Previously,
Musashi killed the patriarch of the Yoshioka clan, so they challenged him to a
duel that is really an ambush. In addition to the clan’s loyal members and
retainers, 300 mercenaries lay in wait for him. Clearly, the Yoshioka’s plan
will not work out as they hope, but on the bright side, Musashi will save them
a fortune in mercenaries’ wages.
Thusly
begins a non-stop, uncut battle between Musashi and hundreds of opponents. There
is not a heck of a lot of dialogue, but the screenplay is still credited to the
one and only Sion Sono. You could almost call overkill, but in a way, the
rhythmic waves of attacks become almost soothing, like the relaxion videos of
the ocean tide. However, as Musashi and lead actor Tak Sakaguchi start to
logically tire, Crazy Samurai becomes a legitimate performance piece.
The sight of Musashi defiantly chopping down the numerically superior forces as
he staggers about is truly arresting.
Fortunately
for Musashi, the Yoshioka have an unfortunate habit of charging with their
swords held over their heads, leaving their mid-sections conveniently exposed. It
is not a winning move. Likewise, their refusal to attack from behind (perhaps a
reflection of the Samurai’s Bushido code) certainly works in Musashi’s favor.
Of course, practicality demands Shimomura pitch Musashi plenty of fat fastballs
over the plate, so he can make it through this marathon melee.
It is easy to envision Japanese stuntmen bragging about how many times they were killed in Crazy Samurai Musashi. Too bad live screenings are a trickier proposition for this year’s Fantasia, because it would be a riot to watch this film with a boisterous crowd, trying to count each and every kill. If you are looking for some impressive mayhem, grab a hot cup of Nong Shim noodles and settle down to enjoy Crazy Samurai Musashi, screening as an on-demand selection (geo-locked for Canada) of this year’s Fantasia.
