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      Tokyo Drifter

      1966 1h 23m Action List
      93% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 79% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings After yakuza boss Kurata (Ryuji Kita) dissolves his own criminal empire, a rival kingpin offers a position to Kurata's top operative, Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo (Tetsuya Watari). When the fiercely loyal Tetsu declines, Otsuka taps unstoppable Tatsuzo the "Viper" (Tamio Kawaji), a ruthless gun-for-hire, to assassinate him. As the Viper trails his target through the countryside, the agile Phoenix Tetsu grows concerned that one of his former associates has betrayed him. Read More Read Less

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      Tokyo Drifter

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      Critics Reviews

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      Geoff Andrew Time Out Inspired lunacy. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader A 1966 yakuza gangster thriller with a pop-art look by the formidable B-movie director Seijun Suzuki. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Weird, wild, and nearly incomprehensible, Seijun Suzuki’s gangster movie masterpiece... recreates the Yakuza genre as a pop-art James Bond cartoon as directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Sep 9, 2023 Full Review Kanishk Devgan Film Companion A unique and significant voice in the history of cinema that deserves much more love. Mar 29, 2021 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia I immediately recognize the compelling aesthetic of 'Tokyo Drifter', the yakuza film by Japanese director Seijun Suzuki, but for some reason I can't get excited about his criminal tale of the yakuza in the blue suit. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 6/10 Aug 8, 2020 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Delirious mix of musical and gangster film has spectacular design and color. Nov 21, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Astonishingly stylish, though sometimes hard to follow. There isn't much depth to this film but it sure is incredibly COOL, with a fantastic soundtrack to match. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Michael M More a piece of modern art than a film, Tokyo Drifter is nearly incomprehensible, but the visuals are so stunning that you won't care. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/13/21 Full Review robert r Sleek, stylish and quirky as all get-out, "Tokyo Drifter" represents the rare case in which a movie strikes that ever so pecious Goldilocks zone between being too eccentric and weird for its own good and being simply impossible to look away from. So much of this movie left me either scratching my head or busting a gut in laughter, but then again, so many other moments either dazzled or inspired me in some kind of aesthetic fashion. I guess what I'm trying to say is; come for the mise en scène, stay for the saloon fight. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member My first yakuza film and it was a very unconventional one. The visuals are revolutionary despite the fact that it is made in the sixties. The movie comes off so abstract that jf you plan on watching it for the story, you might get confused in a good way. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member A really cool slick jazzy Tokyo gangster movie that I can see a lot of inspiration for Twin Peaks and Kill Bill. The plot got a bit convoluted and hard to follow at some points, but god damn did the main characters light blue suit kill it. Solid, concept, solid execution. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Cool aesthetically driven film. Filled with sharp eye catching colours and great set design. The story is pretty standard B Movie material but it's an entertaining watch. You can see how films like Tokyo Drifter inspired directors such as Tarantino. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Tokyo Drifter

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis After yakuza boss Kurata (Ryuji Kita) dissolves his own criminal empire, a rival kingpin offers a position to Kurata's top operative, Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo (Tetsuya Watari). When the fiercely loyal Tetsu declines, Otsuka taps unstoppable Tatsuzo the "Viper" (Tamio Kawaji), a ruthless gun-for-hire, to assassinate him. As the Viper trails his target through the countryside, the agile Phoenix Tetsu grows concerned that one of his former associates has betrayed him.
      Director
      Seijun Suzuki
      Screenwriter
      Kôhan Kawauchi
      Production Co
      Nikkatsu
      Genre
      Action
      Original Language
      Japanese
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Mar 8, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 23m
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