034 4 Hands down the greatest movie of 2001 . WOW ! what a gangster perfect mafia pic.TAKESHI BEAT KITANO IS THE MAN ! He directed and stars in this great action mobster YakuZA flick evryone would love.It is well thought out and concept is great.A blen of SCARFACE and RESERVOIR DOGS but very different and unique . After you see this movie you will rush to the video store and buy it i assure you ! WOW * * * * * s.Check out also FIREWORKS with Beat Tkeshi also directed and SONATINE . BROTHER IS UNBELIEVABLE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! BUY OR RENT AT ALL COSTS _ - - - TWO THUMBS UP , WAY UP ! _ _ _ _ _ _ EMAIL ME about what you think or info . . . ENJOY ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
022 4 Many Takeshi Kitano fans hate this film but I actually find it to be his most enjoyable . If you liked Sonatine , then you will like this . However this is the American version of the film and it is HEAVILY CUT AND EDITED ! Poorly cut and edited too may I also point out . Some parts which were clear and easy to understand in the original become confusing due to the editing . Have no fear THE ORIGINAL UNCUT VERSION IS EASY TO FIND . I recommend this edition of the film :
Brother ( Uncut release ! )
which is awesome .
048 4 Brother may seem like a whole lot of meaningless gore , and in fact I don't think it was a particularly well-made or enjoyable movie , but it provides valuable insight into the Japanese perception of their place in the world . I'm not sure this was intended by the director , but it makes a very interesting contrast to , for example , Rising Sun , another fairly average movie ( can't comment on the book , haven't read it ) , which showed a very American perspective of the Japanese .
Whereas in Rising Sun , we saw the Japanese as sneaky little yellow men hiding their prejudices , corruption and kinky sex behind polite smiles and a facade of high culture , here Kitano portrays them ( or at least the Yakuza ) as noble , loyal , selfless , brave warriors , willing to sacrifice all to protect their honour . Quite a contrast !
Rising Sun showed Westerners ( represented by the US alone , as usual ) as passionate but ultimately rational , independent-minded for the better , and , for the most part at least , genuine ( in a what you see is what you get sense ) . Kyoudai ( incidentally , the title refers not to any blood relationship between the two main characters - there was none ! , but to the brotherhood of the Yakuza ) shows Westerners as emotionally out-of-control , intellectually lacking , hopelessly disorganised and incapable of any subtlety or restraint . From considerable experience in Japan I can assure you that this is an accurate representation of the stereotype held by many Japanese .
Another ( I think ) accurate representation of the Japanese mindset in this film lies in the ease with which the Japanese muscle-in on the US underworld . With their diligence , their capacity for cooperation and self-sacrifice towards long-term , collective goals , how could they possibly fail against this disorganised rabble of Westerners ? ! - this is the attitude presented , and mostly validated in this film . It's very interesting , then , that the brotherhood are ultimately unsuccessful in their power-bid . Is this a symbolic recognition that the US has remained militarily and economically supreme ? At the least , I feel that the way in which Kitano's character dies again reflects an important facet of the Japanese mindset , being the attitude that there is only ever a choice of complete victory or total failure , conquering the whole of Asia or being stripped of all military power , scoring highly in the University entrance exams or dropping out of the academic world completely - there is absolutely no room for compromise or mediocrity , and thus a willingness follows to sacrifice everything in the bid for that absolute , and possibly elusive , victory . Of course , this has alarming implications for Japan's potential return to military and / or economic power .
But if you want , you can forget my interpretations and just see this movie as a whole lot of meaningless gore .
001 4 I recently rented Brother on DVD here in america last week . And was saddened to find that they edited a fair amount of scenes from the original version . The movie still functions with the scenes edited out , but I felt that these edited scenes brought more clarity to the movie . The edited amereican version doesn't quite have that clarity , and therefore suffers somewhat . The edited scenes were mostly in Japanese , and gave background on why Takeshi's character was going to LA . . Perhaps the studio felt that american viewers do not like to read subtitles or don't like seeing people in other countries . I am not sure why this was done , but I think that it takes away from the movie and shortchanges the viewer . Anyhow , it is Takeshi being Takeshi , and the movie is well done . Not a bad crossover film for Takeshi and Kitano . It's rather humourous at times and there is enough bad [ butt ] edness going around to make even the seasoned action flix fan happy . I would give it 5 stars had they not messed with it and edited scenes from the original .
002 4 As introspective as it is violent , Brother manages to do what few Hollywood gangster films can - - entertain and make you think . To call the plot Shakespearean almost seems an insult , as its sensibilities are so obviously Japanese , with the emphasis not on the action but on the effects of it , but careful observers may see strains of Macbeth and Richard III in this very grown-up feature ( with a little Sergio Leone thrown in ) . Director and star Takeshi Kitano follows the last days of a disgraced Yakuza in America , whose brilliant but brutal rise to power in modern L.A . is matched only by the intensity of his loyalty to his friends and half-brother . Omar Epps is a likable presence as one of those friends , and the many familiar Japanese-American faces - - including veteran James Shigeta - - blends ably with the mostly Japanese cast . But it is Kitano that delivers the goods , wisely choosing to underplay Yamamoto as a pillar of quiet strength rather than allow him to become broad-based caricature . In fact , the understated tone of the film is what gives it so much style and intensity ; few American films would be bold enough to focus less on the shoot ' em ups and more on the aftermath or to raise the issue of black-on-Asian racism in a gangster movie . That the story ends up pretty much where you expect it to is less a flaw than the culmination of a satisfying slow burn , making this gem a must-see .
003 4 Beat Takeshi provides another violent movie , whose purpose seems to be that violence begets violence , and ultimately it's a dead end . The basic plot has Takeshi playing a yakuza forced to leave Japan upon the death of his boss . He finds his half brother in LA pushing drugs rather than attending school . Takeshi violently turns the small time crew into a major crime cartel .
