Tokyo Zombie (2005)
Director & Screenplay: Sakichi Sato
Based on manga by: Yusaku Hanakuma
Genre: Action, Comedy, Horror, Zombies
Rating: 5
Inspiration: September Zombies week
(Aug 29 - Sep 6, 2009)
-check out today's events and giveaways
Tadanobu Asano and Sho Ikawa star as full time slackers and wannabe jiu-jitsu champions who bring the body of their murdered boss to Tokyo's towering toxic waste dump known as "Black Fuji". But when an army of the undead rises from the massic trash peak, these bonehead buddies must survive a non-stop onslaught of hasty decapitations, pervert teachers, tasty snack foods, stormy romance and zombie professional wrestling. Can even the most devoted of friendships survive an apocalypse of the undead?
Zombie speed: slow
Zombification: something triggers Black Fuji to spout out zombies. Black Fuji is a waste dump that got as big as a mountain and became toxic over time.
Zombie mode: feral and they're green
My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): Jiu-Jitsu
As you can see from my genre list - Action, Comedy, Horror - this movie is jam-packed with lots of angles of Japanese zombie-ness. I should mention that there is a touch of romance - just a touch. Something for everyone.
The film is Not Rated, but I would give it an R for all the usual reasons - sex, profanity, gore, etc. If you liked Kill Bill, Kung Fu Hustle and/ or any of George Romero's zombie movies then you'll most likely get a kick out of this movie.
Being a Japanese film, you have the option of watching it with subtitles or dubbed. I watched it with subtitles. I always prefer watching foreign films with subtitles in order to get into the ambiance of the film. However, if you want to add campy-ness to your viewing pleasure then watch the film the dubbed version.
There is a super cool animated segment that moves the story along in which the zombie take-over is explained. Reminded me of the animated segment in Kill Bill where O-ren Ishii's traumatic background history is revealed. Things too ugly in real life becomes animated in re-tellings - easier to stomach.
In this zombocalyptic world the division of "the haves" and "the have nots" are defined to the extreme. Zombies aside, this is a movie to watch with the serious issue of classism to ponder on. In fact, I need to give this film a re-watch.
If you've seen this movie or watch it later, please come back and tell me your thoughts or comment below with a link to your review.
Ewww moment: gym teacher being attacked on Black Fuji
