From controversy to convention, Miike is a chameleon director that lives for being on the movie set and breathes cinema. Always ready for change and experimenting, he has however remain somewhat in the sub-genre that he almost single-handedly created. Seemingly someone with a strong character, he says in Montmayer's "Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell! (2003)" that he needs to control himself more and that in two years he would be a different person. A champion for diversity and growth, Miike switches here from his subversive, shocking, frenetic films he is known for to a slow, thoughtful, subdued drama... and he does so very well.
Sun Scarred is a modern drama about personal grief and anger as well as a societal commentary on youth violence and current lax legislation. The movie reaches you in many level and, as much as the acting and storyline carries you through, the director's choices are obviously what holds it together along the way. For example, I have rarely seen the use of Black&White in film used so appropriately to convey a character's inner feelings. Visually, the camera is often far away, unmoving and static like the feelings that the main character feels. This numb unfeeling is subtly mixed with a profound revengeful hate and the fluctuating balance is quite well expressed and achieved.
I would say the the first half of the movie definitely holds the better part story-wise as some of the plot makes a bit of an unnecessary mess at some point before the denouement. However, the ending is fitting and strategically rewarding. It cumulates on what the movie had been slowly and successfully weaving. A script a little more tight at parts or some inventive editing in the second half might have giving it extra strength, but there is nothing really bad here either.
Not a perfect movie, but a undoubtedly powerful one. A mature Miike that has something to say. A pleasant surprise to find the part in him that is simple and sensible. This is sure to give this popular director new depths and respect as opposed to hype and curiosity.