Yakuza themes of loyalty to family and honor over life pervade the movie . The omnipresent violence somehow avoids being gratuitous , perhaps because one realizes how more graphic it could have been . Unlike traditional western shoot ' em ups , we are left with the aftermath instead of the fight scenes themselves . At times it is hard to follow the plot and remember who is on whose sides , but perhaps that is the point .
004 4 Acclaimed director Takeshi Kitano - winner of the Golden Lion in Venice ' 97 for his film Fireworks - is again behind the camera directing Brother , his ninth film to date . Kitano also plays the role of the main character as he has done in most of his films .
The movie tells us the story of Yamamoto , a member of the Yakuza - the Japanese Mob - , who is expelled from the brotherhood he belongs to due to the betrayal of several members of his clan . He's given up for dead and moves from Tokyo to Los Angeles where he has a younger brother who survives as a modest drug dealer . Then , they begin to wipe out their opponents and thanks to Yamamoto's courage and insight they will become a powerful clan that controls several city areas . However , on their way to seize power , they meet their match and things will begin to go downhill . I won't spoil the ending but I must say that it's a thrilling and emotive one .
Kitano offers to the audience an electrifying portrayal of the Yakuza , its motivations and , most of all , its code of honor . The film can also be described as a tragedy because there's a sense of fatality which indicates that everything in the movie moves toward their end . The film depicts the state of mind of a man ( Yamamoto ) who has lost everything in which he believed and who has become a stateless person , an uprooted drifter shunned from his cultural environment with a ticket of no return .
As in other previous films by this director , deadpan humor is also present but perhaps not so constant as in other movies . There's also an underlying parody of the genre of action and noir films in the realistic and , at the same time , exaggerated way that Kitano describes violence .
Another remarkable aspect is the marvellous soundtrack composed by Kitano's longtime collaborator , Joe Hisaishi . A tranquil and melodic score that apparently contrasts with the violence that surrounds the film and which features orchestral and minimal music accompanied by free jazz and rock with absolute perfection in an unparalled exercise of emotional intensity .
To finish I'll just say that , in my humble opinion , Brother is an exciting film that is worth seeing and which proves , one more time , that Takeshi Kitano is one of the most talented and distinctive filmmakers of our days .
005 4 To describe Brother as Takeshi Kitano's American directorial debut is like saying Lost in Translation is a Japanese movie . The speaker would be missing the boat totally . In Brother we see Japan and America coming to a cataclysmic impact as Yamamoto ( Kitano ) , a Yakuza mobster , is exiled from Japan and forced to live in America with his half-brother . When Kitano finds out that his brother is a small time drug dealer , Kitano takes his brother ( as well as his gang ) under his wing and turns them into a crime organization to be reckoned with . They take on a mexican cartel and italian mafia alike . However , we see the theme of brotherhood become more of a theme when he and Denny ( played by Omar Epps ) , another small time drug dealer , create a bond that was never attained by his blood brother .
Kitano uses light and shadow to punctuate the drama , but the most awe inspiring element to his cinematic vision is the use of silence and stillness . When Kitano is on the screen , sometimes he stands like a statue . The silence in his films are deafening ( for a remarkable example of this , I refer to the film Violent Cop ) .
With the use of Japanese and English language , we are thrust among the cultural barrier of the gang . However , they are able to circumvent this and become true brothers .
006 4 Take it for what it's worth ! ! ! It's clean and explosive visual and aural action ! One cannot get confused or lost with the plot ( not much of a twist to it but still suffices ) . . . For those who liked La Femme Nikita ( original 1990 French version ) and Leon / The Professional will definitely find themselves hooked on this film from the lead actor to it's cinematic / somewhat classical score ! A friend of mine said the musical score did not fit this movie ; he's wrong ! The soundtrack avoids making the stereotypical cliche of using cheap synthesized pulsating pop music . . . The score gives the film it's dramatic edge without getting campy.Actor / director Takeshi Kitano does a suave yet brutal portrayal as a yakuza leader from the old school who begins to clean house and claim territory from other rival mobs and gangsters .
On the dvd audio / video technical side , the video transfer is clean and the digital surround is mind-blowing ! Special off screen sound effects pan around the room convincingly and effectively.The bass produced by the explosions and weaponry used is simply an adrenalin induced experience . . .
007 4 Since everyone else has already written about how they thought much of the film was formulaic , which it was , or how Kitano transcends the cliches , which he does , I'll just say that , despite some faltering performances by a few of the American actors , the film is very identifiable and enjoyable as a Kitano film . What you should know is that the disc contains a cleaned-up version of the film in which many scenes containing violent content have been cropped or had gore digitally removed for U.S . release . I don't believe it affects the running time much , but it is different from the Japanese release . Also , if the subtitles ( English or otherwise ) are enabled , they run on all dialogue throughout the movie . A selection were only the non-English dialogue is subtitled would have been appreciated . I watch many subtitled films , but it felt distracting here .
008 4 A Japanese yakuza henchman ( played by Kitano ) named Brother came the States after his clan was destroyed in a mafia war back in Japan . Here the Brother organised his friends into a clan and started a cruel war on local mafia families to win a space . The newcomer is cruel and does not think twice before killing his rivals . However , what makes this movie worth watching is natural looking Darwinist style violence and relationships within his band beautifully played by Kitano and his actors .
What always appealed me in Kitano's films is human interaction between central characters including the most negative ones . The Brother is cruel , strong , and a good marksman . He is not a kind of person you ordinarily would like to meet on a street . However , he ultimately sacrifices his life to save Danny , his black companion , from the band of Italians . But in the beginning of the movie those two characters had very few if any reasons to like each other after the Brother pokes Danny in the eye with a broken bottle , then cheats him in a game .
Another moving scene is when the Brother's right hand man sacrifices his life to persuade another local Japanese criminal ring to merge with the Brother's operation . Simple , convincing and incomprehensible at the same time !
