Sukiyaki Western Django

Movie Info

Genre(s): Action  |  Western

Written by: Takashi Miike
Masa Nakamura

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Release Date:
Theatrical: August 29, 2008
DVD: November 11, 2008

Running Time: 121 minutes, Color

Origin: Japan

Summary

RATING: R for strong violence, including a rape

Starring Hideaki Ito, Koichi Sato, Yusuke Iseya, Quentin Tarantino, Masanobu Ando, Takaaki Ishibashi, Yoshino Kimura, and Teruyuki Kagawa

Famed Japanese auteur Takashi Miike, best known for cult classics "Audition", "Ichi the Killer", and "The City of Lost Souls", redefines the spaghetti Western with Sukiyaki Western Django, a tale written in blood. Two clans, Genji, the white clan led by Yoshitsune, and Heike, the red clan led by Kiyomori, battle for a legendary treasure hidden in a desolate mountain town. One day, a lone gunman, burdened with deep emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Two clans try to woo the lone gunman to their sides, but he has ulterior motives. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown. (First Look Studios)

Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site

What The Critics Said

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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 6.3 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Scott J. gave it a10:
This movie is a hyperactive live action anime-manga twist on the Italian Western. Like Alex Cox's "Straight to Hell," this film blends two genres (here, Chanbara/Samurai and the Italian Western) to give us something surreal, shocking, and ironic. The Japanese cast speak English in an almost stereotypical "ESL" way and it comes off like a riff on the crappy dubs Asian movies of the 70s got in the West. Quentin does his bit perfectly and even switches to a stereotypical "white man doing a Japanese accent" for some dialogue. Everything is knowingly artificial and it works - well. A saloon features a Japanese theater stage, where an interpretive dance based on a variety of Asian dance forms is performed; instead of the usual painted backdrop found in old westerns, here we have a painted Japanese screen as backing; katanas fly against six-shooters; the clothes are a hodgepodge of street gang, old west, and samurai; The War of the Roses meets Yojimbo meets Fistful of Dollars. All in all, I am extremely pleased and enjoy the film immensely. Gets more repeat viewing than Kill Bill at my house.

[Anonymous] gave it a6:
Hmm...miike should stick with horror/shock. i won't go as far as to say tarantino's movies are garbage, as that has nothing to do with this movie because he doesn't direct it. i suppose if i were japanese i would get a kick out of the actors speaking english...but as an american viewer it's a bit muddled. lot's of bits and pieces from other westerns and some awkward comedic relief drag it down. miike's got a flair for style, though.

Mike H gave it an8:
This movie was hilarious and had me laughing the whole way through!

Jay H. gave it a3:
I have never liked films like this and doubt I ever will. Anything Tarantino touches to me is garbage. It is well photographed, the acting is fair at best but the story is relentlessly boring.