Ploydsge just watch it!

Skunkyrate Gripping story with well-crafted characters

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Leofwine_draca Here's a bizarre and frequently outrageous Japanese thriller about a Samurai cop named Hanzo. Now, I'm sure you've all seen on-the-edge cops before along the line of Mel Gibson in the LETHAL WEAPON series, but Hanzo's madness is unlike anything I've ever seen before. The unconventional officer practices self-mutilation in one painful scene by kneeling on a bed of spikes while concrete blocks are lowered on to his bent legs, shown in graphic detail as the blood spurts from the wounds. Apparently it's so he can better understand the torture methods he sometimes practices on criminals.The episodic plot may seem predictable but adds philosophy, characterisation, and strong themes of sex and death to the brew to keep things interesting. The film seems to have been made to deliberately shock the audience, like in one scene where Hanzo "helps" a terminally ill man by hanging him from the roof! Also, a strong undercurrent of sex runs throughout the film which may be offensive to some, although the comedic aspects of the tale are so strong (although unspoken) that it's hard to become to offended by the scenes. For instance, sequences show Hanzo "strengthening" his penis by beating it with a wooden bat and later using it as a method to "interrogate" his female suspects in scenes you definitely wouldn't see anywhere in a Western movie. Shocking and sexist, yes, but that's Japanese culture for you.Along with all the sex the film has to offer, the violence is irregular but explicit. Hanzo breaks the nose of one informant, causing blood to spray everywhere, and in the film's gruesome highlight his house is put to siege by a group of trained killers whom he proceeds to kill in various blood-spurting ways (my favourite moment: two killers approach down a corridor, until spikes suddenly fly out of the walls to repeatedly impale them). Shintarô Katsu's acting in the lead role is compelling as he makes the character his own, so that it's difficult to distinguish between the actor and his creation. The film is complemented by a funky score and lots of arty dream-like shots to add to the mystery and weird nature of the film. An unusual but engrossing film.

lastliberal Samurai Shaft. Someone else grabbed that before I could, but the music in this film is unmistakable. Its as if Isaac Hayes himself scored the film.The Samurai is a policeman, and has more in his bag of tricks that the usual Samurai swords. In fact, even when he is completely naked, he still has a formidable weapon to use in his unusual interrogations.It doesn't just hang there either. He actually works it out. He beats it with a stick and rams it into what looks like a bag of pebbles to strengthen it. You just have to see it.Of course, this wouldn't work if he had to interrogate males, so there are plenty of females that need to feel the long arm of the law. When he gets going, they will say anything to keep him from stopping.Samurai exploitation? It appears that way. This is one Japanese film that will not be remade by Hollywood. I can't wait for Part 2.

CelluloidRehab Kenji Misumi directs Zatoichi himself (Shintarô Katsu) as the untouchable constable from Edo, Hanzo Itami. It is interesting to note that Kenji previously directed Shintaro in the Zatoichi series and followed it up by directing Shintaro's brother (Tomisaburo Wakayama) in the Lone Wolf & Cub series. This is the first in the Hanzo trilogy and is the only one directed by Kenji Misumi (each movie had a different director).Hanzo has been a constable for 4 years but has not as yet taken the policeman's blood oath. He refuses to make such an oath because the police accept gifts from the daiyamo (lords), the brothels and tradesman for the purpose of mitigating punishment or the dismissal of offenses. Hanzo's duties (according to Hanzo) is not to protect the samurai and the rich, but is instead to protect the farmers and townsmen and to be allowed to perform his duties as peace keeper and enforcer of the law. This is the only thing that he will swear in blood to.Hanzo is not your typical constable. He is well known in Edo. He is equal parts Dirty Harry, Robocop, and John Holmes. Hanzo's techniques are far from clean. His ends justify his means. As a constable he has to deal with the filth and unclean. Hanzo bears the scars of many torture sessions. During the sessions he reaches some sort of nirvana (past the pain) which helps him to effectively administer torture and to experience what those he tortures feel. It is also a cleansing technique for him (sometimes with unexpected results). He knows of many different type of cleansing techniques (a.k.a. torture) including :1) kneeling on triangular wooden boards, tied to a pole and having his ex-criminals servants put giant stone slabs (5 to be exact) on top of his knees.2) a hot bath followed by the pouring of hot water over his penis. Then the banging of his penis with a stick into a wooden board (he has done this so many times the stool has a "large" form indented in it). Finally he has sex with a straw bag full off rice while 70's sex music is playing in the background.When Kanbei the Killer escapes, Hanzo is hot on his trail. This trail leads to places Hanzo did not expect (i.e. - Omino the magical woman with a Brazilian wax job). He gets this info by using his special torture techniques (in this movie he only tortures women). There are several techniques he uses and they both involve having sex with a bound woman. One confession was obtained in a hot tub with sake (Austin Powers style) and the other in a vertical cargo net dreidel-style.This movie is typical of the chambara style (dramatic samurai movie set in the Edo period). Typical elements include sword fight sequences in which one man fights many opponents, yet never more than one at a time. It is like the checkout line at Duane Reade. Death sequences are often stylize and includes the vertical gushing of blood, graphic death and dismemberments (in this movie Hanzo uses spiked iron knuckles to burst eyes and concrete slabs), the use of makeup for the hero and crazy haircuts for the villains. The movie does reflect the era it was filmed in. From the walking montage and the "hero" theme music to Hanzo's side burns, this movie is crawling with 70's nostalgia.The story and action is very straight forward. The S&M elements and Hanzo himself is what stands this movie apart from others of this style. Zatoichi is a blind masseuse with excellent sword skills. Lone Wolf was the Shogun's executioner and travels with his infant son in a carriage. Hanzo relies on his "training", "persuasive" technique with women and an unwavering sense of duty. I highly recommend this movie for fans of chambara and action fans in general.-Celluloid Rehab

Golgo-13 Dirtier than Harry, shaftier than Shaft, at least that's what the box claims. Hanzo (the great Shintarô Katsu) is a renegade samurai officer (from hell!) in feudal Japan, dealing with crimes in his own unique way. Not only does he use a variety of bladed weapons with razor skill, he has a mammoth dork; the long arm of the law, if you get what I'm saying. For example, he forces himself on any woman that may have information until they beg him not to stop, willingly spilling all their secrets in the process. One woman (actually, he uses this technique in all three movies) he puts in a net on a pulley and his men raise and lower it onto him…then Hanzo spins it to the left and right! Anyway, I think you get the idea! The combat is bloody but only average in quality when compared to the Zatoichi or Lone Wolf series. The plots are pretty much what you'd expect; corrupt officers, officials, and thieves all commit interweaving crimes that Hanzo refuses to turn his back to. All three have some parts that drag but with the un-PC humor, gory violence, funky 70's style and music, and jaw-dropping content, Hanzo the Razor is quite a curious and amusing trilogy. I believe The Snare was my favorite, closely followed by Sword of Justice.