I gave this movie five stars and highly recommend it to anyone interested in action . This film is The Action itself !
009 4 Kitano's Brother Egets eaten and spit out by Sony Pictures US . Not exactly a masterpiece , or the best movie he has done , but it gave a great insight into the Yakuza lifestyle rarely known outside of Japan . But on this DVD , the lackluster treatment of this movie is unforgivable .
If some of the story was a little on the unexplained side , maybe it's because the US version is 30 minutes shorter than the Japanese original . Most of the Japanese sequences were cut , so Americans won't have to read too many subtitles . Great move ( ? ) . The DTS audio option was thrown out for some reason , thinking people who might like this movie will not have a DTS decoder . Sony , get with the times !
The biggest problem I had with this DVD was that there were no English subtitles ! It is listed as ` English Subtitles Ebut in fact , it's English Closed Captions , so even when they are speaking English , the captions appear . Luckily I understand both languages , but for anyone else , they would be a headache to sit through .
Extras are very minimal , only trailers for completely unrelated Chinese movies ? For a list price so high , it just seems smarter to get the fully loaded Region 2 Japanese release . Believe me the story makes a LOT more sense .
Also , the character that Tetsuya Watari plays is such a minor role in the US version , it was a shame that his name appears in the credits . If you want to check out a role where he actually is part of the MOVIE , get ` Tokyo Drifter E ( Criterion Collection ) . You'll be a lot happier with that film .
011 4 This is the city . Los Angeles , California . Swimming pools , movie stars , and Yakuza hitmen fighting for control of the streets with Chicano druglords and African-American gangstas . Just another typical day in sunny SoCal , according to Japanese cult director Beat Takeshi Kitano , in his first U.S . - released film . Kitano directs himself as the marked Yakuza who flees to the States , hooks up with his adopted brother ( a low-level L.A . drug dealer ) and his pals , then becomes Crimelord of Los Angeles in what appears to be a period of only a month or two . Action fans will probably be somewhat sated just by the sheer number of killings ( I stopped counting after the first 2 dozen ) yet turned off by the deliberate pacing and long , static takes . Arthouse fans will admire the deft cinematic touches and hip music score , but will probably find the frequent shootings and self-mutilations a bit overboard . Kitano the actor ( an acquired taste ) is in top form ; Kitano the director seems less confident than usual , as if he was deliberately dumbing down for U.S . audiences ( and can anyone who has viewed a Vin Diesel movie blame him ? ) . Best enjoyed if you don't think about it too much ; genre fans might detect similarities to the existential 60 ' s Yakuza cult classic Tokyo Drifter .
012 4 Ok never heard of this guy knew of Omar Epps seen him do mostly Black Dramas so along comes this movie that had it not had him on the cover I probably would have ignored it so I picked it up read the back cover put it down came back a week later on one of movie nights at home and pop it into my DVD player and was loving it from the moment it started Takeshi kitano is pure genius he made me chuckle at his mannerisms but I loved his intimate relationship with Omar Epps character after running into him on the street . I'm glad there was a mix of races in this movie from Asain , Blacks , Hispanic and , Italian.It gave the movie depth it made it seem more realistic . The only reason I gave it four stars was that the pacing threw me for a couple moments and I was tempted to fall asleep until the action started other wise it was a treat to see definently a buy when I can track it down on DVD .
013 4 Though it lacks the subtle emotional resonance of Fireworks ( Hana-Bi ) , Brother is nevertheless one of Takeshi Kitano's best films . It is certainly the most briskly paced , one of the best acted , and one of the most violent films in this master's oeuvre .
Kitano's brilliance lies in showing you things in unexpected ways , often by means of excluding parts of the action that would be considered essential in conventional editing . But the boldness of his choices , the stunning photography , and the sure-handed editing all combine so that his unusual shot selection seems perfectly natural , a result of economy and artistic conviction , rather than unnecessary quirk or a desire to show off . His is one of the most distinctive narrative voices in cinema today .
Kitano remains the perfect actor for his own directing and scripting . In Brother , as in Boiling Point , Kitano often takes the story away from his own character to explore supporting characters . But unlike in Boiling Point , here we have a supporting cast ( headed by Omar Epps , who adapts into the Kitano style of comedy fluidly ) thoroughly capable of holding our gaze , honororary mention going to Kuroudo Maki for his doggedly persistent portrayal of Yamamoto's younger half-brother Ken , Susumu Terajima as loyal ( but also very funny ) lieutenant Kato , and Masaya Kato as psychotic henchman Shirase .
The title Brother has a broader application in this film . The Epps-Kitano chemistry is enormous , surprising because it usually consists of only a couple of small gestures and a few lines of deadpan dialogue . Given its meaning in both Japanese gangster-speak ( aniki ) and American vernacular , it's a brilliant choice for a title . And Kitano shows that he can make a film with American actors without sacrificing any of his distinctive style . A must-see for Kitano fans , to be sure , but also crucial viewing for all cinema lovers who relish seeing a master at his peak .
014 4 Colors are not to be changed , they are to be left to their original tint or brightness .
Today I bought Brother at Best Buy . I was happy to find that I got the last copy of the 2 shelves of them . I was suprised , so I bought it . When I got to opening it , there was some nice cover art on the disc , and no freaking collecters booklet on most Sony discs . I popped the disc in to my new Panny RP56 and set down to watch on my Phillips 16 : 9 HDTV . Never have I seen a film murdered in front of my eyes . It's a movie about blah , blah go to Internet Movie Database and search under Brother to find out .
Aniki's ( main character ) world is not exciting , and somewhat gloomy . There is an occasional color flair ( rare ) to hint at a character's persoanlity . Blacks are deep and accurate , there are tons of gray , blue is on the dark side , green is in some scenes dark and other scenes light , finally red is crimson , and sometimes darker . All of this is representted accurately on the two DVD's I have previously watched ( UK and Japan ) and seen in a THX certified theater . The theater I saw the movie was dead on , and the picture quality was unbeatable .
