Seargeant Kabukiman

After being kissed by a kabuki master, Harry Griswold (police detective) transforms into the superhero Kabukiman. Harnessing his new kabuki powers, he faces corrupt businessmen, drug-dealing ministers... and must prevent the monkey from riding the jaguar.

I first watched this film years (2000?) ago at my friend Jason's apartment and loved it, as I love all Troma releases. Today I watched it for the second time after picking up the DVD at Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors in Chicago 2007 from the director himself, Lloyd Kaufman. The movie was everything I remembered it being and more.

The humor is cheesy and full of bad puns, the acting is decent but not Oscar-worthy, and some scenes are just not politically correct (though by far much less gross than any other Troma movie ever made). We get the first instance of the legendary car crash scene and some good fights. Heck, even the flying special effect is tolerable. Though after seeing "Puma Man" pretty much all flying scenes are tolerable.

Troma is known for their anti-capitalism views, and it shows here (though more subtle than in "Troma's War" or "Terror Firmer"). I mean, the villains are a business tycoon and a reverend! This is a strength for the films, I feel, because it really helps the target audience rally around the hero. If you're watching these films and enjoying them, clearly you like independent films, which makes you a natural for being opposed to huge organizations. Or maybe it's just me.

So, yes. Cheesy plot and acting. A little gore (but not too much). Some bare breasts for no good reason. It's everything you expect from Troma, though more tame and with a little more plot. You really ought to see "Toxic Avenger" first, but if you like that one, this is a great follow-up.

Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD is one of my favourite Troma movies. In fact, it's one of my favourite cult movies - full stop. Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz really hit a home run with this opus. Rarely have either of these great men been responsible for something so lovingly crafted or effortlessly winning.

In my opinion, Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD proves once and for all that Kaufman and Herz are highly skilled filmmakers, not the hacks they promote themselves to be. These men should be feted at film festivals around the world as film gods instead of being reduced to approaching perverts in public toilets for funding. This film is extremely accomplished. The direction is stylish, the pacing is brisk and the action sequences are well staged. Moreover, the film is startlingly original, seamlessly blending action, fantasy, horror, comedy and kabuki.

The quality that sets Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD apart from many Troma films for me is its sense of whimsy and good natured humour. This is possibly the funniest movie Kaufman and Herz have ever made. Much of this is due to Rick Gianasi. Gianasi is by no means a great actor, but his charismatic yet clueless persona is perfect for the role of Harry/Kabukiman. Harry's transformation into Kabukiman and his encounters with Reginald's henchmen are hilarious and visually impressive. It takes a unique mind to come up with death by chopsticks and sushi paper. The special effects are great, with the emphasis being placed more on humour than gore. The scene in which Kabukiman is flattened by a truck never ceases to make me laugh.

Kaufman and Herz not only created a great hero in Kabukiman, but also an excellent sidekick in Lotus. Susan Byun plays the role with a po-faced sincerity that is hysterical. I also found the romance between Kabukiman and Lotus strangely endearing. Forget those losers balancing on the end of the boat in "Titanic", the most romantic moment in cinema history is Kabukiman flying over New York City with Lotus on his back (that is before he gets airsick and hurls). The flying scenes deserve a special mention, this is the kind of B-grade special effect that got me hooked on cult movies for life.

Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD is a very special film, which I would recommend to anyone. Cult movies have rarely been so original, entertaining and lacking in pretension. It is surely time for Lloyd to start pimping out Mr Herz in order to raise funds for the sequel.

After The Toxic Avenger trilogy, Troma presents this comedy with a new superhero that parodies elements of kabuki and Japanese culture. Sgt. Kabukiman is a bizarre fun that has the cartoonish humor of Troma. The film is an authentic cartoon made with real humans that offers several delirious and nonsensical moments that seek to make the viewer laugh. Like The Toxic Avenger, the concept is a parody of superhero cinema and what it offers is something that does not seek to be taken seriously. Like many Troma films, this film has no good acting, no solid script, no character development, and everything is nonsense. It's a comedy that delivers guaranteed laughs and manages to do that without the need to be an excellent movie. That makes it an enjoyable film to watch and Kabukiman has already become an iconic character along with Toxie. The soundtrack has its interesting side as it is based on the opera Madame Butterfly and the Kabukiman song is unforgettable. Perhaps the battle with the evil being should have been more hesitant because the design of that creature is out of this world. Sgt. Kabukiman is another of Troma's bizarre films that promises laughter and guaranteed entertainment. My final rating for this movie is a 7/10.

It's been a while since I've seen this film but I still remember that it is a good laugh. Really silly with poor acting but that's what Troma is all about. Like all Troma films it's the bad acting and stupid ott stories that make them so good. Okay some of them are just plain bad, but this definitely isn't one. The Kabuki costume looks amazing and I love the way Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD looks. The cartoon style humour is wonderfully done and this film really appeals to my sense of humour. It's even got a kick ass title song to go with it.

I was over the moon when I found out there might be a sequel coming out soon. I know sequels are rarely as good as or better than the the first film and often much worse but I really hope I get to see this sequel. It's just a shame Troma films are never shown in cinemas over here. Long live Troma.

A 7/10 for this film. Tempted to give it 8. Maybe I'll change my rating later on if I see the film again.

I recently watched the Troma Entertainment classic Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD (1991) on Tubi. The storyline follows an NYPD officer who unexpectedly becomes the "good chosen one," aka Kabukiman. Meanwhile, a group of local crime lords is in the process of summoning the "bad chosen one." Can Kabukiman stop them, or will he be outmatched by his arch-nemesis?

This film is co-directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman, who also teamed up on The Toxic Avenger, and stars Rick Gianasi (Mutant Hunt), Susan Byun (Deadly Target), Bill Weeden (Psycho Ape), and Joe Fleishaker (Trashtastic).

Like most Troma films, this is one where you need to shut your brain off and just enjoy the ride. Absolutely nothing in this movie is meant to be taken seriously-the acting, dialogue, and situations are completely over the top. The opening kill scene is hilarious, there are some wild shootouts, the park fight is amazing, and the clown chase is genuinely funny. I also enjoyed the use of tigers and the unique camera angles. There are several laugh-out-loud moments, and the narration and soundtrack fit the tone perfectly. Even the transformation scenes are surprisingly well done, and Susan Byun (Extramarital) is stunning.

In conclusion, Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD is a fun, brainless action comedy that's a blast if you know what to expect. I'd rate it a 7/10 and strongly recommend it for those in the right mindset.