Panku-zamurai, kirarete sôrô

Wow... what was this I just watched? Reading about it, sounded very normal: "In search of employment and a permanent position and having committed murder the ronin Kake Junoshin tells the Kurokaze ('black wave') Han clan that a religious cult is aiming for their destruction..."

All I can tell you is that it was far from anything normal! Crazy, exciting, perfectly paced fantasy adventure with romance and revenge, full of action and social analysis! If we are talking about building characters, watch this, and we can talk again!

Surprisingly, refreshingly unusual, from the choice of music, story, acting, directing, even the photography and editing! It will be a cult movie if it isn't already.

The director Gakuryû Ishii is a master of his trade, and this outstanding film just confirms it! Kankurô Kudô wrote wonderful screenplay following Kou Machida's novel which was disturbingly good by itself. I do not want to forget the two gems of acting Gô Ayano as Junoshin Kake and Keiko Kitagawa as Ron - performances delivered so easily that I wondered if this was their second nature.

Watch it!

I generally like the films that Third Window releases so I had a lot of hope for PUNK SAMURAI, an irreverant contribution to Japanese samurai cinema. Sadly, they're dashed early on as this turns out to be surprisingly generic and aimless, a grossly overlong production that has plenty of weirdness but very little to actually say for itself at heart. The story begins with mild promise, but gradually descends into routine plotting between unappealing characters, the least interesting of whom is the lead. There isn't even any good action to recommend it. The monkey stuff made me feel like I was watching a weird PLANET OF THE APES spin-off, but even that outstays its welcome before long.

I already watched several Ishii films. Having in mind great Gojoe i was expecting at least a fun action movie. But this one isnt and fails at so many fields. The plot is missing a point, movie that is incredibly long drag on aimlessly. The main character is lacking any depth and is hard to empathize with him. The rest of characters arent any better. The main component of "the slashdown" is missing. Here is less sword fighting that in average episode of samurai tv series from 70's. For me it is a huge letdown. Even Tadanobu Asano is not saving this farce. The humour is primitive and not funny. Cringy expierience. If you want to watch samurai pulp go with Sukiyaki Western Django, in half not that bad that this one.

Then you'll love this! It was one of the oddest stuff I've seen this year and I truly loved it!

Everywhere you look it's something odd going on. Don't take it too seriously though, just sit back and relax while observing the crazy wonder that is the characters living their lives.

Kinda wish there were more movies like this out in the world and I can't understand those who watched it while expecting something normal. Don't they watch trailers?

Anyhow, watch it! You won't regret it. It will get be you a lot to talk about if nothing else. There is some awesome scenes living in my memory rent free! ;)

Great movie. So much going on. The action sequences are superb. The dialogue is committed and fun. The characters are excellent. Lots of established Japanese stars.

The FX is sensational. The direction is stunning. The fun and slapstick humour is in spades. There's an epic score of surf music and the Sex Pistols amongst others.

There's an absolutely insane showdown and there's violent monkeys and stunt monkeys and a human monkey.

It's not your typical endo-period Samurai Sword film and it's not your typical blockbuster or manga movie either. It's a super absurd movie and only something which very few directors would pull-off and Ishii has done so most spectacularly.

How is this 5.8 on IMDB? It makes no sense at all. IMDB is really odd with trolls and violent movies. I don't understand why this is happening.

Props to Third Windows for a stunning package of this movie in the UK allowing me to see it. It's 5 years old now and it's aging really well.