All of the above is thrown out in the Sony Pictures Classics version . Gray is subdued and no longer prevalent . Blacks are ruined which killed a couple scenes . Blue is no longer dark or a little dark , it's plain blue . Green is a neon green in some scenes and now is a bright . Red is pushed , but just enough that the color is a bit lighter .
The beginning scene is ruined by the Sony version . Kitano standing waiting for the cab is supposed to stick out , and the background is covered in the back with a thing gray , to make him prevalent . Instead the Sony version completely takes out the gray , and the scene is then butchered . The scene where Kitano murders the Latino drug dealer the blacks are deep , the colors subdued . The Sony version , pushes the flesh tones the blacks are off , and the green door to the left of Claude Maki is now a bright neon green , whereas the other versions had the door dark green or a light pine green .
There also to seems to be a fairly large quantity of edge enhancement , which is absent on the 3 other sources .
What doesn't help the Sony Pictures Classics version is that its edited . The movie begins with a Sony Pictures Classics label pasted over the Kitano label , with the background music still there . This tells you that , you are about to watch an inferior version . There are various edits to the movie digitally . Such as painting over brain matter on walls from gunshots , and time and gore edits . The stark emotion of the Hagakure scene is also killed by the editing .
The features ? Just some . . . trailers for some movies that remind me of the word ' crud ' The audio is okay , but with the lack of DTS , . . .
015 4 I am fed up with people talking about how kill bill is such a good film . I watched this film about a week after I saw Kill Bill and I honestly think this is the better film . I watched it 3 times . The way Beat ' integrates american and japanese culture makes this film standout . The scene where his luitenent plays basketball with one of his brothers friends stands out . Another scene is when they go to attack the mafia , all you see is flashes of gunfire while this young boy is dead in the car . This is a moving film , asides the infruequent gore , You feel a great sympathy for the characters .
Kill bill has no technique at all especially when she is fighting the crazy 88 or whatever . I have seen more technique in Iron Monkey ( an old skool martial arts film ) The awkward ending leaves you distraught with no hope , but that is the point of the film and ' Beat ' portays it that way .
016 4 Seemed like some things in this movie wernt explained much . You can follow whats going on , what happened , etc but it seemed like it had many holes . The direction is only there half the time . It had some cool scenes in it but it could have been a much better movie
017 4 I'll keep this short , I saw Fireworks and thought it was average at best , saw pieces of that kijuro or whatever its called with the little kid in it , that one was pretty good . I liked this movie alot and its the only reason I got into Takeshi Kitano movies , if I never happened to stumble accross this movie late night on Showtime or Cinemax I would have never sparked an interest . I'm not a sheep so I dont follow everyone elses opinions , and you can trust my reviews I wont say somethings good because everyone else does .
Try it out , Rent or buy .
018 4 This review is from :
Brother ( DVD )
One of my favorite yakuza movie's . Classic Beat and a young Omar Epps .
This film is not going to win any oscar's but it does a decent job of incorporating old school Asian traditions with in non cultured America . Loved the props they gave to the US Mafia .
If you like gansta films , this one might intrigue you .
019 4 One of my favorite yakuza movie's . Classic Beat and a young Omar Epps .
This film is not going to win any oscar's but it does a decent job of incorporating old school Asian traditions with in non cultured America . Loved the props they gave to the US Mafia .
If you like gansta films , this one might intrigue you .
020 4 This review is from :
Brother ( 2000 ) ( Dts ) [ VHS ] ( VHS Tape )
This movie made me watch it twice just to get a feel for it's harsh but hidden reality of life in the Yakuza . The main character spoke few words but his actions did the talking for him and set the pace for this film . Overall , I liked it but it wouldn't be worth watching in the theatres .
021 4 This movie made me watch it twice just to get a feel for it's harsh but hidden reality of life in the Yakuza . The main character spoke few words but his actions did the talking for him and set the pace for this film . Overall , I liked it but it wouldn't be worth watching in the theatres .
023 4 Brother ( Takeshi Kitano , 2000 )
When I see a film that has both the names Ren Osugi and Ryo Ishibashi in the credits at the video store , I know I'm in for a good time . Brother did not disappoint .
Kitano does what so few foreign directors manage to do : come to Hollywood and make a good movie despite having to work within the strictures of the MPAA . That said , the DVD release is , of course , unrated ; it makes me wonder what on earth the MPAA found so objectionable that the film would have required an NC - 17 rating had it not been cut . ( One note on IMDB mentions that not only was the movie cut , but cut heavily . ) Just another confusing moment trying to figure out the MPAA .
Brother may not be Takeshi Kitano's best film , but it's still a lot of fun . Aniki , a yakuza ( Takeshi ) displaced by the merging of his former family into that of their rival is marked for death , and his best friends are ordered to perform the hit as a test of their loyalty . Instead , they allow him to escape to America , where he goes into hiding with his younger brother , Ken ( Beat's Claude Maki ) , and Ken's band of small-time dope dealers . Well , yakuza-born , yakuza-bred ; Aniki sees an opportunity to build an empire from scratch , and he takes it .
Rather than attempting to work out how to take a story conceived in his native land and adapt it to an American treatment , Takeshi comes up with an idea ( or , perhaps , managed to put himself in a position where he could make a movie he'd been thinking about already in the best way possible ) that blends the two cultures , and turns the movie , at least in part , onto a meditation between the differences between the two .
That , however , is not what you will notice while watching the movie ; what you'll notice is the movie itself . That's part of the magic of films like this ; things are moving so fast that you don't really have time to look at the deeper aspects until later , but those deeper aspects will be easily found with a few moments of reflection . While you're watching the film , though , you're far more likely to notice the acting ( Takeshi himself simply exudes cool , and even House star Omar Epps manages to use a few expressions that have not crossed his face on a screen before ) , the camerawork , and the violence . Maybe I'm used to Takashi Miike movies , but to me , the violence in Brother seemed almost understated much of the time ; while the movie's body count is admittedly high , those who have seen Ichi or the Dead or Alive trilogy will certainly find nothing here nearly as ostentatious .
