It seems obvious what the result of a battle between 588 men and 1 samurai would be. With the odds drastically against the samurai, it is expected that they will lose in glorious fashion.
But in Yûji Shimomura’s newest feature film Crazy Samurai Musashi, which is part of the 2020 Fantasia International Film Festival, the result is far different. In an impressive 77-minute action sequence with no cuts, the crazy Samurai named Musashi (Tak Sakaguchi) takes on the impossible odds and does quite well for himself.
Obviously, the main drawing point for the film is the major action sequence. With a very brief beginning and end outside of this scene, it is clear that this is the main point of the movie, and the end result is mixed. Where the sheer scale of the enemy is effectively amplified and the technical achievement this sequence is undeniable, it also definitely drags.
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Especially when the action stays in one location for an extended amount of time. It clearly gets into a routine that feels as if it is just going through the same motions time and time again. Seeing the same guy beat the same series of extras up in the same fashion over and over will only stay engaging for so long, and the film pushes that as much as possible. There easily could have been a static 10-20 minutes in the same location, which might have given the overall sequence a more cleaner and intense feel.
It also doesn’t help that the camerawork in this sequence often isn’t able to achieve a cinematic presence. Not only is the camera itself of lesser quality, but without being able to edit around actors. The camera has to stay on the outside of the action, often taking the same stance behind Musashi.
This sequence does have its highlights though. The construction and editing of hundreds of sound effects and small visual effects does demonstrate a strong attention to detail. The sequence also, of course, speaks to the drive and endurance of, not just Tak Sakaguchi, but also the cast of extras.
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Throughout the film, it is clear that extras are being reused as they crawl out of frame only to reappear to help make up the insanely large enemy. The fact that they were able to go for over an hour and seemingly not have any slip-ups or mistakes is incredible. Had the choreography faltered or the actors got lost at some point within the scene, this easily could have been a true failure of a film. But these elements are to the level they need to be to where the final result is nothing short of impressive, regardless of how it works as a feature film.
Crazy Samurai Musashi is exactly what it claims to be. As a spectacle, it absolutely works, proving a long unbroken action sequence that sounds impossible on paper, only to pull it off quite well. As a film, it does lingers and easily could have been edited down, but that is the sacrifice it was willing to make.
For those who love samurai action films and don’t need a ton of character or story to captivate them, this is probably going to be butter on their bread. For others, the film is one you absolutely can appreciate even if you don’t need to go running to experience it yourself.
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