Two of the most iconic genre directors to ever come out of Japan are Kinji Fukasaku and Takashi Miike. If you’ve been reading this site for any length of time, you’ll notice that these are two are often discussed and that’s because of two reasons. Firstly, so much of their material is getting brand new English friendly releases from various distribution companies and we like to support these companies along with discussing cult icons. Secondly, they are incredible directors and deserve to have their lengthy careers discussed. For this review, both directors will be discussed because Arrow Video recently put out the Graveyards of Honor boxset that features Fukasaku’s 1970s original and Miike’s 00s remake. Both are classics in their own regard and hopefully, if you haven’t already purchased this set – then this double feature article will prompt a few people to pick it up. It’s a wildly nihilistic and extremely effective dual piece of cinematic genre bliss.
GRAVEYARD OF HONOR (1975)
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Notable Cast: Tetsuya Watari, Tatsuo Umemiya, Yumi Takigawa,
Eiji Go, Noboru Ando, Reiko Ike
By 1975, Kinji Fukasaku had already established himself as
the premier name in action and crime cinema. After a diverse start to his
career, he shifted focus to realistic and grimy yakuza films in the early 70s.
Not only had he just finished up his lengthy and Godfather-esque crime
epic, Battles Without Honor and Humanity, he was already starting in his
series New Battles Without Honor and Humanity. Those series are often
lauded as the not only the films that changed action cinema for Japan at the
time, but pinnacles of what Fukasaku could do with the style. While I am
certainly in the minority, it’s of my opinion that the double feature of Cops
Vs Thugs and Graveyard of Honor in 1975 that perfect the genre of the
period.
It’s the latter that takes the formula and strips it back to
its darkest and most gritty form. Anchored by an incredibly dense, layered, and
perverse performance from Tetsuya Watari, who rose to fame as the charming and
righteous yakuza man throughout film in the 1960s and early 70s, Fukasaku has
no desire to showcase anything that would remotely resemble light and hope.
Watari plays Rikio Ishikawa as a low-level gangster rising through the ranks of
the local yakuza due to his blatant disregard for others and penchant for being
as toxically violent as possible. Even though many of the other Fukasaku films
of this era focus on the brutality of the yakuza, their cold steely demeanor as
sinister forces in sharp suits, Graveyard of Honor takes that grittiness
to the next level and ‘corrupting’ the visage of Watari by challenging him to
one of the most intense roles of his career is only the start.
The plot of Graveyard of Honor is loose and combines documentary
visual flourishes with cinematic pizzazz, which is very much of the director’s
style of the time. Even when the film attempts at giving its protagonist tastes
of hope, a romantic subplot, for example, the manner that the film treats it is
quite disturbing. Rikio is simply chaos manifested and his abuse of those he
loves, including his love interest Chieko – played with incredible fated sadness
by Yumi Takigawa, is on full display. This is not often an easy film to watch.
Yet, the manner that his life as a yakuza plays out is still fascinating and enticing.
The plot, the performances, the style, and the pacing all make it a riveting
watch and while the audience knows that nothing good will come out of his
attempts to gather power and touch the sun, there is a sense that maybe, just
maybe, redemption is possible. It’s this fine line that makes Graveyard of
Honor such a strangely addictive watch while being so grossly heavy and
dark.
GRAVEYARD OF HONOR (2002)
Director: Takashi Miike
Notable Cast: Goro Kishitani, Narimi Arimori, Yoshiyuki
Daichi, Harumi Inoue, Renji Ishibashi
Although the remake of Fukasaku’s original follows many of
the same beats and concepts of the original, having a director like a red hot
Takashi Miike – fresh off of a few years of powerhouse films that put the
auteur on the international scene, makes it just as intriguing. Particularly
since 2002’s Graveyard of Honor is a film that remarkably leans away
from Miike’s usual chaos incarnate style. Like its predecessor, the film tends
to play things in a horrifyingly grounded manner, stripping away most of the
documentarian style of the original and further layering in a vague and
atmosphere heavy tonality.
The plot plays out in relatively the same manner, striking
many of the same beats, as the newly named Rikuo Ishimatsu, played with crazy intensity
by Goro Kishitani, finds himself accidentally thrust upwards in the hierarchy of
the yakuza, despite his best efforts to thwart his own meteoric rise. The major
difference is simply how Miike injects his usual themes into the material and, specifically,
it’s the romantic subplot that takes the most interesting turn. Instead of an
abusive relationship turned romantic, it’s simply an abusive relationship where
the audience is aware of their attraction, but never actually sees the romance.
It’s a stark reminder of the toxicity of Rikuo and the skewed world that he
exists in.
At over 2 hours, the film can be a daunting watch with how
heavy, violent, and dark it is throughout its plot, narrative, and character
work, but Miike has such an innate sense of balance that it’s a riveting watch –
even right after watching the original. The film is incredibly subtle for this
period of his career, focusing on layered performances, dense atmosphere, and
bursts of his usual insane violence. Yet, throughout its intense use of a
chaotic protagonist, it’s hard to look away to see his eventual demise and that’s
a true testament to the strength of this film.
ARROW VIDEO FEATURES:
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS- Exclusive two-disc set featuring two different versions of Graveyard of Honor: the 1975 film by Kinji Fukasaku and the 2002 film by Takashi Miike
- Limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on both films by Jasper Sharp
DISC ONE – GRAVEYARD OF HONOR (1975)
- High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
- Original lossless Japanese PCM 1.0 mono soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles
- New audio commentary by author and critic Mark Schilling
- Like a Balloon: The Life of a Yakuza, a new visual essay by critic and Projection Booth podcast host Mike White
- A Portrait of Rage, an archival appreciation of Fukasaku and his films, featuring interviews with filmmakers, scholars, and friends of the director
- On the Set with Fukasaku, an archival interview with assistant director Kenichi Oguri
- Theatrical trailer
- Imagery gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan
DISC TWO – GRAVEYARD OF HONOR (2002)
- High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
- Original lossless Japanese PCM 2.0 stereo soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles
- New audio commentary by Miike biographer Tom Mes
- New visual essay by author and critic Kat Ellinger
- Archival “interview special” featuring Miike and cast members Goro Kishitani and Narimi Arimori
- Archival “making-of” featurette
- Archival “making-of” teaser
- Archival press release interviews featuring Miike, Kishitani and Arimori
- Archival “premiere special” featuring Miike, Kishitani and Arimori
- Theatrical trailer
- Imagery gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwa
Written By Matt Reifschneider
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