Tokyo Vice - Season 2 (HBO MAX/2.8.24)

[Electric Relaxation]

Such an underrated, or mis remembered show. People don't remember how dark it is. The tone is near nihilism, it's just nihilism on South Beach. Also, the iconic and influential way it was shot, esp. the first season. That scene as they ride the go fast boat to that island, to the Tina Turner song is pure cinema. They shot that with a helicopter and a real speedboat going 100 miles an hour or whatever. No green screen, no CGI. You wouldn't see that kind of quality again until like The Sopranos and prestige TV golden age.

Great post. Yeah, at the time I think the aesthetic of the show outweighed the show itself. The stories themselves are dark, basically film noir. The episode with Pam Grier’s sister, Smuggler’s Blues…

And yeah, that scene with the fast boat is as iconic as the In the Air Tonight scene.

 

[re'up]

Great post. Yeah, at the time I think the aesthetic of the show outweighed the show itself. The stories themselves are dark, basically film noir. The episode with Pam Grier’s sister, Smuggler’s Blues…

And yeah, that scene with the fast boat is as iconic as the In the Air Tonight scene.

yeah, I only watched in the 90's when it was in syndication on FX, but even at that young age, it was so dark and grim. Watching that serial burglar one by myself as a kid. Obviously took a lot from Manhunter. Shadow In The Dark. The one where his girlfriend overdoses and dies screaming in the bathroom.

Noir is the right word. People remember MTV Cops, but it's also South Beach Noir, probably even more so.

The "What's Love Got Do Do With It" AND the intro where they are going to the island is iconic. Miami Vice invented the montage to a dark or deep pop song with crazy visuals. and the use of music in general.

 

[re'up]

 

[King Static X]

I liked the trailer, but the high usage of guns throws me off a bit. This isn't set in America; it's in Japan.

Japan has had strict gun laws since the '50s. While, in a few cases, Yakuza do use guns, it's very rare. Yakuza mostly used swords, knives, and other weapons.

I get that it's a Hollywood show and whatnot, but still.

 

[daemonova]

Two days, empty your backlogs

 

[daemonova]

 

[daemonova]

 

[daemonova]

Spoiler: Sato win every single fight , the other guys barely try

But judging by the preview that won't last

 

[re'up]

Ran this back, and while I thought the debut episode was even better than I remembered, Mann's work was impeccable, the following episodes were weaker than I remembered, in some spots

-Samantha's performance is decent, kind of stunted, like Elsgort

-Sato's performance is even stronger than I remember

-Lots of the story gets way too formulaic, the warehouse scene was awful

-The shift in tone from the first episode was more noticeable, goes from taut to loose

-A lot of the shots are still dope, Sato waiting for Sam outside the club, very much a Miami Vice homage

-The Yakuza ceremony is the series high point

-The fight, attempted killing of Ishida was another one

-Some very terrible scenes: of Jake smoking meth, are basically unwatchable

-The violence goes from very well done (sword scene, killing the weirdo gentleman dude) to kind of softer, the scenes on the rooftop, with Kume, Ishida, and Sato were esp. weak

 

[daemonova]

The last four episodes were better than the first four episodes to me.

Sato was the Mvp.

I always love a reflected villian, it made his story better.

 

[Marks]

In a just world the entire show is centered on Sato. I recommended them earlier in the thread I think but if you interested in some alternate kinda artsy? takes on yakuza a bunch of Takeshi Kitano films, especially the ones he did in the 90s are a vibe:


He doesn't play yakuza in this one, but its still in that world:


Even did an american yakuza movie with Omar Epps called brothers. JP Yakuza gets exiled to america and he basically makes a mixed race gang lol. Not his greatest, but Yohji Yamato did the styling, its just a sleek looking movie:


If you just want straight Yakuza mayhem he did a trilogy called Outrage, Beyond Outrage and Outrage Coda in the last decade or so.

 

[jay211]

Bout to peep season 2.

 

[ciubaca]

Bout to peep season 2.

Is this any good?
I hate that baby driver actor...
Is it worth watching?

 

[daemonova]

Is this any good?
I hate that baby driver actor...
Is it worth watching?

He is annoying , especially in the beginning. He running thru Tokyo like he Pac. Even the yt girl had to tell him somrthing

 

[ciubaca]

He is annoying , especially in the beginning. He running thru Tokyo like he Pac. Even the yt girl had to tell him somrthing

not for me then