Fun , fun movie . If you missed it the first time around , now's a good time to catch up . * * * ½
024 4 I think this movie was really really good ! i love it so much ! i recommended this movie to all my friends and family and they all loved it ! ! ! in the beginning you wonder what the hell is going on ? but if you pay attention you will understand the whole movie ! i thought it was the best yakuza movie i had seen so far . . .
025 4 Sony has cut this version , removing some of the scenes spoken in japanese as well as digitally editing out some of the gore and changing the colour palette .
the UK R2 version is apparently the best , but for US buyers the fact that it is in PAL format is a major problem , unless you happen to have a television that can playback in PAL or your DVD player converts it for you . Simply dezoning the player is not sufficient . You won't get any picture .
the Japan and Hong Kong R3 versions I believe are both in NTSC . The Japan version might be anamorphic ( like the UK version ) but the Hong Kong version is non-anamorphic . These are both in DTS . The Hong Kong version might be the best bet for US buyers as the menus are in English . It is often on ebay .
The Australian R4 version is ' rental only ' but can be found in second hand shops . Big problems : it is in pan & scan ( 4 : 3 ) . It is uncut , however , and the colours are the original muted palette .
I went for the UK R2 version and I'd urge all non-US English language buyers to do the same .
P.S . Another issue with the R3 Hong Kong version - - the English subtitles appear during all the dialogue , whereas in the R2 UK version the subtitles appear only when characters are speaking in non-English languages . Also , some of the extras that appear on the UK version - - such as the documentary - - are not on the Hong Kong version . Also , a new R4 version has been released for sale ; I have not viewed this version . I remain very happy with my R2 UK version .
026 4 This movie is great , not too slow , like Fireworks is too many people . The action scenes are intermixed well with Takeshi's usual trivial ( sometimes humorous ) scenes .
It show a good contrast between LA thugs and the Yakuza back home . If you thought his other movies were too slow , this will not disappoint .
027 4 There is such a paucity of good movies out these days that when a decent , worthwhile effort such as this appears one is tempted to rate it higher than it deserves .
While Hollywood continues to churn out the usual stuff and sequels to try and maintain the revenue momentum , along comes the odd foreign movie to jolt the system a little .
Contrast the violent portrayal of gangster life against the latest Arnie movie . I am sure that there will be uproar in some quarters not only against the viciousness of it but also against the graphic nature . The broader view is the use of the violence to highlight a code of honour to which the Japanese gangsters adhere .
The film contrasts the use of violence in gangster societies , pitting the somewhat ethical stance of the Japanese against the money orientated Mafia and the utter ruthlessness to which they will resort .
A peculiar feature of the movie is the central character who speaks fewer words than in the entire screenplay for 2001 . The camera follows his arrival in Los Angeles , his recollection of how he came to America , through his growing success in the drug trade until his ultimate demise . Throughout this journey homage is paid to American mob movies , in particular the Godfather . In one particular scene a meeting is planned whereby the other side are to be taken out by the use of weaponry hidden in the bathroom . When the moment comes , the weapons cannot be accessed due to the bathroom being occupied . The penultimate scene too is a genuflection to the scene in the Godfather where Sonny is killed by the massed ranks of machine gun toting , nicely dressed hoods .
But in the end the Yakuza is found to be a decent chap as he repays his long time associate for an earlier misdeed he committed against him and provides the wherewithal for a new start , presumably on the right side of the law .
There are some great scenes in this movie , some of which are referred to in other reviews . The scenes are sharp and bright and the camerawork is excellent establishing a high sense of realism .
This movie is not for the squeamish but should not be viewed as a gratuitous violence flick . It is a serious study of modern life and the blurring of cultural dividing lines across nations .
Worth seeing again .
028 4 Takeshi knows his crime drama and this film , while not as thoughtful as Fireworks , is stunning . If you enjoy a different style of pacing and characters with character then his movies are up your alley . Violent and then peaceful , Brother is more a work of art than just a yakuza film .
029 4 Kitano Takeshi's first American directorial effort plays it safe thematically , while upgrading production quality and the level of violence . BROTHER is almost a remake of SONATINE , including his trademark touches of long , quiet scenes followed by sudden eruptions of violence , important events taking place offscreen ( which Kitano learned from Mizoguchi Kenji ) and so on . There's even a reference to a shootout visible only via flashing lights in SONATINE .
Another odd thing is the movie taking time to explicate the value system of the Japanese yakuza , as if Kitano felt it necessary to show to American audience the ABCs of the yakuza genre . Seemingly no one remembered to tell him that there already is Sidney Lumet's excellent YAKUZA with Robert Mitchum and Takakura Ken , wherein Mitchum cuts off his pinkie in the end to show appreciation for Takakura . ( James Shigeta , a veteran Japanese American actor , who plays Yamamoto's accountant in BROTHER , was in it too )
BROTHER is a disappointment to those who take Kitano seriously as a cineaste and not just a genre filmmaker , but the film is not without its charms and strengths . The central relationship between Omar Epps and Beat Takeshi is well-developed , and even though the redundancy of the very last scene has been pointed out , I would have to say that it works in the context of Epps ' character .
As for the censorship , a mid - 80s actioner such as THE CHALLENGE was far more violent than BROTHER , so I have no idea why they even bothered . In fact , THE CHALLENGE clearly showed a man's intenstines dangling from a sword slash , whereas a similar scene was obviously censored in this movie .
