Top Story: 5.February 2006
TAKESHIS'
Famous Japanese movie/media star Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano published perhaps his most surreal work, Takeshi's before Christmas. I had chance to see it in Ueno theater. I liked it.
It is interesting to realize how Takeshi Kitano's movies have developed over the years. He has made a long career as an actor but also as a writer and director. His first and most famous movie was "Sono otoko , kyobo ni tsuki" aka Violent Cop. The movie is considered a classic and was loved 
by audience. After that he made Sonatine, which was as violent as Violent Cop, but there was more depth in characters. This depth was took even further in Hana-bi which was nostalgic and beautiful story about couple and ex police officer who does dramatic choices under hard pressure. After Hana-bi, Kitano made a very different movie, Kikujiro no natsu, which is said to be his "I work" -most personal work by him. The movie tells about story about old yakuza who takes young boy to meet his mother, but get's into constant trouble, and eventually realizes that he also has his own traumas.
Dolls was praised by audience by it's amazing visuals. It is a tragedy but has a kind optimism and very beautiful theatre like feel, and this time, the ganster & violence didn't play so important part. Dolls is suggested to be yet best movie of Kitano. After Dolls came Zatoichi, the famous movie everyone has heard.
Takeshi's is surreal, complex but very refreshing movie. Beat Takeshi lives his famous life of showbiz actor. Once, he meets his blond lookalike who's name is Kitano, convenience store cashier, who also practises acting. After their brief encounter, Kitano begins to hallucinate about becoming Beat.
The good old Kitano-cast is there, beautiful Kayoko Kishimoto, ever so funny Ren Osugi and clever Susumu Terajima. Music isn't this time composed by Joe Hisaishi, but is made by yet unknown Nagi. After Zatoichi had a hint of populistic feel, it is very nice to see that it wasn't becoming a trend in Takeshi's movies. Some parts are little violent but nothing too much, and afterall we are talking about Takeshi's movies. This movie has also the good old Beat humor in it.
We expect to see in what lengths Takeshi goes in the next movie.
