Pistol Opera (2001)

The Worst Film Ever

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

With nothing operatic about it (not even in the context of "soap opera"), this movie is better depicted in its Chinese title "New Branded To Kill", as it is sort of a remake or sequel of director SUZUKI Seijun's acclaimed cult classic "Branded To Kill" (1967), a female version of the original.The plot, if it can be called that, is suited even better to a video game. 35-year-old (at the time the movie was made) ESUMI Makiko, whom some called the "coolest Japanese actress", plays "Strayed cat", the no. 3 of the top ten assassins in the organization. The story, again if you can call it that, is not unlike what you see in a squash or tennis club ladder, where you are constantly after the ones above you and challenged by the ones below. Obviously, a set up such as this cannot go without the usual identity mystery.80-year-old director Suzuki shows that he hasn't lost his touch. Sometimes comic-strip-like, sometime surreal, sensual, stylised, colourful (literally), absurd, Pistol Opera is everything you would expect of a cult movie. And it doesn't even have CGI, relying just on what the camera can do. But in terms of the sheer elegance of pistol poses, this one has yet to measure up to director Johnny To's "The Mission" (1999). But then the comparison may not be fair as these two movies really belong to two different genres.One critic describes Pistol Opera as "like a dream David Lynch has after watching too many John Woo movies" - not totally accurate, but certainly creative

A lot of sloppiness seems to be passed off by many as "abstract" in this movie. However, even so, the amazing color work and over-all beauty of the movie makes me want to give it a 9. Unfortunately, 1 scene of the movie is making me drop the score to 7. During Hyaku-Me's monologue about her dream and flags, the boom mic bobs in and out of the scene multiple scenes. Barring this error, the movie has a 2 thumbs up soundtrack, rather good acting, and great scenery.

I was eager to see "Pistol Opera" for a variety of reasons. I had recently seen "Branded to Kill" and the idea of a follow-up/sequel/remake by the same director intrigued me. Furthermore, I am a fan of the lead actress, Makiko Esumi, from her work on Japanese TV.Sadly, this film goes nowhere...slowly. The plot seemed simple enough but within minutes I was lost. These "professional killers" spend nearly the entire film killing each other which begs the question who is employing these people and what purpose they serve. Lots of these scenes look wonderful and have some fun ideas, but nothing makes any sense. Characters deliver long, meandering soliloquies into the camera, flip-flopping from Japanese to English and back again. Neither language adds any clarity to the circumstances. The whole thing feels like some kind of experimental stage play, especially the final showdown where characters enter and exit bizarre scenery accompanied by strange, nearly naked dancers.What the hell?

This film is not for those who are looking for a typical narrative structure. It can be very chaotic in it's visual style and you may not completely understand what is going on at all times but if you just let this film wash over you with it's vision you will be rewarded.The plot deals with the rankings in a guild of professional killers. (It is a sequel of sorts to Suzuki's earlier film, "Yaju no seishun" (1963) aka. "Youth of the Beast".) This plot is only an excuse for Suzuki's wild and gorgeous visual style. At times I found myself forgetting the story and just smiling at a certain shot's composition and color. It's a riot of color and a pop culture landmark, do yourself a favor and look for it.