Sakigake!! Otokojuku

BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL is a very fun little film from first-time director (and martial arts sensation) Tak Sakaguchi. Set at a hidden academy that teaches wimps how to be men (think of a low-rent Hogwarts), the first half of the feature follows a group of ragtag freshmen who can't seem to go seconds without getting their butts kicked by the near-tyrannical faculty. Then, when an old expelled student returns and demands that the school be given over to him, the freshmen must band together, save their school, and become men.

The premise is silly, but BAM!SS certainly has its heart in the right place. It pulls no punches about what it is, and constantly tosses the audience a self-referential wink when things occasionally become rough. Playing on Japan's infatuation with machismo, the feature pokes fun at social constraints and stereotypes while remaining fun throughout.

The acting, at times, is a little wooden and a few of the side stories could have very easily been jettisoned in favor of a bit more action, but overall, there are very few complaints. When the s*it hits the fan in the second half, we're given a very solid revenge story - coupled with some genuinely funny humor. A well-placed kick to a bear's head is a very funny piece, as is a cadet's attempt to lift an un-liftable flagpole.

While it may not appeal to a lot of US audiences, BAM!SS will certainly find a niche in the States and gather plenty of fans. Writer/director Sakaguchi has proved himself not just a formidable force in front of the camera, but now also behind it.

Go ahead, enroll in SAMURAI SCHOOL. Its a lot of fun.

While the title might lead an unwary viewer into thinking this might be related to the Cromartie High School anime and film, it isn't. There are resemblances especially the school setting and the Elvis haircuts but this is based on another manga.

The film, which takes place in the present day, follows several young men as they enter as first year students in a secret Samurai School that trains the elite of Japan's society. The students are tormented as part of their training and any defiance against the teachers is punished by weird tortures. Some of the people in the school have incredible powers, one for example can cut stone in two from a distance with his sword. Several of the new students start to create a bond with other when an expelled student from the past returns with an army of super-fighters who defeat all the older students and several of the teachers. It leads to a death match where only the new students are left to defend the honor of the school.

As much a spoof of Japanese stock characters as about Japanese notions about "being a man", the film is fun and moves along at a good pace. The production is very good looking and the actors are all over the top. The action is decent and the humor works for this westerner. It's a little over long as the final battle starts to resemble a TV wrestling match where the fighters are hamming it up for the audience but you might like it.

I love Tak and all but Samurai School sucks sweaty balls. The main issue I have is the conception. It just didn't tickle my pickle. I can't really explain it in detail but I just don't give a f@$# about a samurai school. The movie wasn't really funny either. But oh well. What can I do? If you like crap then good for you.

I could only stand the first half of the movie. The plot was really silly and boring. Just like a bad manga.

The characters are convinced that the most important thing in life is to let the 'teachers'punish them for the most trivial of reasons so that they can become 'men'.

I did not see any teaching done apart from literally thousands of push-ups and ghastly punishment... There were some references to old training techniques that sounded phony to me. Well, holding a 500 kg rock for days or being fried alive (and survive) sounds kind of phony, doesn't it?

It is unbelievable what the students put up with for no good reason.

The only sensible character seemed to be the bad guy who would not tolerate such treatment.

Ummm, I wonder if I will be man enough to end watching that piece of garbage... No way!