Marking his first directorial effort in the crime genre since 2000's Brother, Takeshi Kitano's Outrage (renamed to Outrage: Way of the Yakuza for its' international release) was highly anticipated by fans of Asian cinema from all over the world. While Outrage isn't mind-blowing or genre-defining, it's an extremely solid and well-made movie that aficionados of hard-boiled of hard-boiled Asian crime pictures should enjoy a lot.

Like most of his directorial efforts, Takeshi also takes the starring role. This time out, he plays Otomo, a life-long Yakuza strongman who finds himself and his gang caught in the middle of a conflict between two crime families that is threatening to turn into an all-out war. Even when it develops that Otomo may be nothing but a pawn in the larger game, his loyalty still runs strong enough that he's willing to keep fighting until the bloody end.

Most fans of Asian crime movies have seen this sort of story before many times over, so it's up to the characters to set this movie above from the pack of the average. Even though none of the characters presented here are exactly good guys or really likeable -- especially Otomo, who is shown at first to be stoic and loyal, eventually shows that money and territory, not allegiance to his boss, might be the true inspiration for his rampages -- the audience still develops interest and, to an extent, sympathy for them.

A lot of this success can be squarely placed towards Takeshi's directorial style, which allows the characters to grow and develop organically, instead of hitting the viewer over the head with no-so-hidden deeper meanings and symbolism. For the most part, these are guys doing their job. Sure, it involves acts that would make the average person go into a catatonic state from shock, but it's just a job to them nonetheless.

Speaking of heinous acts, Outrage is definitely not a movie that skimps on the ultraviolence. While it's not wall-to-wall painted with claret, the violent incidents still managed to jar this grizzled reviewer, who has watched literally hundreds of Asian crime dramas over the years. In particular, a scene involving a dentist's drill makes Marathon Man look like Captain Kangaroo will stick with your psyche long after the movie ends and is a sure mark that Takeshi Kitano hasn't lost his edge when it comes to rolling out pictures that stand out as some of the best in the realm of Asian cinema.

RATING: 7.5