching the characters he played in both movies, it was hard to realize that they were being played by the same person. His humor and wit are so genuine, and the fact that he doesn't rely on cheap tactics to get laughs like U.S. humor gives this movie one more star itself.

  If you want a movie so original in execution and is genuine in almost every sense, then you MUST pick up Kikujiro. It's appeal is international.
  
  

• A Simple Perception of Kikujiro
  By A1EWDG4CAYKX3M on 2006-03-20
  For fans of other Takeshi Kitano movies: be aware; this movie is quite different from his tough, violent, or crude films. Kikujiro is a very serene movie with excellent direction and beautiful cinematography. The music is playful and the story is delightful. I wished more information was given about the two main characters but it wasn't necessary for the overall pace. It is often humorous, and sometimes sad but fun to watch if you enjoy film with a "slice of life" feel.
  
  
• Yakusa undone
  By A2RQVML4W0XHUY on 2002-12-03
  Those of you who are used to Takeshi Kitano movies may be in for a surprise with this one. The first time I watched this movie I was engulfed in a waterfall of emotions from falling off my couch comedy to eye watering sadness. This movie gives the audience a diffrent look at Japans infamous Yakusa. We can come to understand the circumstance that may lead a child to grow up and become a member of the Yakusa. With out giving away the movie I ask you all to pay careful attention to the similarities between the two main characters in this movie as this may clue you in to the deeper meaning of this movie. A must see...absolutely wonderful.
  
  
• Let's Play Statue!
  By A3S1G5T9NBTPTM on 2004-11-17
  Okay, for those of you who know Takeshi Kitano, you'll know that most or all of his films are a must see. He usually does the action genre and does it well. But with Kikujiro( his character ), the story is more of a Land of Oz kind of adventure, but in the real world. Definitely a family flick with a lot of comedy and sad bits. You'll need a hanky. *sniff*
  Kikujiro needs to be owned, it's just one of those damn movies that leave you feeling that you need to stop watching movies and get a job.
  
  
• heartwarmingly superb
  By A17E1YHKGEIMSU on 2000-09-20
  KIKUJIRO IS SIMPLY THE BEST MOVIE I'VE SEEN SINCE THE TITANTIC. It's themes are real issues in life , the hard side of life is portrayed of a little boy living in Japan with his grandmother , after being coldly abandoned by his mother who chose a new husband and new family over him sans explanation . The movie triumphantly carries the viewer through the beauty of Japan's culture and the harsh reality of the little boy's life superbly and eloquently. This movie offers adventures and suprisingly funny and hilarious moments thanks to Beat Takeshi's mean tough guy role. This movie is a must see. The soundtrak alone will bring tears to your eyes tears of joy and tears of sadness, yet tears that will replenish your memories of such a fine film.
  
  
• What a summer Holiday !
  By A22PBUV0TICYGO on 2001-01-14
  Kikujiro no natsu is the latest offering by the Kitano. Unlike most of his back catalogue there is no death,suicide and shoot out (but Yakuza is still here , there is no way of getting away from these guys I guess) This film is basicly about a friendship between a little schoolboy and a rude, a bit thuggish middle aged man that is brilliantly portrayed by Kitano. After the arrival of the summer holiday little one wants to see his distant mum (whose father is also dead) and his neighbour forces kitano to accompany him during the journey. And a very strange road movie kitano style takes off. the friendship between two grows as the film continues. Kitano learns to be a decent caring man who can bear responsibilities unlike his past. Boy also learns how does it feel to have a father like person around. Duo meets many strange characters on the road and humor is stamped all around these strange guys.characters like Old pervert, motorcyclist duo, drifting poet etc will sure get your attention as well as loosen your nerves and will make your mouth fell off. Like every good movie story and strange characters are very well set and executed and all these are also served with some Kitanoish sad and cold reality in times. Of course camera and the colorful images of Mr Kitano is floatin' all round this movie. Kitano manages to portray an ordinary character brilliantly. So there is still life in him without being yakuza or the police indeed. If you want an interesting road movie with unusual humour and some touching moments rush to the store now. Difficult to comeby such movies these days.
  
  
• One Star is Generous With Kikujiro
  By A5RCD3AMGA2D1 on 2001-12-08
  Kikujiro is the only movie that I can remember ever pushing the fast-forward button while watching. Perhaps I have come to expect too much of the Japanese cinema over the past few years, or perhaps my desire for new stories, an intelligent script and good cinematography has left a cold rock buried in my chest for anything less than excellent, but I would consider Kikujiro far from mediocre, and that is being generous.

