Takeshi Kitano's directorial debut is stunning. Brutal and shot with great finesse and clarity, this movie displays an abundence of raw energy and an ability to surprise throughout. Not to be missed by fans of action cinema.

Holy flying f*** the last 10mins of the film:
1. Amazing use of lighting (for such a large set!)
2. Last 30 secs, cracking up from disbelief

Started with Kitano's Outrage trilogy first and than went backwards to Hana-bi and this, damn this one cannot be missed.

"Beat" Takeshi Kitano directs and stars in Violent Cop, a 1989 Japanese film, which you could describe as Dirty Harry without the charisma. Violent Cop, like more than one late 80s-early 90s Japanese film I've seen, is raw and almost documentary-like. The director manages a jaded brutality and a stylessness that nonetheless doesn't forget to create memorable shots and lots of tension. Low production values somehow translate into a world that seems strange to my Western eyes, more than Japan usually does. Another plus: The music sounds like Sherlock's.