If someone wanted a gateway introduction to Takashi Miike, a seasoned fan would likely direct that person's attention toward ‘Audition,' or ‘Ichi the Killer.' The caveat here is that these are full-length films: Neither of them get their point across instantly, and traces of that characteristic Miike calamity come and go.
The beginning of Miike's ‘Dead or Alive' is such an effective taste test because it showcases the sheer zaniness of the prolific director's mind, all within a mere few minutes. The opening shot features the dynamic duo of protagonists, Detective Jojima and Yakuza member Ryuuichi as they pop a squat, crane their necks to look backwards towards the camera and count to four in English.
It is like the two are theme park conductors about to lead their viewers on a rollercoaster ride: Once they reach four, the iconic ‘DOA' logo pops up against a black backdrop, and an intense electric guitar solo ramps up. What follows is a series of unrelated-yet-aesthetically synthesized events in urban Tokyo that are barely possible to describe in writing. Immediately, a man gets thrown over a skyscraper balcony. Men in suits walk into a corner store and immediately pull heavy weapons out of the freezer section. A mascot in a chicken suit gets shot up in a restaurant. And my personal favorite: A man does a brief stretching routine, and proceeds to rail a line of cocaine the length of an entire room's perimeter before embarking on a drug-fueled rage.
Much more happens in this opening scene: I would get into the details, but putting it into words would not achieve the full effect. You just have to see it. Within these first few minutes of chaos, viewers are bound to get a good sample of the unfettered madness that lives within the mind of Takashi Miike.
