Beat Takeshi?

[Ichabod]

I just learned that Kitano's father was named Kikujiro. Wow.

"I almost never talked to my father. When we brothers heard his footsteps, we ran away and hide. I suspect that he was a member of the yakuza. But to provide his family he was forced to work as a housepainter."

[Green]

Where is that quote from? Kikujiro sounds familiar, what is so special about that name?

[Ichabod]

http://www.geomatics.kth.se/sjoberg/.../biograph2.htm

Kikujiro no Natsu is the title of Kitano's best (in my opinion) film.

[Green]

Ah. From what little I've read about him, most people say Fireworks is his best. What do you think about it (I've only seen Sonatine myself)?

[Ichabod]

Hana-Bi/Fireworks is excellent as well, but nothing will ever sway my opinion about Kikujiro. It is one of my favorite movies of all time, if not the favorite.

[rezo]

I'd agree that Kikujiro is his best work. It's the title
I chose of his to put in my top 5 list in the topic on this board.

The name of his father. Considering how that movie is. . . I ought
to watch it again.

[Green]

Kikujiro and Fireworks, I want to see those, but what else? I've seen Sonatine and Brother (recently, I liked it), what movies of his are as good as or better than those? Also, do all his movies have the same feel/tone? Are they all yakuza movies?