  Kikujiro is an old story that is told around the globe at least once a year. It has been a long standing theory of mine that a child as the main character of a film can either make or break a film. In this case, the young boy "Masao" breaks the film. Masao has one reaction to every single interaction that takes place in the film: he bows his head, lowers his eyes and sticks his lip out. This is what the boy does during the entire film, and by the 20th time within the first five minutes of the film you can't help but wonder if there is anything more to the character of this child and the film itself. There isn't.

  But to blame the blunder of the film upon this one child would make me a simpleton. The script to Kikujiro is not clever. Some films show their mastery through their ability to communicate through short scripts (Kurosawa's "Madadayo"), but Kikujiro's two page script is short of a soul. This film moves slowly, not carefully or beautifully, and the different scenes are completely non sequitur. The film unravels across the screen not like the graceful steps and movements of a Kurosawa film, but much like a hippo in a tutu who has had one too many cups of sake.

  If you're in the mood to see a touching movie about an unlikely relationship between a hurt child and a hardened adult, and if you want to keep your hope in Japanese cinema alive, don't watch Kikujiro.
  
  

• Kitano does a family film...
  By A1Y7JOS3R87K0U on 2004-07-04
  I'm a huge fan of the films from Takeshi Kitano. I've seen all of his films he's directed (including the newer Dolls and Zatoichi) and I can say that I enjoy almost *cough Boiling Point* all of them and I really like his style of filmaking.

  This plot here is about a young boy named Masao who just got out from school for the summer. He doesn't have many friends nor does he have much to do. After getting what appears to be a package of photos from his mother who Masao has never met before. A friend of his grandmother decides to let her husband Kikujiro (Kitano himself) take Masao on the journey. Misadventures and comedy follow.

  Kitano has always been known for his crime films and dramas but this is the first time he's made a tolerable comedy-drama with his trademark subtle humor, slow pace and un-cilched style. If you've seen his films then you know what I'm talking about. He takes those qualities and makes a unique film with them. The acting here is pretty good for the most part, especially from Takeshi who is known for being a more silent actor, here he's a sluggish, rude and mean loudmouth with an attitude against almost everyone. It shows in some scenes where he lashes out on everyone around him. It's funny but almost absurd.

  Now one gripe I have with the film is an almost gratuitious scene where a pedophile comes onto Masao. Nothing sexual happens but Kitano does get the sick bastard back in a funny way. That scene really takes away from the film.

  Still this is a funny film. It's great to watch on a warm summer afternoon with the volume up loud. The soundtrack is done by Joe Hisaishi who's done some excellent work with Kitano in the past. The music makes you feel real good inside and it flows awfully well with the pace of the movie.

  I recommend this highly.
  
  

• Pure Delight
  By A29Y34ALWJUGB5 on 2006-02-16
  It's funny to me to actually see an Asian film that isn't bloody, doesn't have samurai or other martial artists, or isn't in some way a horror film. I just got used to the stigma that comes with Asian cinema. But Kikujiro is different than those other Asian films brought to American shores. In many ways, it has a great deal more heart than I expected, and it's actually a delightful film to watch.
  
  The story follows a young boy named Masao, who's seemingly always down, as he starts his summer vacation. And it doesn't start well. His friends are going away for vacation, his soccer team no longer practices, and his grandmother, who raises him, is never home because of work. That's when Masao discovers a picture of his mother and decides to find her. During the early moments of his journey, he meets a strange man and his wife, and the man's wife tells him to help little Masao get to where his mother is. This man, who will be called "Mister" from here on out, has other plans, and decides to take a side-trip. This trip leaves them broke, and they are forced to find other ways of traveling to where Masao's mother is. This kicks off a series of events and introduces a unique and hilarious cast of characters. What soon becomes clear is that Mister, an ex-gangster, wants nothing more than to make Masao happy, no matter what it takes, and whose tail he has to kick.
  
  What's great about Kikujiro is that it never gets too mature. In fact, it's the immaturity of the two main characters, more so on the part of Mister, that drives this story along. This movie is a comedy on all ends and will do anything to get a laugh, and it succeeds brilliantly, and occasionally shockingly, at this. This is a fun movie. I'd recommend Kikujiro to anyone who wants a new spin to their Asian cinema.
  
  
• Simple movie
  By AJ7IBD75SS681 on 2000-11-27
  This is such a simple movie it will touch your heart directly. You'll probably end up with tears in your eyes and a silly smile. This is made of small moments that don't need to contribute to a bigger story because they're enough by themselfs, still if you think of this movie as a whole it fits rather well together and shows a reality told in a poet's smile.
  
  
• A different side of Beat Takeshi
  By A1V5FQT8O62EAV on 2001-03-13
  People often pigeon hole Beat Takeshi as a violent and twisted auteur. Because of his films released in the United States, it is easy to understand why that is the case. The films that received US release like Violent Cop, Gonin (which he only starred in), and Sonatine are bloody, masochistic and some might argue misogynistic. The one dimension of Beat Takeshi that is often overshadowed by the violence is his humor. Sonatine, Hana-Bi and Boiling Point (not the Wesley Snipes movie) although gruesome, have many irreverent and light-hearted moments. Hopefully films like Kikujiro will change people's perception of this multi-faceted film maker.

