This 2nd film in Takashi Miikes Dead or Alive Trilogy brings back actors Sho Aikawa and Riki Takeuchi. Don't expect them to reprise the same roles as they had in the first movie however! For a review of the complete Box Set and some background on the director, read my review of the Dead or Alive Trilogy.

Basic Plot Mizuki is a skilled hitman that we are introduced to sitting on a rooftop waiting for his targets, a group of Yakuza killers. Its Sho Aikawa playing the role, this time with his hair dyed shocking blonde and wearing the brightest of yellow shirts, not exactly hit man attire. Just as he takes one of the Yakuza gang into his sights, a man appears in their midst. In a whir of gunfire the man has taken out all of Mizuki's targets. We find out later that it is another hitman Shuichi (Riku Takeuchi). After Mizuki takes credit for the hit and collects the money he meets up with Shuichi and recognizes him as the real hitman. The pair take the ferry to the island, and then the film takes a nostalgic turn.

As the two hitman talk, they realize that they know each other! Ages ago they were young childhood friends, and shared summers together on the island. The middle of the movie is touching as the two rekindle their friendship and remenisce about their past. They meet up with old friends on the island that haven't seen them in ages. However back on the mainland, the Yakuza wants to find the hitman who took out 8 of their members.

In the third portion of the film, the two friends join forces and carry out a series of hits. We discover that Mizuki has a kind heart for a hitman. He takes the money that he collects from his kills and donates it to organizations that provide vaccinations to third world children.

Direction Although the usual Miike graphic, almost comic book like violence is displayed in a number of gruesome shoot outs and kills, Miike adds several surrealistic touches to this film. In the beginning, for example, when Mizuki is confronted by three thugs, he pulls a large brick from behind his back. Since he is standing out in the open, there is no way on earth that he would have had a brick conveniently behind his back. As the two join forces to carry out hits together, they each sprout angelic wings, one black, one white. They also periodically imagine themselves in present day as they were as children. It gives the film a unique look. The piano music used throughout in evocative scenes gives the movie a melancholy feeling. One particularly effective scene shows two very divergent situations. Mizuki and Shuichi enjoy a play put on for children, while back in the Shinjuku district a brutal Yakuza attack is taking place. The two scenes are shown intercut, playing on the make believe tension of a children's play and the real tension of a brutal and violent gun battle.

Acting Although playing different roles in this film than in the first film of the trilogy, both Takeuchi and Aikawa play their roles well, especially in the middle where they show emotions as they reflect on life, childhood and their current roles. Playing the part of a killer is easy to do, but Miike has never allowed his characters, even those who make their living by violent means, to become two dimensional. The child actors who played the hitmen as children also did a fine job.

Other Details This film was made in 2000, directed by Takashi Miike. It is in Japanese only, with English language subtitles. The film is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, and it is in the 16:9 aspect ratio, enhanced for widescreen televisions. This film contains no extras other than some trailers for other films.

Summary I liked this film better than the first actually, because the surreal imagery was used appropriately. I felt the ending of the first Dead or Alive film was out of place. This film effectively blends the friendship of the main characters with the brutality of the jobs they have chosen.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age