FULL METAL YAKUZA (1997)
Directed by Takashi Miike
Starring: Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Tomorowo Taguchi, Ren Osugi
Genre: Sci-Fi/Yakuza/Action
Running Time: 103mins

Rating:

TBA.

First things first, Full Metal Yakuza is an unashamed product of the 90's V-Cinema craze. Before the economy bubble burst in Japan businesses were unafraid of investing money in low budgeted shelf-filler B-movies. Offering filmmakers an outlet through which to enjoy artistic and creative freedom (provided of course, a number of elements on a checklist were ticked - e.g. nudity, violence, nudity and probably some more violence).

One such director would go on to become one of the most internationally renowned directors to cross the shores of Japan to Europe, and now as a result of his success and thanks to companies such as Artsmagic, us eager viewers in the UK are now able to get hold of the back catalogue of maverick director Takashi Miike's early works from the unforgettable Fudoh: The New Generation to the quite insane Full Metal Yakuza.

Full Metal Yakuza can easily be described as a Yakuza re-imagining of Paul Verhoeven's Robocop with regards to the fallen hero being re-animated in cyborg form. It's as simple as that in terms of plot, however, where as Murphy was a cop executed while bravely committing to his job and his duty, here Miike presents a somewhat off-beat examination of a pretty worthless Yakuza.

Completely incapable of doing his duty (it is in fact his boss who jumps infront of him - the supposed bodyguard - to shield the hail of bullets that subsequently cause both of their demise) Kensuke is given, quite literally, the heart and soul of his boss with super-powers working alongside his super-robot body and his super-sized penis (again inherited from his deceased mentor) with the sole aim of avenging the death of his boss and making up for the pitiful life he had led.

It should be pretty clear from this interesting and somewhat freakish premise that there is very little in Full Metal Yakuza other than the notion of second chances and male empowerment that can be deemed as insightful or complex. We, the audience are plunged headlong into the realms of V-Cinema in all its gory, fun-packed glory. Sure there are almost as many flaws as there are minutes of the film (some fiercely dodgy looking effects supporting some pure cheeseball ideas) but there is a certain charm at play making Full Metal Yakuza low on intellect but high on entertainment.

The film ticks along at a cracking pace offering a visceral array of grotesquery's from the ever inventive, twisted genius of Takashi Miike's brutal sense of humour. Whether it be the adrenaline pumping katana attack opening, the incredible spinning head of Ren Osugi travelling through the night sky of the city from one office to the next, or even Tomorowo Taguchi's exhibitionist / mad scientist whose frequent nude displays call for more pixellation than your average AV film, there can be no denying that regardless of subject matter or budget, Miike excels at pushing every story he touches to its absolute limit.

Full Metal Yakuza is not a perfect film, it's pretty far from it, I for one have some strong reservations over the unnecessary extension of the rape scene as it pushes the boundaries of the film from action entertainment to an uneven balance of black humour and some seriously sadistic sexual violence that in all honesty is quite simply unnecessary, and unwelcome. However, despite this reservation the film is still effective on the whole as an entertaining midnight movie, something to sit back and enjoy, check your brain at the door and settle down.

Full Metal Yakuza has no pretensions, its loud, nasty and it's here - enjoy.