030 4 I only planned to wach half this movie one day and the other the next as i had to work but ended up watching the whole thing on acount that this film blows me away . The acting is super from the whole cast down to epps . The blend of the diffrent familys puts you in the world of organizerd crime giving validity to the film ( making it believable instead of some knockoff yakuza / mafia film , ) Also very welcomed in this film is the humor generated between Denny and ANKI . If you like mob films but want more ( good story , humor , acting , purpose ) then watch this movie
031 4 For example , the young lady who played Marina was wonderful in her role , and brightened up this darkly humorous Gangster Noir film .
Watch this clever film .
032 4 Brother was the first Takeshi Kitano film that I saw and I loved it ! The great thing about this film is that it is not the typical Hollywood garbage that you are so used to . It is not a neat tie a ribbon around it , and stick a pretty bow on top type of film . This beautifully filmed , riveting crime drama is a must see ! It is very refreshing to see a film from a non-western perspective . Kitano's presence is extremely charismatic and engaging , though he says little and his filmmaker's eye is unmatched . A + + + + + film .
My only problem is that the DVD did not have any special features about the movie . This is a travesty for such a wonderful film .
033 4 Takeshi Kitano is a respected Japanese film director . His films are brutal dramas of life in the Japanese mafia , not action thrillers , but slowly paced and carefully constructed commentary on the meaning of violence , honor , and even love . He uses long stretches of silence , and shots in which very little movement takes place . These serve to give the film a pensive atmosphere , and contrast with bursts of violence coming out of nowhere , with no warning and no stylistic embellishment . Kitano stabs a man with the exact same level of intensity as he turns on a light switch . Gunfights in Kitano's movies are often nothing more than two combatants standing in a room firing bullet after bullet into each other until only the one with the most willpower is left standing . The standard Kitano hero is doomed from the start , as are basically all the other characters . The background of mafia violence is not the focus of the film , but is used to intensify its message . Kitano's philosophy is that in order to show the greatest of one thing , you must show it's opposite . In order to show the greatest love , and the greatest peace , one must show the strongest hatred and violence . The experience of watching one of his films is unique . They are quite powerful , unlike anything else being made today .
That said , ' Brother ' is not as good as most Kitano films . It doesn't seem to have that much original to say . What is does do well is transplant perfectly Kitano's style from Japan to the United States . As a fan I enjoyed the film and am sure other Kitano fans will as well .
Newcomers to Kitano's films may expect this to be an action movie . They will be disappointed . This movie needs to be watched and judged it for what it is , a piece of art first and entertainment second .
035 4 Sony Pictures has tampered with the colors in Brother .
Colors are not to be changed , they are to be left to their original tint or brightness .
Today I bought Brother at Best Buy . I was happy to find that I got the last copy from the 2 shelves that
held them . I was surprised that it was there , so I bought it . When I got to opening it , there was some
nice cover art on the disc , and no collecter's booklet like on most Sony discs . I popped the disc
in to my new Panasonic RP56 and set down to watch on my Phillips 16 : 9 HDTV . Never have I seen a film
murdered in front of my eyes .
Aniki's ( main character ) world is not thrilling but grim . It is somewhat gloomy . There is an occasional color
flair ( rare ) to hint at a character's personality . Blacks are deep and accurate . There is tons of gray . Blue is
on the dark side , green is in some scenes dark and other scenes light , finally red is crimson , and
sometimes darker . All of this is represented accurately on the two DVD's I have previously watched ( UK
and Japan ) and seen in a THX certified theater . The theater I saw the movie was dead on colorwise , and
the picture quality was unbeatable .
The above is thrown out the window in the Sony Pictures Classics version . Gray is subdued and no longer
prevalent . Blacks are ruined . This killed quite a number of scenes . Blue is no longer dark or a little dark ,
it's just plain blue . Green is a neon green in some scenes and now is a bright . Red is pushed , but just
enough that the color is a bit lighter .
The beginning scene is tarnished by the Sony version . Takeshi Kitano is standing waiting for a cab . In the
scene , Takeshi Kitano is supposed to stick out , and the background is covered with a thin gray , to make
him prevalent . Instead the Sony Pictures Classic version completely takes out the gray , and the scene is
then butchered . The scene where Kitano murders the Latino drug dealer the blacks are deep , the colors
subdued . The Sony Pictures Classic version , pushes the flesh tones until the point of absurdity . The
blacks are off , and the green door to the left of Claude Maki is now a bright neon green , whereas the
other versions had the door dark green or a light pine green .
There also to seems to be a fairly large quantity of edge enhancement , which is absent on the 3 other
sources . Everything is made vibrant , which makes no sense considering this is a very dark movie .
What doesn't help the Sony Pictures Classics version is that its edited . The movie begins with a Sony
Pictures Classics label pasted over the Kitano label , with the background music still there . This tells you
that , you are about to view an inferior version . There are various edits to the movie digitally . Such as
painting over brain matter on walls from gun shot's , and time and gore edits . The stark emotion of the
Hagakure scene is also killed by the editing .
The features ? Just some stupid trailers for some movies that remind me of the word . . . The
audio is sub par , and with the lack of DTS , it not worth the purchase . They did fix the subtitle problem I
had with Japan Version , but I fixed that when I traded it in for the United Kingdom version .
036 4 I rented this movie not really expecting much of it . When I started to watch it I found the flow of the movie very appealing to me . It is about an exiled Yakuza that goes to america to live with his brother that he sent to college only to find out that his brother is a street thug drug pusher . The movie then follows along how the exiled Yakuza moves his useless brother and worthless friends up in the ranks of the underworld Yakuza style and their eventual fall in a very realistic way . People are saying that the movie is boring but i think they were expecting the wrong things from it . This movie is not really an action movie anyway . It is very real in the sense of the route some people take and the way they end up because of it . I would say rent it and not buy it although it is a very good movie see it for yourself then decide . Yes the movie is not totally action packed and yes it moves along a slower pace but that realism is actually enjoyable to me rather than seeing constant gun battles for no reason or very stupid fight scenes like the crazy 88 ' s in Kill Bill as another reviewer mentioned .
