Leofwine_draca Well this is the third and final film in the 'Beat' Takeshi trilogy that I picked up on DVD, the first two being VIOLENT COP and BOILING POINT. SONATINE is the best of the trilogy, the most mature and the film with the best atmosphere. Despite the violent shenanigans of the film's plot, involving rival gangsters killing each other, for the most part this is a tranquil outing shattered only by bursts of extreme violence. It's also a film with a lot of humour, most of it utterly surreal (such as when two wrestlers become toys thanks to some sped-up camera effects). For most of the film, it's simply a bunch of guys having fun at a beach house, by pulling pranks on each other and playing games. Despite that the film never becomes boring because there's a simmering undercurrent of violence that you know has to erupt at some point.Once again the presence of 'Beat' Takeshi lifts the movie another level and the whole film hinges on his outstanding performance. This time he's a typical gangster, plagued with a hidden desire to kill himself. Takeshi has mastered the Japanese 'cold face' well yet it's also a pleasure to see him in some warmer moments as I get the feeling he isn't such a nasty character this time around – certainly not like the rapist he played in BOILING POINT. The supporting cast is very good indeed and the photography on the film is excellent. The violence, in the form of bloody shoot-outs, is nothing new, yet executed with a certain level of finesse that makes it stand out. Watch out for the shoot-outs where time (and the characters) literally stand still as fates are meted out. Add lots of bizarre stuff going on, Japanese humour, and a great twist ending, and you have what amounts to a nice, unusual little film.

TheFilmGuy1 "When you're scared all the time, you almost wish you were dead."This film is absolutely incredible. Breathtaking, thoughtful, fun, violent, intriguing, artistic... I could go on. It's about a group of Yakzua who go to Okinawa and end up hiding out in a cabin by the beach. While the film starts off in a very typical Yakzua film way, it becomes a lot more than that.First, let me say that Kitano does a great job here. He wrote, directed, edited and starred in this film, and he does a great job at it all. The cinematography is beautiful, and it really makes this a pretty film. It really is in need of a bluray release, but sadly right now there isn't one. Kitano puts a lot of color into this film, using things like brightly colored shirts or the beautiful scenery or a bright blue car. The film starts looking very gritty and dull when they're in Tokyo, much like any Yakuza film, but as they go to Okinawa, it becomes much more rich in color, which is very interesting to see. You really get to soak in the beaches and waters of Okinawa, which are absolutely beautiful and make you wish you were there. The soundtrack plays a huge part in this film too. Joe Hisaishi does the score, and he has done other scores for Kitano films like Kikujiro and even studio Gibli films. His score gives the film varying moods, which range from mysterious and brooding to fun and whimsical, which fits the film well seeing as it has a little bit of all of these things. The movies starts as a violent and gritty Yakuza film, but about 30 minutes into it when they go to the beach to hide out, the film becomes almost like a kids movie (Reminiscent of Kikujiro, another Kitano film that has a more kid friendly vibe to it). They goof around and have fun, which really makes you like these characters. You feel like you know what these characters are like and they feel real. Everyone in the cast does a good job, especially Kitano. This is a movie that really makes you think as the credits roll. It gives you enough to understand what Kitano is trying to say, but also leaves a few things up to the viewer to decide, and I really like that. I don't want a film to give me everything, but at the same time, I don't want to be 100% confused. This movie really pulls that off.I highly recommend this to anyone. Fans of Japanese films, fans of Yakuza movies, fans of art house films, just fans of film in general. It's a masterpiece that is very underrated, and absolutely needs to be seen by more people.

Scarecrow-88 A yakuza mob leader, Beat Takeshi, is told by his clan's head boss to go to Okinawa to straighten out a war between two factions. Something leaves Takeshi disturbed when he and his men notice that the situation isn't as terrible as they were led to believe and that the two supposedly warring factions appear to be barely fighting at all. A feeling of being set-up comes over Takeshi and his men leading to their excommunication from their clan in Tokyo.As the Anan clan increases it's grip on the other clan supported by Takeshi, they flee to a beach where they remain safe for a while. But, despite their having fun while wasting away the hours, it's only a matter of time before the path of violence and death will escalate.I think the film's main strength is the beach sequences in the middle of the film as we watch human beings letting loose and enjoying themselves as they wait for word from their bosses in Tokyo and Okinawa. We see them setting up pothole traps for each other, shooting bottle-rockets at each other, playing a fake game of Russian Roulette, and shooting their guns at Frisbees. They are able, for this short amount of time, to escape the blood-shed and fear of being immersed in yakuza culture. Here is where Takeshi Kitano can provide proof that he is a great filmmaker with an artist's touch showing that these members of a violent organization are human. A constant in Kitano's films is the absurd humorous flourishes which makes his characters unique. We see the explosions of violence followed by the quite close-ups of calm faces dealing with what just happened. We can understand that dying is always on the minds of the yakuza and Takeshi's group are always expecting something to happen. The beach at least provides them temporary solace from what will soon occur..their violent paths in life will come calling for them. You just can not escape who you are no matter how far away you go or the location of where you go..your shadow follows you.Interesting element in the film also is the love interest provided to Takeshi and how this flirtation with a possible normal life is simply that..a flirtation. The ending shows the final confrontation between Takeshi and the yakuza clan who betrays him because the turf he patrolled and ran was the most profitable. The final statement from Takeshi, I believe, states his yakuza boss just wishes for the madness to end and that it will have to be done alone in a car on some barren, wide stretch of road away from the cities that occupy the violence he has represented for so long.

snowboarderbo This came as part of a package with the DVD for Zatoichi, also by Takeshi, and at first I thought I had scored a really good deal. Then I watched Sonatine. Now I know that the only reason this is included with Zatoichi is because few would willingly shell out money to watch this piece of crap.***SPOILERS***"Slow moving" doesn't begin to describe it. Pointless scene after scene of a bunch of gangsters hiding out in a beach house comprise the bulk of the film. Most scenes appear to have been made up on the spot, with no writing or rehearsal. This goes on for nearly an hour, with excruciatingly long shots of people walking, cars driving, etc. used for transition; some of these shots last as long as 40 seconds. A complete lack of facial expressions on a 30 second close up of Takeshi's face is utterly boring, and seen 10 or 12 times it becomes ridiculous. I actually ended up fast-forwarding thru a lot of the walking/driving/close ups because I got so bored; I just wanted to see the end of the film.This proved to be anti-climatic, as after a terribly written "revenge" scene, the protagonist, who has nothing to fear anymore (he killed everyone) blows his own brains out within shouting distance of a woman who has recently come into his life and who stands waiting for his return. Bittersweet? More like bit o' crap.A complete waste of time.