Agitator

This doesn't move quickly, but it escalates in a pleasing manner. The various machinations at the outset weren't particularly gripping, but started to make sense as this progressed. Features some tasty violence amidst the brooding and plotting. Interested to see more of Miike's work.

A slow moving Yakuza flick that's more crime drama than action. Miike does a fine job with being minimalistic but still showing character depth. Some trade mark Miike wackiness are strewn about and his off beat musical score are in top form. I just wish I could see the uncut 200 minute version.

With some effort, it might be possible to follow Agitator's plot about intrigues between several yakuza families. The action, the characters, and everything else is so bland and uninteresting that I couldn't be bothered.

Miike really wanted this to be the Godfather/Goodfellas of his yakuza cycle of films. There are flashes of excellence, and moments of [brief] character depth, but it doesn't come close to its apparant aspirations. A worthwhile watch that needed either another hour of detail added to characters or an hour trimmed for an improved pace. With expectations in check, I'd still consider this a wicked yakuza flick.

It's still suffers from its slow pace and a 2 ½ hour running time on the second watch, but if you are patient, it starts to become rewarding, an interesting take on the yakuza film where the backstabbings around allowed to be stretched out and have a sufficient impact. One of Miike's many unconventional takes on the genre has finally grown on me.

"More OTT carnage than you can shake a blood-splattered katana at..."

good movie

Swell Yakuza picture with realistic feel. tends not to put the blood on screen, lots of feeling. Compare to Ring if Violent Fire which is the same movie in a wacky style.