  Kikujiro thankfully is a fun departure from the usual world of death, mutilation and rape. It, like Hana-Bi (still Beat Takeshi's best effort), is a road film. Kikujiro is a different take on the genre, it is about a small-time thug who is ordered by his wife to accomany the grandson of a friend to find his mother in a far off town. What I liked about this film was that Beat Takeshi toned down everything that he is known for, but kept the essence of a "Beat Takeshi film" in tact. The dead pan delivery, the quirky humor and tight story telling all remain in this successful attempt to broaden his audience.
  
  

• Plenty of Action, Just not the kind You Would Expect
  By A3HMR0U2TKL1XR on 2001-07-24
  Kikujiro is a fantastic movie that really surprised me. I was curious to see what would happen when Takeshi "Beat" Kitano stepped outside of his usual role so I decided to rent it. The story is interesting because it shows what happens to a tough guy who unexpectedly becomes responsible for a young boy's welfare.

  The story uses a lot of symbology and fantastic departures from reality that give this movie an almost fairy tale feel, then moves to the reality that young children need to be provided food and shelter. Many of the people that the two main characters run into seem to serve two roles, they all have their surface level interaction, but they all briefly take on a symbological role that show the similarities between the grown man and the young child.

  It's very interesting how this movie is presented in an almost playlike fashion at some points. This movie shrouds it's deep insights with a cute story of a gangster looking after a little boy.

  I highly recommend this movie.
  
  

• We Must Have Seen a Different Movie
  By A5RCD3AMGA2D1 on 2001-12-07
  Kikujiro is the only movie that I can remember ever pushing the fast-forward button while watching. Perhaps I have come to expect too much of the Japanese cinema over the past few years, or perhaps my desire for new stories, an intelligent script and good cinematography has left a cold rock buried in my chest for anything less than excellent, but I would consider Kikujiro far from mediocre, and that is being generous.

  Kikujiro is an old story that is told around the globe at least once a year. It has been a long standing theory of mine that a child as the main character of a film can either make or break a film. In this case, the young boy "Masao" breaks the film. Masao has one reaction to every single interaction that takes place in the film: he bows his head, lowers his eyes and sticks his lip out. This is what the boy does during the entire film, and by the 20th time within the first five minutes of the film you can't help but wonder if there is anything more to the character of this child and the film itself. There isn't.

  But to blame the blunder of the film upon this one child would make me a simpleton. The script to Kikujiro is not clever. Some films show their mastery through their ability to communicate through short scripts (Kurosawa's "Madadayo"), but Kikujiro's two page script is short of a soul. This film moves slowly, not carefully or beautifully, and the different scenes are completely non sequitur. The film unravels across the screen not like the graceful steps and movements of a Kurosawa film, but much like a hippo in a tutu who has had one too many cups of sake.

  If you're in the mood to see a touching movie about an unlikely relationship between a hurt child and a hardened adult, and if you want to keep your hope in Japanese cinema alive, don't watch Kikujiro.
  
  

• the best feel good movie i have seen!
  By A3FT4CUN56J5SP on 2003-09-15
  this is one of the finest works of takeshi kitano! it has the elements of drama, comedy and almost everything a viewer would like to see in a movie! it will surely make you cry because of the funny scenes and because of the heart warming moments of the film! it really is a must see
  
  
• A good movie without real excitement
  By A1EVTQ56SYFGI2 on 2004-05-04
  This is the perfect example that shows how a movie can be exceptional without any action or excitement. For the narrow-minded movie-viewer, Kikujiro is just another boring foreign movie. As for the ones that are open, this film shows how kind some people can be even when things around them are harsh. One of the best things about Kikujiro is the music. At certain times, it can have an upbeat and happy tempo. When it is necessary, the music expresses a sense of being down, but still going on. Takeshi Kitano's character is a bad example for a father figure, but he learns to care for the boy that he guides. Nothing of significance is accomplished. However, that does not matter. Kikujiro is simply about life and the adventures we can have. That is why this film is one of my favorites that I can never get tired of.
  
  
• Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!
  By A1S5QBRR6X1UZ0 on 2004-06-24
  This was funny funny funny!! Hard to believe that such a film was made by director known in the states for more "hard-hitting" action films. For some, it will seem a little long and a tad slow, however, I thought the dialog alone negated those "faults". It has a sort of "Life is Beautiful" feel to it and Kitano tries to "paint" his scenes rather than just film them. Not everyone's cup of tea but they should at least take a sip!!
  
