The "Beat" Takeshi Trilogy (Limited Edition Collector's Box Set)

The 'Beat' Takeshi Trilogy contains the three films more commonly known as Takeshi Kitano's crime trilogy. Consisting of 'Violent Cop', 'Boiling Point' and 'Sonatine', the plots of all three films are themed around the Japanese yakuza, although the plots of each film are not linked in any way, so you can watch them in any order you wish.
Violent Cop revolves around the character of Azuma, a police detective who runs out of patience and resorts to violence and unethical methods to get results. Under pressure from an increasingly heavy workload, Azuma is put under further stress when assigned an inexperienced new partner. Finally reaching breaking point when a fellow cop is killed and drug dealers take his sister hostage, he then decides to take matters into his own hands and dish out his own form of justice. Although a great film in its own right, 'Violent Cop' isn't really a true Kitano film, as he didn't write it and only took over as director when original director Kinji Fukasaku pulled out of the film at the last minute. The result is a bleak and gritty film which ranks among one of the best within modern Japanese cinema, though lacks the wit and beauty of his later films.
Boiling Point tells the story of two members of a junior baseball team who get on the wrong side of the local yakuza. After their baseball coach is beaten up by the yakuza, the two boys decide to travel to Okinawa to buy a gun and get revenge. While in Okinawa they befriend Uehara, a yakuza outcast who joins then on their quest for revenge. Boiling Point is in reality the first proper Takeshi Kitano film as both writer and director, and contains Kitano's renowned dry humour and stunning cinematography which is seen in later films. Tragic, funny, exciting and challenging, 'Boiling Point' sets the high standard of Kitano's subsequent films.
Sonatine tells the story of middle aged yakuza boss Murakawa who is ordered to take his gang to Okinawa to settle a minor gangland conflict and return peace to the area. However, when they arrive they are attacked and are forced to retreat to the beach and wait until they get further orders from their Tokyo bosses. While the gang members seem content to relax and play on the beach, their fun comes to an abrupt end as they find themselves being bumped off one by one until Murakawa decides to face his rivals head on. If you've never experienced a Takeshi Kitano film before then 'Sonatine' is a good indicator as to what to expect; beautifully shot, minimal dialogue, absorbing characters, sensitive, witty, stylish, emotional and spellbinding to watch.
The term 'genius' is used far to liberally these days, but in Takeshi Kitano's case it's very well deserved, it's hard to think of any other contemporary director who consistently makes films of such high quality and in years to come will be considered some of the most significant in world cinema.

A while back I got this trilogy as a Christmas present. When I watched them, I became hooked on Takeshi Kitano and personally reckon that his gangster movies rate as some of the best and most exciting gangster movies ever made. They are violent, they are often very bleak, but they are not without a subtle humour and even warmth too.

There is an atmosphere in Japanase movies, and especially Takeshi Kitano movies that is hard to put your finger on. Perhaps as a European I am drawn to his movies, and other Japanese movies too because they do have a different feel and sensibility to European and American movies; I am really not sure. Anyway, I rate Takeshi Kitano and his movies because they always have a twist in them, or something extra, or a sly sense of humour, or something which sets them apart from most other film-makers movies. Takeshi himself is very charismatic, even though he isn't particularly tall or even particularly handsome, and he is a good actor and great film-maker.

All three films are in their own way brilliant and exciting, and probably if I am pushed I really like 'Sonatine' the most, but 'Boiling Point' and 'Violent cop' are also very good movies too. I suppose I like 'Sonatine' the best because it has, as well as being very violent, a great vein of wit, humour and warmth all through the film and a great music score too. There are scenes in it which will make you wince, and scenes in it which will make you laugh too.

All in all, if you like really good gangster movies, Japanese culture (or a certain section of Japanese culture), and you have never experienced Takeshi Kitano movies or Takeshi Kitano, I highly recommend that you buy the Beat Takeshi Trilogy dvd's. You'll be in for a treat!