Takashi Miike is the cinematic equivalent of a machine: He makes about a couple of movies every year, resulting in a prolific directorial resume of over 75 projects since his start back in the early ’90s (impressive!). Miike is not what you would call “widely appealing,” but he has gathered a cult following around the world with his often strange, violent, perverse projects that include the insane Ichi the Killer, the disturbing Audition and the jaw-dropping, boundary-pushing Visitor Q (to name but a few).
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However, he’s not just about being perverse and edgy as he also makes some really gentle movies such as The Big People in China, or even lighthearted kid’s movies like Zebraman. His back catalog is as diverse as you’re likely to get, and he’s continuing branch out with his latest project, a shogun-era epic called Thirteen Assassins.
Miike has managed to grab himself a couple of Oscar-winning producers in the form of Toshiaka Nakazawa and Jeremy Thomas, who have partnered to help make Thirteen Assassins. Based on the 1963 movie of the same name, the film follows a group of Thirteen Assassins who band together on a secret suicide mission to defeat an evil lord. Trouble is, they underestimate the sheer size of the lord’s team of bodyguards…
Nakazawa is re-teaming with Miike after having worked with him before on the aforementioned The Bird People in China and the recent samurai slash-fest Sukiyaki Western Django. Although Thomas hasn’t worked with Miike before, he says he is delighted to be working with the “wonderful Japanese filmmakers like Toshiaki Nakazawa and Takashi Miike, whose work speaks for itself as being amongst the most successful and innovative coming from Japan.”
By the look of most Miike movies it would seem the director has only ever made original work not based on anything – however that isn’t necessarily true. Miike’s upcoming adaptation of Yatterman, and Ichi the Killer were based on a cartoon series and a manga series, respectively; Audition and Sabu were both based on novels. Miike isn’t a stranger to crafting his own unique movies out of something that has come before.
Miike is remaking 1963’s The Thirteen Assassins.
Although Thirteen Assassins would be based on a movie from the early ’60s, I doubt Miike’s remake will resemble it beyond it being about, well… thirteen assassins. I’m sure it will be reminiscent of Miike’s crazy filmmaking style – I just wonder if it will resemble Sukiyaki Western Django, which, although it wasn’t his best work by a long-shot, was completely loopy, over-the-top and insane… but in a good way!
Miike will be 50 years old next year and yet he’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing his work rate. Yatterman already premiered at New York Film Festival back in February (although I’m sure he will be busy promoting it in other countries for a while), and Miike has a sequel to his film Crows ZERO from a couple of years ago. Screen Rant reported on his interest in making an Afro Samurai movie in February, so that may be another thing that gets added to his ‘to do’ list at some point in the near future.
Do you like the sound of Miike’s Thirteen Assassins? Are you a fan of the filmmaker in general?
Thirteen Assassins is set to start shooting this July.
Source: THR
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8 Comments
As long as he finds a place for Tatsuya Nakedai I’ll watch
Always thought Mike was a bit overrated though I loved Yakuza Demon and Zebraman. Alot of his other stuf has been on par with snuff films and Crowes Zero sucked
I love watching Miike’s films for the sheer WTF effect. I was hoping for more with Western Django, but loved most of his others. Ichi being one of my least favs.
@Lord Garth, Foremly of Izar,
I respect your opinion, although I still disagree:)
I think Miike is one of the freshest, imaginative, diverse and IMPORTANT directors working today. Ichi the Killer, Audition, Visitor Q, Gozu, and The Happyness of the Katakuris are all dynamite. Dead or Alive, Sukiyaki Western Django and Shinjuku Triad Society are also worth a look, although not as effective as his other movies. The only thing of his I didn’t at least LIKE was his short film Box, which was one of three in the movie Three Extremes. I may have to watch it again, but I remember feeling really bored, which is EXTREMELY unusual for a film by him.
ALSO – His movie in the Masters of Horror series entitled Imprint is well worth checking out, too.
Oh… can you tell I am a fan?:P
Yes
But I am not. Except Zebraman, Rainy Dog and Yakuza Demon
And if this does get done Tatsuya Nakedai better friggen be in it!! I’m still waiting for my Sword of Doom Sequel
We need a dedicated Hong Kong- Korean-Japanese films talkback. I own about 300 films including most of the shaw remastered catalog, Nearly every Samurai film made between 1955-1975, almost all of Sonny Chiba’s work, Jackie, Yuen Biao, Sammo, all the beautiful Criterion asian films including Kwaidon which scarred the sh&t out of me. Just found a really good copy of Inn of Evil!!
I like this topic!
@Lord Garth,
That’s a great idea for a discussion post, although it sounds like you know a helluva a lot more than me. I have delved into the Asian world of film a lot over the last couple of years (I’ll pretty much see ANY stylishly violent or “out there” Korean or Japanese movie) but I’m not a bonafide expert.
I aim to change that, though….
Miike is the man, although I question why he made every speak English in Sukiyaki. Zebraman is just great, the concept of it I just love.
Lord Garth, what are your thoughts on The Good The Bad & The Weird. I personally liked it, thought it was one of the best films whole of last year.
Yes, sword of doom is great!
@SK-47,
I don’t think The Good, The Bad, The Weird (there’s no “&”, I believe:)) was a Takashi Miike film. I loved it, nonetheless:)
Nope it is a Korean production and I am waiting to buy the Blu-ray. I have read and heard wonderful things about it though. I buy alot of my stuff at HKflix and alot of the newer stuff is staring to be released on Blu. And Ross, the Korean market is producing the best of that sort of Gritty Stylized violent films, have been for the past few years as the HK market has dried up and or been glommed up by the more stringent Mainland. Korea is making the kind of smart, edgy films like City of Violence, The Chaser, The Crying Fist, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Eye for and Eye Sympathy for Lady Vengeance and Good The Bad and The Weird, that HK and japan used to make. I have quite a few Korean Gems as well, some really brilliant filmakers there and certainly to my mind the most creative in the Asian Genre right now
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