Full Metal Gokudô (Full Metal Yakuza) (1997)

53% of users liked it
(2,158 ratings)

Japanese horror auteur Takashi Miike directed this bizarre, ultra-violent variation on Robocop. Kensuke Hagane (Tsuyoshi Ujiki) works as a janitor for Tousa, the head of a powerful Yakuza family; Kensuke looks up to Tousa, and wants to join the organization some day. While Tousa is serving seven… More Japanese horror auteur Takashi Miike directed this bizarre, ultra-violent variation on Robocop. Kensuke Hagane (Tsuyoshi Ujiki) works as a janitor for Tousa, the head of a powerful Yakuza family; Kensuke looks up to Tousa, and wants to join the organization some day. While Tousa is serving seven years in prison, Kensuke is given his chance, but he lacks the courage to do much more than the most menial tasks. Things change, however, when Kensuke is driving Tousa home after his stay in prison is over; the pair are ambushed by enemy gangsters, leading to a vicious gun battle in which Kensuke is mutilated and Tousa is killed. They're rescued by Hiraga Genpaku, a crazed medical genius who rebuilds Kensuke using parts of Tousa's body as well as the latest in bionic technology. Now possessing super-human powers as well as Tousa's impressive physical strength, Kensuke is transformed into a super-Yakuza who sets out to take down the men who killed Tousa and nearly cost him his life. Full Metal Gokudo was originally released direct to video in Japan but won a theatrical release and a cult following elsewhere. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: NC-17, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Takashi Miike
Written By: Itaru Era
Genres: Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 5, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Apr 12, 2005

Critic Reviews

Eric Campos, Film Threat
If you don't see the similarities between this movie and Robocop, there's something wrong with you...
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
little new here to expand Miike's universe of carnage and perversity

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

An inept gangster is killed during a hit on the boss he idolizes and awakes to find himself turned into a cyborg by a mad scientist. Full Metal Yakuza is basically Robocop meets Frankenstein with dick jokes. The effects budget obviously ran to single figures and there's more ham… More
An inept gangster is killed during a hit on the boss he idolizes and awakes to find himself turned into a cyborg by a mad scientist. Full Metal Yakuza is basically Robocop meets Frankenstein with dick jokes. The effects budget obviously ran to single figures and there's more ham on display than in a butcher's shop window, but somehow Miike's perverse vision makes it a bizarre freakshow that's strangely difficult to take your eyes off. There's plenty of action and gore and the theme of a super-powered lunatic in a world of violence and sexual bondage makes it feel like the prototype to his brilliantly oddball Ichi The Killer. In the end it's too extreme and generally cheap looking to appeal to casual observers but gore fans interested in the work of Miike may get a kick out of it. It's hardly essential viewing though...
Tsubaki S

A cheeseball that sometimes manages to be more insightfull and funny than most would think it is. Still, not the best from Miike, worth for a very fun performance by Tomorowo Taguchi as the crazy scientist.
Christopher B

What if Robocop were a weird Japanese exploitation flick? Miike answers that question and more in this great low budget shocker with moments of extreme violence, hilarious comedy and fairly decent characters.

Cast

See full cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started

Full Metal Gokudô (Full Metal Yakuza) (1997)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Tsubaki S

Christopher B

Cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!