Violent Cop

Starring:Kengakusha Akiyama, Ritsuko Amano, Makoto Ashikawa, Kenichi Endo, Zhao Fanghao, Hakuryu, Noboru Hamada, Sei Hiraizumi, TarÃ´ Ishida, Hiroyuki Katsube, Yuuki Kawai, Ei Kawakami, Maiko Kawakami, Ittoku Kishibe, Kiminari Matsumoto, Katsuki Muramatsu, Mikiko Otonashi, ShirÃ´ Sano, Ken Yoshizawa
Studio: Fox Lorber
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Japanese superstar "Beat" Takeshi Kitano was best known as a comedian and talk-show host when he was cast as brutal police detective Azuma in Violent Cop, but the career-changing twist occurred when the original director dropped out and Kitano took the helm. Half a dozen pictures later, Kitano has carved out one of the most idiosyncratic careers in Japanese cinema, and it all springs from this edgy, explosive crime classic. Azuma is a cop who plays by his own rules: He batters suspects, beats confessions from criminals, and plants evidence. He's a vigilante force the department quietly supports as long as he gets results, but when a volatile drug case results in the death of a colleague, the hair-trigger cop goes rogue as he matches wits with an equally impulsive assassin. Kitano's big teddy bear eyes and soft features maintain a calm, almost bemused expression even in his most violent moments: a Zen "Dirty" Harry with a deadpan sense of humor. For a first-time director, Kitano displays astonishing cinematic control, creating a style of long takes and serene tranquility shattered by startling explosions of gunfire and abrupt blows. It's a violent world in which adolescents attack beggars and grade-school kids pelt bystanders with garbage and insults, but Kitano also shows a tender, caring side ultimately swallowed by the unleashed anger. Ironic, grim, and focused to a mesmerizing intensity, Violent Cop is one of the great Japanese crime films and a brilliant debut. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Violent Cop.......2007-04-07

Beat Takeshi stars as a cop named Azuma who goes about his job in a very violent way. When a fellow cop is killed, Azuma looks to settle things himself.

Like a lot of Japanese movies, the story moves kind of slow. It's always deadly serious and sometimes people will just stare eachother down for a minute or two. But if you look away for a second, somebody will be getting beaten down and there may be need to rewind. While the the movie has a slow pace, I didn't find it boring one bit. I really like Beat Takeshi's style and I will have to seek out more movies from him. He is a bad dude.

I was thinking about giving this just 3 stars, but Beat Takeshi is too cool.

3.5/5

The DVD from Fox Lorber Films has slghtly above average picture quality.

Superb film.......2006-01-04

Violent Cop

Starring: Takeshi Kitano
Not rated

After watching this movie, most people ask themselves at least one of these three questions: is there any relevance in Violent Cop's slow shots of various people walking down streets, is there any point to the acts of violence that take place in the course of the movie, and most importantly is this film trying to prove anything? Well, here are the answers: the point of the slow shots is because Takeshi Kitano, its director and uncredited co-writer has made a film that strips everything back to its bare minimum. It removes character development, almost all dialogue, and everything else that other writers and directors see as necessities. In answer to the second question, is the violence necessary. Yes, it is, mostly as a template for other directors on how to actually do it. I am definitely not the only one that is sick of the ten-minute fight scenes of movies like the Matrix that are merely unrealistic and stupid replacements for a decent script or solid acting. The way that Takeshi Kitano presents violence is that he does not hesitate, but does not dwell on it either. A few seconds (if that) and it's all over, and likely to never be mentioned again. As for the third question, I'll answer that at the end.

The script was originally intended to be essentially Dirty Harry as a comedy, but when the original director had to quit at the last minute Kitano took over and heavily rewrote the script to remove all comedy and most dialogue. What is left is a thin plot and characters who never say more than three words at a time. And boy is it effective. Violent Cop is essentially what every film is made up of without all of the "fillers" like dialogue. The end result is quite startling.

