Nowhere near as entertaining as Takashi Miike's identically titled live-action headrush of sado-surrealism, by far the biggest problem with this animé flick - - not directed by Miike even though he voices the role of Ichi - - is that it takes itself seriously. As a beautiful, masochistic girly and some school bully-boys help Ichi relieve his tendency to get sexed-up by violence, we run perilously short on smirk and splatter. Ichi spends as much time blubbing his eyes out as he does blackening other people's, and that's just not as much fun for anyone. Low-grade animation tops off the disappointment.
DVD Extras:
Just two real extras, both of which have nowt to do with this animé. Fifteen minutes of behind-the-scenes outtakes will only make you wish you'd bought Miike's live-action film instead, as will a featurette presenting the director discussing his Ichi and its shoot.
