This movie's relationship with the previous film in the series is sort of like any Miike movie in relationship to his oeuvre--entirely different, and yet very clearly similar. The same general style as Dead or Alive is in show here, including minor details like weapons springing out of people's backs and the relationship of two men acting under righteous fury (though this time they're on the same instead of opposing sides). Otherwise, it might as well not have the same title, because the building Yakuza suspense of the previous film is set aside for something more closely resembling a comic book superhero movie. It would be as if Godfather II was actually The Boondock Saints. Of course, Godfather I didn't finish with the world ending, so of course they had much more to work with in terms of a sequel, there.
Other than that, I almost don't know what else to say about it that I haven't already said a dozen other times in other Miike movies I've reviewed. I'm up to 22 movies (that's, like, a quarter of his total output to date) of his, and every single one of them is a unique experience even though they all show off his amazing idiosyncratic style. As much as this movie is not related to the previous one in story or characters, I still highly recommend seeing the first one before, as it is one of his most stand-out works.
--PolarisDiB
Other than that, I almost don't know what else to say about it that I haven't already said a dozen other times in other Miike movies I've reviewed. I'm up to 22 movies (that's, like, a quarter of his total output to date) of his, and every single one of them is a unique experience even though they all show off his amazing idiosyncratic style. As much as this movie is not related to the previous one in story or characters, I still highly recommend seeing the first one before, as it is one of his most stand-out works.
--PolarisDiB