A Balada do Samurai

I love strange and unique movies that create a bizarre world and invite you in to visit. Movies like 'Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!', 'El Topo', 'Eraserhead' and 'Repo Man' for example. As profoundly odd as those movies are, they feel natural to me, not contrived attempts at making a "cult movie" ala Troma. I don't like Troma's output much and can think of very few of those kind of self consciously quirky movies that I actually like ('The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai' is one, 'Killer Klowns From Outer Space' is another). 'Six-String Samurai' for me is closer to the contrived Troma approach than the naturally strange Russ Meyer/Coen brothers one. It's the kind of movie that is more fun to describe to someone else than to actually sit through yourself. Now it isn't a complete failure, far from it. I did enjoy parts of it a lot, but it kinda dragged on, and for me just didn't live up to its potential. The initial premise was good, but the script needed a lot more work. As it stands it would have made a neat 50-60 minute short. Jeffrey Falcon plays Buddy, a guitar slingin' samurai who is on a journey to Lost Vegas to become the new King of rock'n'roll. In this America you see, the Russians took over after they dropped the Bomb in the 50s. Buddy encounters lots of oddballs along the way, reluctantly looks after The Kid (Justin McGuire) , and ends up having a showdown with Death (Stephane Gauger). 'Six-String Samurai' deliberately echoes 'El Mariachi', 'Mad Max 2' and the Lone Wolf and Cub series, but never reaches the heights of its inspirations. I always like to encourage low budget film makers trying to push the envelope. 'Six-String Samurai' doesn't quite do it for me, but I hope Lance Mungia and Jeffrey Falcon continue to make movies. Who knows, guys, maybe next time?

"six-string samurai" seems very reminiscent of many of the bruce lee, post-apocalyptic movies that i have grown to know and love. although it follows many of the formulaic styles used in said films (i.e. repeated scenes of kicking enemies down, dubbed & cheesy japanese anime-like dialogue, survivors mocking utopian models of "perfect" families, etc), it followed its own swinging tune with bad guy slashing and flowing sword fighting.

although many might not like this movie, i recommend it only if you are having an "independent/anime movie fest".

This film can best be described as a post-apocalyptic spaghetti western samurai fantasy. Our hero is a taciturn Buddy Holly look-alike traveling with samurai sword and six string guitar as he treks across scenic Death Valley on his way to America's last outpost of civilization, Lost Vegas, where he expects to be coronated as the new King, Elvis having died without naming a successor. Accompanying him is a stereotypical post-apocalyptic bleating child snatched right out of "Fistful of Dollars". Buddy slices and dices his way through an evil bowling team, the Russian army, would-be usurpers to the throne, and anyone else who gets in his way. The music is good and it's wonderfully filmed, so have some fun and enjoy the ride.

...if you like rock-a-billie and love a campy adventure in a post-apocalyptic world were Elvis, the KING, has just died and there's a guitar-strumming race across the desert to Las Vegas to see who will be the next King crowned - you'll love this bizarre piece of comic book fiction brought to life. Our hero & his sidekick are chased across the desert by Death(a cross between Tom Petty & Slash) and his archer henchmen. Our Hero slashes his way through one unbelievable fight scene after another. Falcon is truly amazing. The fight choreography alone is reason enough to watch this peculiar piece of cinema. The climax is a duel between our Hero(Rock-n-Roll) and Death(Heavy Metal). Who becomes the King? Watch it & love it.

I have read a lot of comments regarding this film. All I have to say is, this movie is great. I never heard of it, but saw it in West Coast Video, and thought the cover was way cool. I was not disappointed. It seems that those who do not like this film consider Steven Segal a master of martial art films.

This is not a mainstream movie. How can you accurately describe this? You just can't! I just tell people that if the like post apocalyptic/samurai/rock & roll movies, this is the one to see. From the moment that first sword fight broke out, I knew that I was going to enjoy this flick. And when the prostitute approaches him in the cantina, I laughed until it hurt.

Bottom line, if you like movies that are a little (or possibly a lot) off-beat, you have to watch this one. I give it 8.5 out of 10 stars.