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Young Thugs: Innocent
Blood (1997)
**1/2
Artsmagic DVD
16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen
NTSC/Region One
Dolby Digital Sound; Japanese Audio/English Subtitles
Biographies/Filmographies, Original Theatrical Trailer
Original Japanese Video Cover with Translated Liner Notes
Osaka History and Culture; A Video Essay written & presented
by Takako Tucker
Interview featuring Takashi Miike (director)
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In this film and Young Thugs: Nostalgia
(separate review), Takashi Miike examines the culture of youth
and restlessness. While they're both sequels to the 1996 Kazuyuki
Izutsu film called Kenka No Hanamichi (which
would be nice to see in an Artsmagic release, for completion's
sake), it's been said that these Miike entries are more linked
to one another, despite sharing source material inspiration
and a few actors from the 1996 original.
In 1970's Osaka we are introduced to Riichi (a funny/scary
Koji Chihara), our disaffected hero, his long-standing yet
put-upon girlfriend Ryoko (the sweetly engaging Sarina Suzuki)
and Riihi's two best friends Yuji and Tetsuo (Yasushi Chihara
and Kasuki Yabe). In a mixture of themes that bring to mind
a more streetwise Rebel Without A Cause,
the friends deal pranks and beat-downs -- both physical and
emotional -- to others and themselves as they start to realize
that their aimlessness isn't necessarily the path to happiness
and well being. There are some comic moments found in scenes
regarding Riichi's frequent enemy Sada (Yasushi Kitamura)
that lighten the drama, on occasion. A great deal of the film
has to do with maturity; much needed in some characters' cases.
Life may be forcing them to grow up but the methods to do
so can only come from within and their paths to adulthood
are not traveled with ease as they fight on, trying to discover
who they are.
The digital transfer for Innocent Blood
is a marked improvement upon earlier Miike film DVD pressings,
featuring brighter colors and a greater range of contrast
levels that are much more satisfying; likely due to more a
substantial budget at the filmmaking level. Audio and subtitles
do their work well and the musical score by Juzo Terada is
catchy and effective, as is the theme "Let It 'C'"
by Shinjiro Inoue. An interesting addition to Artsmagic's
DVD bonus features package is included; a scan of the Japanese
Home Video cover, complete with translation of the cover's
text. An 8 minute overview of Osaka, narrated by Takako Tucker,
is an admirable item. Though this particular DVD features
no feature commentary track, the standard Takashi Miike interview
(17 minutes) presents a few informative notes regarding the
film's production history. Miike even discusses his young
adulthood in Osaka, his ever-changing style and the nature
of mistakes, creativity and technique.
Alternately dramatic and occasionally silly, Young
Thugs: Innocent Blood strikes an uneasy balance.
Somewhere between a disaffected youth drama and an energetic,
exuberant call to arms, it's a film with performances that
lift it up to the slightly above-average. While the film might
not necessarily be a must-see in the rank of Miike's Ley
Lines or the superior Young Thugs: Nostalgia,
it's still worth a look for the culturally curious or the
Miike fan. ...And we know who we are.
--Matthew Goltz
Review DVDs courtesy Artsmagic DVD. View trailers of the above
at www.artsmagicdvd.com.
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