The characters were never meant to be of any great importance in Kitano's films. Kitano (or Beat Takeshi as he is known in the acting world) as usual just kind of sits around, expressionless, and occasionally kills someone. The characters were never meant to be any big part in it, because Kitano realises that when looking at the plot as a whole, the characters mean nothing. If there is one thing to be said about the characters that Kitano often plays in his films is that he first appears to have no personality, but the less he says, the more you know about him. Sure, he pretty much plays the same character over and over again, but he is a truly astonishing actor.

The film's opening scenes are a very good indication of what is yet to come. A gang of street punks bash up a poor homeless man while protagonist/antagonist (he seems to be a mixture of both) Yamamoto watches. Instead of intervening, he follows one of the kids home, enters the house and after flashing his badge walks into the kid's room. Yamamoto gives the kid a brutal beating and demands that he will admit to what he has done. And from here, the movie begins. Yamamoto is assigned to a drug related case and as a result of his snooping his disturbed sister is kidnapped, and it is up to him to save her. The film goes out with one of the most unexpected conclusions in recent memory, and we are given no explanation as to why this occurs. It's a great scene, but you're going to have to watch it if you want to know what it is.

It goes without saying that a movie called Violent Cop is going to be violent, but usually one would be expecting over the top action scenes and car chases. Not so, all the violence here is very realistic, and at times a little unsettling, especially in one scene involving a baseball bat and a lot of blood. So it's no Brother (reviewed!) but it is undoubtedly graphic at times.

In the answer to the last question, the film does have a point: the point is that life doesn't always work out the way you want it to. You think you know how the film will end, but the truth is you have no idea, and it is a reflection of real life rather than the unrealistic happy endings usually in movies. Kitano is known for his bleak conclusions, and I'm thankful that Zatoichi went out with such an awesome ending (Best. Dance number. Ever.) because, to be honest, the ending of this film left me kinda depressed. Keep in mind: this is not the first Kitano film you should see, checking out Zatoichi or Hana-Bi beforehand would be a very wise idea. This is a truly enjoyable movie that would pave the way for bigger and better things for Kitano, and comes recommended for fans of Asian cinema.

Much more than a typical cop action flick.......2005-04-18

This movie started out looking like a cross between Dirty Harry and Lethal Weapon, where excess force is justified in policework. Somewhere along the way, without being explicitly told, the viewer realizes that rather than glorifying violence, the movie subtly condemns it. This changes the movie from your typical violent cop flick to a real work of art.

My only complaint on the movie was that some of the subtitles were oversimplified or mistranslated. (I know very little Japanese, and if there were mistakes I could catch, I only wonder about those that I didn't catch) They were not bad enough to reduce the overall value of a fantastic movie.

another dose of realism.......2005-03-22

One of T. Kitano's first films come to life on DVD. worth the buy? Definitely! The more I learn about Takeshi Kitano, the more engrossed I become in his films. Always incredibly real and passionate, whether in comedy, action or drama. Maker of such flicks as "Kikujiro" , "Hana-Bi" and the latest box office smash "Zatoichi". It's interesting to learn what Takeshi has done after his amazingly popular "Takeshi's Castle" competitive comedy on Japanese TV. This is probably the most interesting and dare I say best directors of this era. This black comedy / action movie was later remade into a Hollywood Cult movie "Bad Lieutenant", starring Harvey Kietel.

Action - 5/5
Realism - 5/5
Good Ending - 2/5
Acting - 4/5
Funny Bits - 3/5
Feeling a little shocked before the movies finishes? - 5/5

