Fudoh: The New Generation (1996)

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Shew! One time when I was reading one of many reviews of one of many Miike works, somebody used the phrase" Miike's personal brand of surreal gangster flicks." That there would be the perfect way to describe Fudoh: The New Generation. While showing off Miike's obvious inspiration in Kenji Fukasaku movies, he goes about it by way of Luis Bunuel, both delighting in the absurd while paying close attention to making it follow continuity and a dreamy sense of realism (inherent contradiction intentional). I'd like to call it, "like Gozu, but to the Yakuza genre than to the horror genre", but, well, again Miike defies genre base; after all, Gozu was about the tribulations of a Yakuza member, too.But honestly, Fudoh: The New Generation does stand out in Miike's ever increasing oeuvre. It's interesting that, although reading a filmography of his makes it seem like he throws in the random classic in a long line of b-movies, it's actually the other way around, and some of the more ridiculously titled of his films are actually the better ones (Fudoh, Big Bang Love Juvenile A, Visitor Q). Fudoh: The New Generation is certainly one of the more underrated of his work. It showcases his general propensity towards over the top violence, sex, and body horror, but nonetheless proves that he's capable of some very effective drama, zany humor, and even disturbing social commentary, as needed. In a way, his best movies are the ones that reflect his oeuvre as a whole: strange, unpredictable, and all over the emotional spectrum in terms of how it affects you.This time, though, there's something of an interesting metanarrative point: the theme of Fudoh is stated when the eponymous character says, "New blood must replace the old, else the body dies." Young Fudoh is talking about the Yakuza. Miike is talking about the Yakuza genre. This movie is about the love, honor, and respect of a well-known genre of Japanese film-making while also delighting in subverting its every cliché. I compare it to The Yakuza Papers, but not lightly: whereas the earlier series of films are obviously a cataclyst for the hyperactive styling of this new, younger generation of Japanese filmmakers, it still takes its traditional themes seriously, Godfather-like. Here, Miike throws the playful, the absurd, and the hermaphroditic into previously assumed roles and lets the blood spray when needed, lets it not when necessary.It may be unpredictable, but it's far from absurd. I would actually recommend Fudoh: The New Generation to someone not previously exposed to Miike, because it's extreme without being too challenging on the viewer's sensibilities like Ichi or Audition, idiosyncratic without being too clandestine like Big Bang Love, and dramatic without being too reminiscent of previously established forms like Rainy Dogs. It's a good introductory movie to the fascinations of a prolific filmmaker whose every movie excites a feeling of the random and bizarre and yet don't fall into sorry repetition.Definitely a must see, this one.--PolarisDiB

After being blown away by Audition I thought I'd better get more acquainted with Miike. After reading reviews and reader comments I decided to go back a little and start with Fudoh. In short, I can't believe this movie was made by the same director as Audition. There's no need to go into details of the film really given all the other reviews, just suffice it to say, if you're expecting Audition quality material, forget it. If you're looking for the Japanese equivalent of a straight to video b-movie action pic, with a script that occasionally flirts with intelligence, you might like it. I didn't.4 of 10

10 years after Fudoh senior has to kill one of his sons after his disrespects the Yakuza, his other son plots to avenge his brother.He organizes his own band of teenage killers to topple his father's organization. Filled to the brim with Takashi Miike's now trademark bizarre characters and over-the-top violence, this is a fun little flick, if a tad repetitive in parts. Not among Miike's best, but certainly up there. It was followed by two straight to video sequels neither of which had Miike's involvement and are worse off because of it.Eye Candy:Both Marie Jinno and Miho Nomoto shows tits and ass My Grade: B- DVD Extras: I didn't get the recent special edition so, just Trailers for "Wild Criminal", "Score", and "Blood". Not even a menu screen

For the most part Takeshi Miike's movies have been getting weirder and weirder, so if you've already experienced the likes of 'Ichi The Killer' and 'Visitor Q' his earlier movies (e.g. 'Rainy Dog') might seem a bit tame and too "normal". Not so 'Fudoh: The New Generation'! Eight years old, which is a lifetime in Miike's world (60 movies since 1991!), it's still as outrageous as ever. This was the movie that started Miike's reputation as being one of the most wildest and inventive directors in the world. The bare bones of the plot makes it sound like countless other yakuza movies, but Miike continually shocks and subverts his audience. This is one movie you just have to see to believe! Shosuke Tanihara plays Riki Fudoh, teenage son of crime boss Iwao Fudoh (Tôru Minegishi). Fudoh senior sacrificed Riki's older brother Ryu when Riki was a child. Now that Riki is older he plans an audacious plan of revenge, using his own gang of child assassins and sexy schoolgirls, one of whom dispatches her victims via a blow gun she fires from her vagina. 'Fudoh' will have you giggling insanely throughout. Just how does Miike get away with it?! It's also one of the most entertaining and exciting action movies I've ever seen, up there with Miller's 'Mad Max 2', Hill's 'The Driver', Peckinpah's 'The Getaway', Rodriguez's 'El Mariachi' and Ishii's 'The Black Angel'. Most Hollywood action movies these days send me to sleep. I tried watching 'The Fast And The Furious' the other night for example and gave up after becoming bored to tears. Tarantino's mind blowing 'Kill Bill: Vol 1' is the one recent notable exception. Is it any wonder that it was heavily inspired by asian cinema both old and new, including the work of Takashi Miike? I think not. If you enjoyed 'Kill Bill: Vol 1' check out Miike's 'Fudoh' and 'Ichi' and 'Dead Or Alive' trilogy, and Kinji Fukasaku's amazing 'Battle Royale', and you'll immediately see the energy and black humour that Tarantino is currently drawing upon. 'Fudoh: The New Generation' is an instant classic. Fans of action, crime, or exploitation movies will eat it up!