  
• Immensely Satisfying
  By A1HYE9DB8P1401 on 2005-03-10
  I didn't expect very much going into this movie, but I found myself slowly warming to the characters in this Kitano film.
  While not the kind of movie most expect to see when viewing Kitano, this movie is most likely greater proof of his genius than some of his other works.
  The musical score is absolutely beautiful. It will definitely stay with you. The characters are slow to develop, but slow in a way that pays off, not in a way that puts you off.
  The characters the two leads (Kikujiro & Masao) run into along their journey add to the overall entertainment factor of the film, but the underlying story of their shared loss is paramount.
  Kikujiro is a gem, highly recommended.
  
  
• A non-stop laugh riot (the 2nd time you watch it)
  By A1S52P48XUBVSG on 2005-05-03
  Unless you are particularly insightful and gifted at observation, you will be tepid about this film the first time you watch it. But then it will fester in your dreams, infect your everyday speech and haunt your daily life. When you suggest to your co-workers "Let's play 'Naked Statues'!" then you'll know it's time to watch it again. And again. And again.
  
  If you have never seen a Takeshi film:
  This is not an 'American' film. It does not feature snappy dialogue and action in every scene. Some scenes are completely silent, shot from an insanely distant camera point, or just plain odd. The story is not always linear, and you are forced to pay attention to subtle details and symbolism (like the bell that periodically rings in the background). But if you can handle it, you won't be disappointed.
  
  If you are a fan of Takeshi's gangster films:
  Note that _Kikujiro_ was made in the years following Takeshi's near-death motorcycle accident. This period in his life is marked by introspection, philosophy and less in-your-face violence. While it's true that several violent beatings take place, you will realize later that you never see a punch being thrown (amazing how he accomplishes this). Once you realize this about Takeshi, the film takes on a magnificent new dimension.
  
  Lastly, I must say that if you had the patience to read through this entire review, then you probably have what it takes to watch, enjoy & love _Kikujiro_. So go out and rent it. Afterwards we'll play 'Naked Statues'.
  
  
• Above Average And Entertaining Film!
  By A2F5PAC9I5SCG6 on 2007-01-07
  "KIKUJIRO," is a charming film in many ways. First, the tough guy persona of director/actor Takeshi Kitano, in the film was delightful to view. His interactions with those around him show that he may be a tough guy on the outside, but on the inside he can be a teddy bear. Takeshi's character in the film highlighted much of his funny side, and for those of you who have not seen Takeshi Kitano in any other role, this is a welcome relief. Because he gave a very funny performance in this film. A sort of dark comedy role, but not too dark: He needs to do more comedies, because I think he would excel in any comedic role. [In fact I think thats how he started out].
  
  The films narrative is about a young boy named Masao, who has never met his mother. Masao looks at pictures that his grandmother has put away, and as a lonely young boy, he dreams of the day when he will be reunited with her. Masao has been living with his grandmother, and although she loves young Masao and caters to his needs, Masao wishes to see the mother he does not know. We witness a very lonely boy. With only his grandmother to care for him, he longs to know the mother he never knew. Grandmother explains that his mother is busy trying to save money up by working hard in the city. But, there is more to his mother than I wish to divulge.
  
  You can see just how lonely young Masao is when the young child is now on school break. He continues to play in the school yard, until his teacher tells him school is out now, and for him to enjoy his break. It is here, that Masao decides to go and visit his mother whom he has never met. For his good friend has gone on a vacation with his family, and he finds himself lonelier still without his lone playmate. The film basically deals with the road journey of Masao, who wants to see the mother he never knew, and Takashi Kitano, as the tough-soft guy who takes him on his journey. Takeshi Kitano portrays a petty crook who is given money by his wife to see that Masao makes it safely to his destination. Along the way they have a problems as Kitano gambles away the money [50,000 yen] at a bicycle race track. This was all the money that his wife gave him to see that young Masao arrives safely at his destination.
  
  Now without money, they both resort to hitch-hiking in order to get to their destination. Including taking a taxi [which Kitano can't drive very well]. But there is more to the story than that. Along the way Kitano and Masao meet all sorts of interesting and not so interesting people. I liked quite a few of the interactions between Kitano and the strangers he meets on the road. One can see that Kitano does not have very good people skills, as he is constantly in trouble with various characters. All the while, the two journey to see Masao's mother. I do not wish to spoil the ending of the film, or whether or not Masao eventually sees his mother. One thing is for sure, however, and that is this one road trip neither will forget. Recommended. Rent it first, as it might not appeal to all viewers. This is not a typical Kitano film. [Stars: 3.5]
  
  

• Dolls
• Shall We Dance?
• Zatoichi /Sonatine Double Bill
• Fireworks
• Tampopo