Cheap Violent Cop (DVD) (Takeshi Kitano) (Takeshi Kitano) Price

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One of the best action flicks you never heard of
Violent Cop is one of the best action films that most people have never heard of. This 1989 release from director 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano (Sonatine, Hana-Bi) is an intense and gloomy exercise in both action film aesthetics and in-depth character study. The story centers on Detective Azuma (Takeshi Kitano), a moody, introspective cop who's a throwback to a different era - one where cops sought justice no matter what the cost. After being assigned a rookie partner, Azuma is called upon to investigate the stabbing of a low-level street dealer. The dealer has been killed by a vicious drug cartel - one pumping a steady supply of drugs into the community, and keeping crooked cops on its payroll...including Azuma's best friend. In typical Dirty Harry fashion (which this film was clearly inspired by), Azuma must bring them down - no matter what the cost. Takeshi is mesmerizing in the film's lead role. He's a stoic individual with a definite no-nonsense approach to his job. From the film's opening - where Azuma smacks around a kid for beating up an old man - until the climactic shootout, Takeshi's character earns the "violent cop" moniker.

Takeshi's direction is equally inspired. There are no overt camera movements or fancy film techniques at work in Violent Cop, but that perfectly fits the mood of the film. Azuma isn't a flashy, Chow Yun-Fat, kind of character. Also impressive are the film's action scenes. There's no John Woo style gunplay or diving about, but there is an intense and savage undertone to many of the sequences. Azuma will plant evidence, beat witnesses, and go as far as murder if it helps him get his man. In the end, Violent Cop is more than the sum of its parts. Yes, it's an action film, but the action itself is rarely the over-the-top kind of glamorized savagery that Hollywood and Hong Kong give their audiences. Violent Cop won't appeal to everyone, but those who are interested in seeing an action film that deals with real human issues should find something appealing in it.

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kitano's directorial debut ain't 4 the faint hearted
VIOLENT COP is the most disturbing cop flick i have ever seen yet it is the most powerful. it's also very wild, very wacky, very funny and of course hyperviolent. 'beat' takeshi (his screen name) is a cop who REALLY breaks the rules and brings police brutality to new heights. there is also a tender side as kitano cares for his mentally unstable sister. towards the film's brutal last 1/2 hr, she gets kidnapped, raped and drugged by heroin dealers. you won't believe what kitano does to her in the last 5 minutes + what happens to 'beat' in that timespan!

as 1 character sums it up perfectly, "everybody's crazy!"

VIOLENT COP contains the strangest, wackiest car/foot chase ever put on film as 'beat' chases a baseball bat wielding nut thru the residential streets of japan. you expect an action music score? nope! A JAZZ SCORE! the big suits in Hollywood wouldn't think of something like that. God Bless Takeshi. the chase ends with 'beat' not only kicking the injured suspect but stomping on his own dumb rookie partner!

check out the fight scene between 'beat' and the film's main villain: a vicious, slimy, sweater loving, homosexual druglord named nito. it's the battle of the sweaters between them in a brutal bare fists/gun/knife fight. this film is great stuff; it is a classic. perfect for the kitano library like SONATINE, FIREWORKS, KIKUJIRO, and hopefully his newest films BROTHER (out may 11) and BATTLE ROYALE (late 2001). forget the boring BOILING POINT.

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Action Speaks Louder than Words
Violent Cop is a definite Five Star Rating all around. Takeshi Kitano is one of the greatest directors to come out of Japan since Akira Kurosawa. This film draws heavily on the types of psychological crime dramas that we tend to associate with France. Like many of his other films, the dialog is very minimal creating an intense dark mood which is constantly built upon. The characters body language and actions give way to an emotionally complex story and make us undeniably attached to these rich characters. Fans of The Sopranos, and early John Woo action flicks will definitely enjoy; but Kitano is in his own league, with an ability to cross over many genres and appeal to more than just your average action fan. This is a great starting point to your "Beat" Takeshi Kitano collection, which only gets better as you watch and collect his other works.