Beyond Outrage

Director: Takeshi Kitano
Year Released: 2012
Rating: 1.5

Double crossings, stabbings and shootouts continue in this sequel to Kitano's Outrage, with Kitano's character in jail, a punk who betrayed him climbing up the ranks of a rival 'family' and an ethically-challenged detective getting a bit too involved in this whole yakuza business. Kitano, who's known - back in the late 90's (during what was arguably his creative peak) - for adding his own unique slant on these Japanese mobster movies and liberally throwing in eccentric and/or enigmatic moments (along with long periods of inactivity) now can't even try to put his own spin on the whole concept, busying himself with formulaic storylines and enough blood and arguing to keep the audience partially paying attention. Hour one is a set-up for the thoughtlessly violent hour two in which so many people get executed by creative means (by drill to the head ... or a baseball to the head, etc.).