Total - 5/5

Grittier Than Some, More Contemplative Than Most.......2004-12-26

Perhaps not the best of Takeshi Kitano's movies (I have to admit to preference for Hana-Bi on many levels) but this is by far the grittiest of Takeshi's work. In his directorial debut, famous Japanese television comedian Takeshi Kitano (more commonly known as `Beat' Takeshi) plays Azuma, a brutal but honorable cop who runs out of patience - a Dirty Harry of sorts. Azuma's stifling daily routine necessitates him dealing with - among other things - a naive new partner as well as taking care of, mentally challenged sister. Azuma reaches his breaking point when a fellow cop is killed and drug dealers take prisoner his sister. It is time to take matters in his own hands and Azuma begins taking a different approach - vengeful course that crescendo in a shocking finale. AS mentioned previously, Violent Cop is a startling first feature from Kitano, who replaced director Kinji Fukasaku. First and foremost a television comedian, Kitano allegedly reworked the script to better suit his dark mis-en-scene visualization of the film. This turn of events serves an absorbing introduction to his one of its kind directorial style. Kitano intermixes scenes of intense violence with beautifully contemplative shots - as is evidenced in Hana-Bi aka Fireworks and Boiling Point (both also available on Amazon.com). Notches above in the yakuza genre by adding a contemplative twist, Kitano's films are signposts in 20th century Japanese cinema.

Miguel Llora

Average customer rating:

Violent Cop
Superb film
Much more than a typical cop action flick
another dose of realism
Grittier Than Some, More Contemplative Than Most

Violent Cop [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Fireworks
Boiling Point
Brother
Zatoichi /Sonatine Double Bill
Getting Any?

ASIN: B00005RZT1

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Violent Cop.......2007-04-07

Superb film.......2006-01-04

Much more than a typical cop action flick.......2005-04-18

another dose of realism.......2005-03-22

Grittier Than Some, More Contemplative Than Most.......2004-12-26

Average customer rating:

Violent Cop
Superb film
Much more than a typical cop action flick
another dose of realism
Grittier Than Some, More Contemplative Than Most

Violent Cop
Starring: Kengakusha Akiyama , Ritsuko Amano , Makoto Ashikawa , Kenichi Endo , and Zhao Fanghao
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

Fireworks
Boiling Point
Brother
Zatoichi /Sonatine Double Bill
Getting Any?

ASIN: B00000JS6I
Release Date: 1999-12-14

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Violent Cop.......2007-04-07

Superb film.......2006-01-04

Much more than a typical cop action flick.......2005-04-18

another dose of realism.......2005-03-22

Grittier Than Some, More Contemplative Than Most.......2004-12-26

Average customer rating:

COOL HK SERIAL KILLER FLICK

Violent Cop
Starring: Anthony Wong , Moses Chan , and Michael Wong
Director: Steve Cheng
Manufacturer: Universe Laser & Video Co.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000067J0X
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Customer Reviews:

COOL HK SERIAL KILLER FLICK .......2005-07-30

First of all this VIOLENT COP got nothing to do with the KITANO's classic. This one is directed by STEPHEN CHEUNG and has been released in the late nineties.

The story goes like this : Johns are found dead on Portland street ( the infamous HK prostitutes spot ). The killer seems to follow a crazy christian ritual since the victims are found with an austin stuck in their mouth, a cross tatooed on their tongue and... oh yeah, they re castrated too.

One cop run into the murderer while he's doing his dirty business. He chases the bastard into a nightclub where other cops are partying. All of a sudden, a bunch of other killers break in and fire the place with machine guns. The chasing cop get accidently shot in the head by his cop buddy ( MICHAEL WONG ) who happens to be there. He ends up in a coma. The falting cop swears to avenge his friend by catching the cross killer he was after. He eventually hook up with a small time pimp ( the great ANTHONY WONG ) and the rest... Well, you gotta see it.

This flick can be confusing because of the editing. I mean, you get to see some characters for a while then it switches to some others for half an hour without you being always able to make the connection. It can be annoying at times but it always make sense in the end and it's quite smart. Don't raise your hopes too high for violence, this is IIb not III category. It means there's blood but the typical HK way not the insanely shoking UNTOLD STORY way.

Overall the STEPHEN CHEUNG's VIOLENT COP rocks. there's action, shootouts, murders, holy water torture, some gansters, a crazy maniac even a litle bit of soft SM and ANTHONY WONG who steals the show as always. I guess that now you know if you want to watch it.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

East Side Kids - Bowery Blitzkrieg

North Dallas Forty

Fargo [1996]

DVD: Angel on My Shoulder

Race To Space