037 4 Its hard to put a finger on exactly what went wrong with Brother . Takeshi Kitano is an immensely talented film director and actor , but i suppose even he has to miss the mark sometimes .
The story has potential . An exiled yakuza goes to his half-brother in Los Angeles after finding himself on the wrong side of a gang war in Japan . There , he does what he knows best and begins forging a rag-tag collection of petty thugs and drug dealers into a professional gang , finally feeling big enough to challenge the Italian Mafia for control of the area .
However , in going to the US Takeshi left his area of expertise , and it shows . I once read an interview with him , regarding his American debut in Johnny Mnemonic , where he said that the American director didn't really understand what a yakuza was . Unfortunately , the same thing is true here . Takeshi doesn't really understand the Los Angeles gangs , and the whole thing seems fake . What works in Japan doesn't necessarily work in the US , and Takeshi doesn't explore these differences . He just has everyone instantly fall in line with the Japanese Way . He also has trouble directing the English speaking actors , and their dialog falls flat .
There are some good bits here . Takeshi's character , Yamamoto , is an interesting figure , quite and soft-spoken but every bit a hard-core villain . His first entry into the US , not understanding the English and customs around him , is a fascinating study of cultural isolation . Another favorite scene is when he has a gang members pinkie cut off when he fails , although no one else around him understands why . They don't get the yakuza expression of penance .
This was meant to be Takeshi's transition film for US audiences , and he hoped that the Los Angeles setting would provide a familiar door for viewers . He also mines freely from some of his older flicks , especially Sonatine which has a similar theme of a gangster in exile . Plenty of yakuza and Japanese stereotypes and pitched in for the Americans as well , things that would never normally appear in a Takeshi flick . Trying to bridge both worlds meant that he ultimately failed to do either . The Japanese world that he knows so well gets mixed into the unfamiliar American gangland , and both suffer .
Brother is not a terrible film by any means . He is still Takeshi Kitano , and even his worse flick is still worthwhile . But it just doesn't achieve any of the greatness that we have come to expect .
038 4 This review is from :
Brother ( DVD )
While in no way Takeshi Kitano's best film , it is definitely an entertaining one . Kitano plays a Yakuza gangster forced to leave Japan for the U.S . , where he unleashes just as much carnage as he did in his own homeland .
The acting on the end of the Japanese actors is great on all counts . The English speaking actors don't fare as well and I don't think it could be attributed to inexperience as much as it would the language barrier . Still , it's definitely worth watching as it is pretty violent and hypnotic in an odd way .
The DVD for this film is lacking in so many ways that it's not even funny . The film has a great video transfer that is pretty crisp and clean . Kitano is no slouch with the visuals and he manages to capture the elegance of Japan and Los Angeles with great shot composition and interesting angles .
The 5.1 Dolby Digital is eye opening , to say the least . The dialogue is recorded low but whenever there's violence , it's LOUD . The first gunshot in the film nearly made me leap under my couch .
The surround channels are used effectively and the score by Joe Hisaishi is enhanced greatly by this . That's one thing I have to say about this film : the score is absolutely amazing . Most of Kitano's movies are complimented by Hisaishi's music and this one is just as good as any of the others .
This disc has no extras to speak of and frankly , I'm hoping to see a better disc come along for this film in the near future . An interview , a commentary track . . . . you will find none of these here . Not to mention that there are trailers for a couple of different films and none of them are for Brother itself .
It's hard to recommend this disc due to the lack of features but at the very least , they did a good job with the sound and picture .
039 4 While in no way Takeshi Kitano's best film , it is definitely an entertaining one . Kitano plays a Yakuza gangster forced to leave Japan for the U.S . , where he unleashes just as much carnage as he did in his own homeland .
The acting on the end of the Japanese actors is great on all counts . The English speaking actors don't fare as well and I don't think it could be attributed to inexperience as much as it would the language barrier . Still , it's definitely worth watching as it is pretty violent and hypnotic in an odd way .
The DVD for this film is lacking in so many ways that it's not even funny . The film has a great video transfer that is pretty crisp and clean . Kitano is no slouch with the visuals and he manages to capture the elegance of Japan and Los Angeles with great shot composition and interesting angles .
The 5.1 Dolby Digital is eye opening , to say the least . The dialogue is recorded low but whenever there's violence , it's LOUD . The first gunshot in the film nearly made me leap under my couch .
The surround channels are used effectively and the score by Joe Hisaishi is enhanced greatly by this . That's one thing I have to say about this film : the score is absolutely amazing . Most of Kitano's movies are complimented by Hisaishi's music and this one is just as good as any of the others .
This disc has no extras to speak of and frankly , I'm hoping to see a better disc come along for this film in the near future . An interview , a commentary track . . . . you will find none of these here . Not to mention that there are trailers for a couple of different films and none of them are for Brother itself .
It's hard to recommend this disc due to the lack of features but at the very least , they did a good job with the sound and picture .
040 4 It is kind of Takeshi movie . Violence , funny and try to be an art . I just don't feel anything after seen it . It happened all the time after his movie . It is hard to understand what he wants to do . He has such a reputation as a director , but I still can not get it . It's OK to watch . Not that bad . During the movie , I was not fallen asleep . I just want to say there are better Yakuza movies exist in Japan . Much better and much more . He doesn't have to make Yakuza movie . And also he hasn't reached the time to ripe yet about his talent as a director . One day , I hope he can make very best of his movie .
041 4 I would like to get a list of the music / soundtrack that was used for this movie . The movie was excellent . For those out there that have seen this movie it reminds me of the Lone Wolf and Cub series of movies put out in the seventies . The music that was chosen for this movie was great and I would like to know the songs and the artis of these tracks . All of the actors in this movie were superb . I would like to see them together again in another project . Everyone keep up the good work .
