Kids Return

Along with Fireworks, one of Takeshi Kitano's finest movies. This movie is a story of two high school? slackers who appear to be looking for a purpose in life. One becomes a good boxer and the other one becomes a yakuza member. After going thru their experience, they become more confident and content with their life even though it couldn't be said that they were exactly successful. Like real life, perhaps the experience is the thing. Good acting all around. It's always good to see Susumu Terajima in Takeshi's movies as he's a very good actor. Also very good score by Joe Hisaishi. The movie also appears to criticize the fact that many Japanese people treat everything- life, work, etc. so seriously that they don't take the time to enjoy life. Instead, they "pressure" themselves to do good, even though their heart may not be in it. It's not unlike many recent Japanese films like Shall We Dance or Bouncing KOgals, both also good movies. Overall, a 9 out of 10.

Where do you return to, if you decided to take a path that may not lead you back to anywhere in particular? This is the story of two different paths taken, though as you can imagine they intermingle and even when not there is a way Kitano tells this, that we stay engaged with both stories.

Having said that, maybe it was because I missed Kitano as an actor in this, maybe because it never really gripped me as much as other things he did, I never felt this coming close to other things he did. That doesn't mean this is bad, not in the slightest. It is quite good and in comparison to other stuff, some may even say excellent. Depending on how or where you set the bar of course. Good acting too

Takeshi doesn't make me disappoint again. This type is very rare to him, but he did it well. It confirmed his high level of controlling kinds of types. The character act very naturally and the living individuality affect me deeply. Comparable with his former works, it will adjoin you more. The boxing scene is stunning. The friendship of characters is unforgettable. Here I must be honor of Jô Hisaishi(the composer of this music), because it's important parts of Takeshi's work. The music is exciting and moving. Anyway it is a very meaningful movie about youth. This work attract me to look for others of Takeshi. Because I know it's my favorite directors in Japan besides Kurosawa.

Along with Fireworks, This is one of Takeshi Kitano's finest movies. The movie covers the story of 2 "juvenile delinquents" who go thru life trying to find some kind of purpose. One becomes a boxer while the other becomes a yakuza. The film seems to be saying that not enough Japanese people are not taking time to enjoy their life; that people should not be so dead serious all the time.The film also features a very good supporting performance from Susumu Terajima as a "#2 gangster". It's always good to see him in Kitano's films. For the two protagonists, it shows that it doesn't matter what they with their life as long as they enjoy it.

So many things in this film are so well done. There is the nicely written and told story, the very suitable cast, the perfectly composed music and, of course, the excellent direction.

It was, from my point of view, a very good idea to have a variety of protagonists who are all, in some way, related to each other: all of them are just about to leave school and look for an adequate and fulfilling life. Some of them succeed, and some fail. Now the feat was to link all these single story lines together and make one film out of it. And Kitano really succeeded in this sector. And again this film has a lot of autobiographical elements in it. Kitano's own past as a delinquent or comedian for example.

The music was again a real pleasure. Joe Hisashi really knows his craft to compose very fitting melodies, which always remind me of old Japanese folk songs, and use them perfectly timed in Kitano's films.

If you've seen other Kitano movies and missed this one, you will definitely like it. For those who want to try out a Kitano film for the first time: watch it! It will be a very contemplative and rewarding experience.