Music from the Films of Takeshi Kitano: Dolls & Zatoichi (座頭市)

As most of us learn in life, most good things don't last forever and after a decade long working relationship, Kitano and Hisaishi parted ways after the completion of 2002's Dolls. Apparently the two had a argument concerning the films soundtrack and that may be the reason why there are only five tracks present. Dolls is a fantastic art film and it was a new beginning for Kitano in a way. While many of his films were building up to this, Dolls really set the tone for the second phase of his directorial career in the 2000's. This was slightly subdued in his revamp of the popular blind swordsman film series, Zatoichi (座頭市), however Kitano, like in A Scene at the Sea, played off his characters disability intriguingly with sound. Musician Keiichi Suzuki of Moonriders fame took the role of composer and the two created an interesting world together. Both men have eclectic ways of crafting their art and much of this film is synchronized to the soundtrack. This is my favorite aspect of the film and while I did not love as much as Dolls and his works from the 90's, I did find it greatly entertaining. Unfortunately, this will be the last of his film soundtracks but I will continue post the randomness that I usually do. Check the films, check the soundtracks and enjoy!

Dolls (2002) Joe Hisaishi

1. Sakura

2. Pure White

3. Mad

4. Feel

5. Dolls

Zatoichi (座頭市) (2003) Keiichi Suzuki

1. A road to a post-town

2. Firewood-chopping and a farmer who wants to be a samurai

3. Ginzo's first command

4. The Naruto-ya rice merchant massacre

5. The gambling house massacre

6. The wasteland massacre and the reminiscence of Geisha

7. A house on fire and massacres all over

8. Constructors

9. O-kagura

10. Zatoichi showdown

11. Festivo

12. A road to a post-town - alternate mix

13. Ginzo's first command - alternate mix

14. A house on fire and massacres all aver - alternate mix

15. Trailer

Music from the Films of Takeshi Kitano: Brother

After a string of successful films and a few acting roles outside of Japan, Kitano set his sights on the foreign market and in 2000 released his first and only US film, Brother. While much of the film is in Japanese, the story takes place in Los Angeles (ironically Little Tokyo) following a war between a newly formed "American Yakuza" and the "Mafia" . Despite its numerous flaws (and there are many), I still relatively enjoyed the film and I think Kitano's style and Hisaishi's soundtrack have a lot to do with that. Kitano vowed though to never pursue another similar project, as he would come to regret the experience. 2000 also saw the release of Jet Li's "Romeo Must Die", another horrible venture in the Far East vs West Coast theme and I'm glad no for the most part, a film is released internationally and directors feel less pressure to do these kinds of projects. Also to note, while Kitano has several actors that he uses in nearly every film he does, Brother became the second film in which he worked with actor Claude Maki. Great soundtrack, enjoy!

Brother (2001)

1. Drifter... in LAX

2.Solitude

3. Tattoo

4. Death Spiral

5. Party (One Year Later)

6. On the Shore

7. Blood Brother

8. Raging Men

9. Beyond the Control

10. Wipe Out"

11. Liberation from the Death

12. I Love You, Aniki

13. Ballade

14. Brother

15. Brother (Remix version)

Music from the films of Takeshi Kitano: Kikujiro (菊次郎の夏)

After the success of HANA-BI, Kitano returned with another "journey" film Kikujiro (菊次郎の夏). The film focuses on the summer exploits of a young boy and a man who lives for gambling and is one of Kitano's most lighthearted films. Once again, Hisaishi and Kitano collaborated on the project, producing perhaps one of Hisaishi's most recognized pieces "Summer". Great film, great soundtrack, enjoy!

Also...is anyone else not enjoying this new blogger layout?

新しいブログのテンプレート、大嫌い！！！

나는 새 블로그 템플릿을 싫어요!


Kikujiro (菊次郎の夏) (1999)

1. Summer

2. Going Out

3. Mad Summer

4. Night Mare

5. Kindness

6. The Rain

7. Real Eyes

8. Angel Bell

9. Two Hearts

10. Mother

11. River Side

12. Summer Road

Music from the films of Takeshi Kitano: HANA-BI

In 1997, Kitano released what is arguably his most important film and is by far my favorite of his and one of my favorite films of all time. If you haven't seen this film, do so. Enjoy!

