BIRDS is the second part of Takashi Miike's DEAD OR ALIVE trilogy and a superior film to the first. This one sees the main two actors from the original returning in new roles, playing a pair of assassins who meet and realise that they were childhood friends. They give up their violent ways and instead head off to a bucolic island where they spent glorious summers as children, but the violent past is due to catch up with them. This time around the main characters are actually likeable to a degree, and Miike's direction feels more confident and assured. There are still the sexual and bad taste situations, but they're integrated into the story better. The highlight of the film is a great set-piece sequence which juxtaposes a school-set pantomime with the usual bloody Yakuza shoot-outs and slayings. The more offbeat elements of the story work well too and the ending is cleverly written.
Review of Dead or Alive 2: Birds
