Hoshikuzu kyôdai no densetsu

Some Japanese films have a reputation for being OTT and this is no exception. The plot is fairly skinny. Two "brothers" form a band and what we see is the rise and fall after they become famous. Nothing extraordinary in terms of plot, what is extraordinary is how it is put together.

We are treated to a car chase scene that is like something out of a Richard Lester film. Coincidentally I'm guessing Beatlemania was an influence as we see a few scenes with hysterical fans. We see a girl in a wedding dress merge with the two brothers and form a giant white ball which bowls down the bad guys chasing them, almost like something out of the cult videogame Katamari Damacy. Early on their is also a weird zombie\monster dance scene reminiscent to Michael Jackson's Thriller, but also predating a lot of music videos I used to watch on MTV.

The film was described as Thriller meets Rocky Horror combined with Bill & Ted. Other than the aforementioned monster scene, the similarities end. That scene could equally be influenced by Japanese writer Rampo, but not many people have heard of him so it wasn't mentioned on the box. With regards Rocky Horror Picture Show, the director has stated he was inspired by the film. It shows in the campness with over-the-top acting and cross-dressing. Then we have Bill & Ted mentioned. Other than it being a buddy comedy and the 50s Rock and Roll throwback hairstyles the similarities end. There is a time travelling car in one scene. This film came out the same year as Back To The Future; probably more of a coincidence than anything else.

The film is camp, cult classic. It won't be for everybody, especially those that like their film a little more vanilla. For me and judging by the score most people it's a riot.

Sitges Film Festival Review

This film rocks so much! A total blast! Crazy creative and passionate. At least 40 minutes too long though. But whatever. The end climax is madness. Loved it.

Shinga (Shinga Kubota) and Kan (Kan Takagi) are the singers in rival pop bands, until the mysterious Minami (Kiyohiko Ozaki) of Atomic Promotion signs them up as a pop duo to be called the Stardust Brothers. Although they can't stand each other initially, they jump at the massive amount of money on offer, and after only a week with the company, they are superstars with the #1 pop song on the charts! But fame can be fickle, and soon enough Minami is approached to raise up another artist, Karuo (Issay), the son of a powerful politician, and Shinga and Kan are yesterday's news. But Karuo has designs on Marimo (Kyoko Togawa), the young girl who first led the fan club of the Stardust Brothers and then became a pop star herself, and Karuo is used to getting what he wants....

This was an early film by director Makoto Tezuka, son of legendary Osamu Tezuka, when he was only 22 years old. Despite his youth, the film hangs together quite well, with plenty of nods to pop music of the era and an enthusiastic and energetic cast. A bit of slapstick here and an odd monochrome framing device add to the fun; the occasional homophobia-as-laugh-getter hasn't aged well, however. Overall, though, the film has its moments and the flavor of the Japanese pop culture in the mid-1980s is quite entertaining.

Maybe I was expecting a little too much from The Legend of the Stardust Brothers, but can you blame me when it's called The Legend of the Stardust Brothers and is promoted as a Japanese surreal musical/comedy film? I may well have been wanting too much, for it to scratch an itch perfectly, and then when it didn't, a little disappointment set in. But... that's on me, or it could be on the mood I'm in tonight.

Taking a step back, The Legend of the Stardust Brothers is quite good, very funny at times (definitely not always), and most of the music is super catchy. It's really all about the songs, and then there's a little fun to be had by seeing how all the music gets strung together. Spoiler alert: it's barely comprehensible, especially in the second half. If it had spiraled out of control in some other way, maybe it would've resonated more, but I just wasn't loving the anarchy and the energy of this one entirely.

But at the end of it all, that's the nature of cult movies, even more so when the cult movie in question is a musical. The Legend of the Stardust Brothers is one I could come back to a certain point, and may well love more. I think for the time being, I can see myself returning to some of the songs here. It works musically, it's occasionally funny, and there's certainly creativity to be admired.

Was it my kind of messy? No, not exactly, but it could well be your kind of messy.

A combination of themes going here! Lots of basis of London punk and new wave; which was common in 1985! Bands like Adam and The Ants and David Bowie are definitely inspirations in the movie.

The new wave songs are good and the live shows of the Brothers seem natural and not forced. There is a lot of punk energy about them and I like the cinematography style.

It's very arthouse. It's very advanced for the era and for a very young director to do this movie it is accomplished and with plenty of slapstick and style.

What it sadly misses is a better narrative and storyline. It's like a bunch of random themes put together from live shows to a car-chase to some sort of weird alien/zombie apocolypse script with a homage to other bizarre cult movies!

I really enoyed the film and it is a LOT of fun. Just the plot line is very thin. The brothers perform fabulously and the band is fun. Bands get huge recognition in Japan and for artists it's one of the best places in the world to tour. It's highlighted here with the two brothers performing to an energised and enthusiastic crowd.

Bands that don't always get noticed when they should but get amazing treatment in Japan (just watch the Anvil doc; ignorerd overseas but loved in Japan) and it's so nice to see the Japanese people truely adore pop culture. As a big music nerd this has been done very well but it also feels like one long pop video with an interesting end!

With a descent script this could have been so much better! However it is so funny and quirky and amusing that I still loved it! I got the first pressing on Third Windows which has a cd with it of the soundtrack! This is a very nice touch as a package! Thanks to Third Windows for allowing me to see these fun films which I otherwise would not have. It's hard to rate but I loved the entertainment value. 7/10.