HANA-BI (1998)

1. HANA-BI

2. Angel

3. Sea of Blue

4. ...and Alone

5. Ever Love

6. Painters

7. Smile and Smile

8. Heaven's Gate

9. Tenderness

10. Thank You .... for Everything

11. HANA-BI (reprise)

Music from the films of Takeshi Kitano: Kids Return

After the failure of Sonatine, Kitano tried to evoke his roots with a slapstick comedy film "Getting Any? (みんな～やってるか！)" two years later in 1995. However, just like his other previous efforts, it failed to garner any positive attention. In addition in 1994 shortly after finishing filming "Getting Any?", Kitano was involved in a motorscooter accident causing paralysis in half of his body. He would later remark that he was suffering from large amounts of depression and that the accident was an "unconscious suicide attempt". That aside though, Kitano was determined to return to work on a new project after recovering. Kids Return became Kitano's 6th film, dealing with the relationship of two friends and their lives after dropping out of high school. Kitano once again worked with Joe Hisaishi and Hisaishi created yet another beautiful score to compliment another great film. Kids Return became Kitano's most successful film up to that point in his career and I consider it to be one of his best films. Enjoy!

Kids Return (1996)

1. Meet Again

2. Graduation

3. Angel Doll

4. Alone

5. As a Rival

6. Promise...For Us

7. Next Round

8. Destiny

9. I Don't Care

10. High Spirits

11. Defeat

12. Break Down

13. No Way Out

14. The Day After

15. Kids Return

Here's the full film with English subs!

Music from the films of Takeshi Kitano: Sonatine

Kitano's return to the yakuza genre in 1993's led to yet another commercial failure in Japan. The violent, psychological look into the life of a band of wayward gangsters confined to the beaches of Okinawa was not what many expected from the comedian they knew. However, I will tell you this film is amazing and I'm not the only with this opinion. In fact Sonatine, two years after its release, became a huge international success for Kitano after a French publisher, Jean-Pierre Dionnet, pushed for its release in France after viewing the film at the 1993 Cannes. Kitano style really came to life in this film and the scoring from Hisaishi is no less as well. The haunting minimalistic piano theme for the film truly resonates with the tone and Sonatine is a smart, dry, odd and beautiful film because of it. This is my second favorite Kitano film and the film and soundtrack come highly recommended. Enjoy!

Sonatine (1993)

1. Sonatine I ~ Act of Violence

2. Light and Darkness

3. Play on the Sands

4. Rain After That

5. A on the Full Moon of Mystery

6. Into a Trance

7. Sonatine II ~ In the Beginning

8. Magic Mushroom

9. Eye Witness

10. Runaway Trip

11. Moebius Band

12. Die Out of Memories

13. See You ...

14. Sonatine III ~ Be Over

Music from the films of Takeshi Kitano: A Scene at the Sea (あの夏、いちばん静かな海)

A Scene at the Sea (あの夏、いちばん静かな海) is Kitano's third film but his first with legendary composer, Joe Hisaishi. This was the start of a decade long partnership between the two and it truly enriched Kitano's style and presentation throughout the 90's. Hisashi's compositions bring such warmth to the films and oddly compliment even the most perplexing and violent moments of Kitano's films. The film's protagonist, played by Claude Maki, is a deaf young man who wants to learn how to surf. Kitano stylistically made most of the movie in silence but allowed Hisaishi's soundtrack to speak for the characters and it fits perfectly. While not my favorite from either of them, A Scene at the Sea (あの夏、いちばん静かな海) marks an important point in both of their careers and is a fantastic listen and watch. Enjoy!

A Scene at the Sea (あの夏、いちばん静かな海) (1992)

1. Silent Love (Main Theme)

2. Clifside Waltz I

3. Island Song

4. Silent Love (In Search Of Something)

5. Bus Stop

6. While At Work

7. Clifside Waltz II

8. Solitude

9. Melody Of Love

10. Silent Love (Forever)

11. Alone

12. Next Is My Turn

13. Wave Cruising

14. Clifside Waltz III