042 4 I had to smile when in the second-last scene a character's dialogue ( subtitle ) include the word inscrutable . That is the term I had been contemplating since about 10 minutes into this vapid two hour flic .
I'm really stunned by some other reviews saying things like Japanese version of The Godfather and accurate portrayal of the Yakuza . The only Godfather this might compare to , on rating alone , would be Godfather III which was a bomb . And this is a valid portrayal of Yakuza gansters only if your average Yakuza is a suicidal halfwit with the emotions and intellect of a delinquent street urchin .
Brother has a stylish light-jazz soundtrack , very hip art direction and a cool aesthetic look which are enough to make you want to like the film .
Unfortunately , that's a tall order . The dialogue is juvenile ( at least the english subtitling anyway ) , perhaps the Japanese language is better . The characters are plastic and one dimensional . The script is ludicrous , not the slightest grasp on reality of gangster society . Law enforcement is virtually non-existent in this movie since the gangster can slaughter each other in non-stop extravagant violence and almost never encounter the police . Killing is wanton and practically without any character motivation or response much of the time . . . you're just left wondering . Compared to other gangster flics , there is almost no credibility in any part of this story .
This movie is optimized aesthetic silliness , with mindless two-second murders by the dozen , all committed to a jazzy sax soundtrack . At the midpoint , I was pondering whether to continue watching as the movie descended into the abyss . I only persisted to the end in order to see how low would actually sink .
This movie is as bad as Knock Off , The Negotiator , and Showdown in Little Tokyo , probably worse .
If you really want to see an ultra-hip , stylized , aesthetics-over-plot film , try The Odd One Dies ( Hong Kong , 1997 ) or Fallen Angels ( 1995 ) , both with Takeshi Kaneshiro . Or an equally obtuse and bizarre film , but nonetheless very stylized action pulp noire , try Seijun Suzuki's classic Branded To Kill ( 1967 ) . Or better yet , try The Big Hit ( 1998 ) with mark Wahlberg and Lou Diamond Phillips , which is another mindless but entertaining killing spree which doesn't take itself too seriously .
Brother is a disappointment . It is very nicely art-directed , and not much else . This is not the Godfather of the Yakuza genre . I am not flying solo in my critical view , the 69 reviews on RT have it at 51% thumbs down . One reviewer summed up my feelings well in his comment : Rarely has such an artful aesthetic been used to craft such sadistically violent junk . . . .
043 4 I worship Kitano as a director and I really really love Kitano's work . I was dying to see his new film after my very favorite Sonatine , Hana-Bi ( Fireworks ) and Kikujiro .
There are many genius work in this film , but unfortunately it didn't quite come together as much as he intended .
Maybe because this film took rather unique production procedures - a Hollywood format by Japanese director and staff .
There are a bit too much brutal scenes of harakiri and yakuza rituals . And the most disappointingly , too much story feeding to the audience by the protagonists ' dialogues .
The last scene with Omar really wasn't necessary . These unnecessary additions ruins the elegant taste he usually have for his former works .
In terms of acting , Kuroudo Maki was terrible ! He was farely good in Scene at the Sea . So it was quite disappointing to see him how terrible he act out with dialogues . .
But all in all , this till is a must-see movie - as you can't see anything like this anywhere .
044 4 After purchasing this item and getting charged about $40 AUS postage the DVD was not compatible with Australian DVD players . Conveniently you cannot return the product after it has been opened . As I could not test the DVD's compatibility until after I opened it , this return policy was no good to me . You are better off taking your chances with Ebay ! ! !
045 4 Seriously , the first review with this title nailed it . I saw a different Takeshi Kitano movie a few years back which was much more stylistically interesting ( can't remember the name , but it was a Japanese film ) , so I know he's capable of making an interesting film . This isn't it . This film is a terrible waste of time .
046 4 Kitano's first ( and only ) feature film foray into English language territory , BROTHER may be Kitano at his simplest , but most certainly at his coolest - since Hana Bi , anyway .
Kitano plays a disgraced Yakuza foot soldier whose extreme behaviour sees him exiled in the US , where his younger brother lives . Kitano starts his new life exactly where his old life left of - with extreme violence .
This is Kitano at the height of his self-destructive performances . Separated from his family , adrift in a banal culture , with little understanding of the language , his fast and fiery rise to power is bested only by his rapid decline .
One gripe : when are we going to see more features - particularly commentaries - on Kitano DVDs . Even ZATOICHI is barren of such DVD basics .
047 4 I'll get around to writing a better review eventually . I liked the movie , and just wanted to point out that Denny revenge scene wasn't too light because he wasn't finished . Because of the ending events happened differently then he thought they were going to .
049 4 This movie is about a Japanese gangster exiled from his homeland and forced to flee to America . From the moment he sets foot on foreign soil , his orgy of violence and destruction begins . If you're a fan of action and violence , this movie has plenty of both . The film portrays the extremely violent lifestyle of Japanese gangsters . Unfortunately that's about all it has going for it .
Much of the time the plot seems disjoint and unconnected . Music is lacking . A lot of the time it was difficult to understand what was going on . I can only recommend this to gangster movie aficionados .
050 4 This is supposed to be an artsy movie about the yakuzas and their activities in America . However , it ` s not more than an average , empty thriller that ` s neither exciting nor funny , let alone creative or original . Takeshi Kitano , who both directs the picture and plays its asian main character , is devoid of charisma while he acts , using the same facial expression the whole time . There are lots of useless moments of pointless violence here , which try to have style and edgyness but fail miserably ( Tarantino does it much better ) . Brother is a tedious , unengaging waste of time and is quickly forgotten . Meaningless .
051 4 This movie was really boring . It was slow and uninteresting . the man who did this movie is the one trying to bring back the Zatoichi series . I have not seen the new Zatoichi movie yet but this movie gives me great doubts about how good it will be . His other movies may be good but this one is a definite time waster . Save yourselves .
