Review of Sukiyaki Western Django (2007) by Jason E — 15 Nov 2008
Takashi Miike makes a Western. I think that says it all. After all, Miike is one of the most stylish and controversial directors of all time. Quentin Tarantino guest stars and it's not a mistake. Kill Bill was Tarantino's favorite kung-fu and samurai scenes all put into one movie that took two volumes to tell.
The same plan was used when making Western Django. Miike takes great scenes from Westerns and puts them in his world. But he doesn't forget where those Westerns came from. He references films like Yojimbo as well in Django.
American filmmakers often took samurai films like Yojimbo and Seven Samurai and turned them into American Westerns such as The Magnificent Seven. The leader of the Red Gang brings up Shakespeare's War of the Roses and then changes his name to Henry, believing now that he will win.
It's a film that builds off of other great films but still is fresh and exciting much like Death Proof or Kill Bill was. Revenge and treasure are the main motivations for the characters in this Samurai Western.
But none of the characters are superficial. They are all very cool characters that could all have a movie of their own. The beautiful cinematography and stylish action make Sukiyaki Western Django one of the best films of the year.
It also serves as a prequel to "Django," the Italian Spaghetti Western by Sergio Corbucci.
This review of Sukiyaki Western Django (2007) was written by Jason E on 15 Nov 2008.
Sukiyaki Western Django has generally received mixed reviews.
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