Gojoe

A samurai film by avant-garde director Sogo Ishii, which takes the long-standing Japanese myth of Yoshitsune and Benkei and turns it on its head. The valiant Yoshitsune (here Shanao) is now a power-mad super-ninja; the brawling Benkei was once a thief but is now a repentant Buddhist monk.

Not to be confused with G.I. Joe, of course.


 * Anyone Can Die. All bets are off.
 * Bolt of Divine Retribution.
 * Cool Sword. Onkirimaru ... at least until it breaks.
 * Crapsack World. The rag-end of the Heian era, a period when it was not uncommon to see corpses abandoned in the streets. See Rashomon for more on that score.
 * Dual-Wielding. Shanao does this.
 * For the Evulz. Shanao's motive for his death spree.
 * High-Pressure Blood. EVERY SINGLE TIME Shanao swings his sword, this happens.
 * Jittercam. The fight sequences are long, long stretches of this, albeit at high shutter speeds (which makes them a little less, well, jittery).
 * Most Wonderful Sound. The score. A mixture of electric guitars, drums, and scrap metal. Yes, scrap metal.
 * Ninja. Shanao and his three cohorts dress in black, wear lacquered black facemasks, and kill everybody in the room. Many, many times.
 * Off with His Head. At least one character loses his, on-camera.
 * Rain of Arrows. Fired by the security forces at Gojoe Bridge, although they're mainly used to illuminate the battleground.
 * Red Oni, Blue Oni. Benkei and Tetsukichi.
 * Reforged Blade. Onikirimaru.
 * Screaming Birth. Asagiri, a woman Benkei lends aid to, has one of these.
 * There Is No Kill Like Overkill. The weapons cache that  brings to the final fight. Completely justified, as every single weapon is trashed in the fight.
 * Trashcan Bonfire. The homeless camp is like a Heian-era version of this.
 * Violence Really Is the Answer.