Violent Fire
Violent Fire AKA Deadly Outlaw Rekka
A movie featuring Riki Takeushi, Sonny Chiba and Tetsuro Tamba! Takashi Miike directing! Can anything go wrong with this combination of talent and wit? No, absolutely not. Deadly Outlaw Rekka is a brilliant fusion of Yakuza-Eiga old and new school. Where the story is similar to tons of Yakuza-Eiga, Miike drowses the movie with New-Style coolness as only he can. And the soundtrack... fucking hell, what an absolutely cool soundtrack! The Music is used as a vital part of the Movie and without it, it would be something totally different. Slowly becoming a Miike-Trademark, there is a breathtaking opening featuring a young Killer mowing down a bunch of Yakuzas from the Sanada-Gang before taking on their Boss. This ends in a struggle for his own life (which he wins, but not without marks). Meanwhile we see Kunisada (Takeushi) in Prison seemingly feeling (living) the danger his Fosterfather (The Boss of the Sanada-Gang) is in. He manages to break through the Protection Glass of the Prison Visiting Room and nearly escapes, but finally is held down by dozens of wardens. Electryfiying start there, eh?
There is a Powerstruggle going on between the rivaling gangs and Kunisada unaware of this, fits in well with his hunger for revenge. At first he is used as a tool, but then when he realizes who’s behind the whole set-up he takes brutal and efficient revenge. Miike plays it serious or lets say conventional for the most part of the movie, though there are the typical Miike-Characters and some over-the-top Miike-Situations. The end then again, is totally out of line with the whole movie. Much like the „lovestory“, that dosent make a lot of sense or gives any depth to the plot. But even though I thought he could’ve done better with these two aspects, the movie is absolutely great. Did I mention the brilliant Soundtrack??? Oh well... to say it in Sanadas words „Rock n‘ Roll“. - 4 1/2 Katanas
This movie was bad-fucking-ass, I had a downloaded copy but after seeing it on the computer screen I went directly to ebay and purchased a retail DVD. One of the best Yakuza films I have ever seen. Miike is a fucking GENIUS.