This was one of his more successful endeavors into non-cutting-things-into-stylish-bloody-messes. Some were not so good. I don't understand people that worship this guy though. It's kind of weird.
I think Miike has raw talent oozing out of his pours. His problem is form and restraint. Sometimes it's what you don't do that makes something better, a lesson he obviously skipped. Photographically, I can't argue against him, but the guy makes many his own movies nearly unwatchable due to sheer gross out tactics.
I guess what I'm saying is that I like Miike, but I'll take Kitano, Park, Wong or Yimou over him in most cases.
He did have the best short in 3 Extremes, however.
Miike has said he was heavily influenced by Troma. However, this, Ichi the Killer, and The Great Yokai War by themselves are enough to call him a great filmmaker.
Miike has done a lot of stuff, not just wacky gory movies, those are the ones that get more pimped in the west. Check Blues Harp, The Bird People in China and Ley Lines for a more subtle Miike.