June 16, 2008
Rufus' Netflix Pick O'The Week
The Calamari Wrestler
JAPAN (dir. Minoru Kawasaki, 2004)
Insane. I mean Japan has some crazy films, Miike comes to mind, but this is a film about a man who is reincarnated as a giant squid whose dream in life is pro wrestling. Everyone thought he was dead and his girlfriend is now with his rival, but he’s back and ready to take on all comers to defend his title. What about that makes the greatest concept ever? Show your work.
This movie has everything you want. Over-the-top Japanese B-Movie acting? Check. Training in Pakistan? Check. Squid vs. Human beat downs? Check. Squid vs. Other Sea creatures? Check. Squid love? Check (Hold up you perverts, Tentacle Porn this is not.) Lots of heart and an insanely fun time? Check. In all this is like watching Kaiju Big Battel but in movie form. It follows the same path as most sports films, but its about a giant squid and once he starts beating humans other sea creatures come out to try to take his belt. It is exactly as insane as it sounds.
So add it to your queue, grab some sake and dried squid, and cheer on this crazy cephalopod. My favorite line: “Joint locks don’t work on an invertebrate. He’s too slippery.”
Comments
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Posted by: rlstv | June 22, 2008 8:08 AM
Steve C. said...
Haven't seen this one yet, but I did see Kawasaki's similarly whacked-out Beetle the Horn King at the New York Asian Film Fest a few years back. It was awesome.
Posted by: Steve C. | July 16, 2008 4:11 PM
Squish said...
Sadly I can't agree with you on this one. The very reason me and my heckefest crew decides to add this one to the list was exactly what you stated up there. Funy moments squiddy love interest, all that stuff, but all that didn't hold up the dramatic boredom that happened. The fight scenes were awesome, especially octopus vs squid and prawn (was that a prawn?) versus squid, but all told we were glad we had a fast forward button.
Posted by: Squish | August 1, 2008 3:21 PM