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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Arguably a mixed bag, but likely to develop a sizable cult following, April 5, 2007
This review is from: Battlefield Baseball (DVD)
This low-budget baseball zombie comedy is arguably a mixed bag, but one likely to develop a sizable cult following. While it successfully pokes fun at the cliches inherent in most sports movies, particularly those `moments' where people spontaneously applaud the main characters actions (similarly mocked in NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE), it doesn't deliver on the action and gore quotient promised by the concept. And yet, as a budget-conscious live-action adaptation of a Shonen Jump manga, it plants tongue hard in cheek and certainly feels faithful to the source material, never for a minute taking itself seriously and gleefully indulging in the most eye-rollingly obvious visual gags. Desperate to make it to the big leagues, the Seido High School baseball team must face their much more successful rivals at Gedo High, a team made up entirely of well-armed zombies. Their ace in the hole may well be transfer student `Jubeh The Baseball' (Tak Sakaguchi), who's signature fastball killed his own father, a tragedy which prevents him from helping the team. Directed by the writer of VERSUS (Yudai Yamiguchi), produced by that film's director (Ryuhei Kitamura) and starring that film's lead (Tak Sakaguchi), BATTLEFIELD shares that film's low-budget ingenuity, but wisely knows when to take up stakes and call it a day around the 90 minute mark. The Japanese R2 DVD has English subs and includes a hilariously inventive short film called Ramen Baka Ichidai, about a kid who hunts down the perfect Ramen noodles for his dying grandfather. Primo stuff.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seriously funny!, October 14, 2005
This review is from: Battlefield Baseball (DVD)
If you try to make this a serious study in filmmaking or content, you're missing the entire point. This film was meant for sheer escapism, harkening back to when movies were just *fun*. There were many tips of the hat -so it seemed- to past movies, most notably Shaolin Soccer and God of Cookery. (Can never fault a person for acknowledging Chow Sing, can we?)
Versus is a fun movie, but the pacing leaves something to be desired and I LIKE the slower pacing of Japanese movies. Battlefield Baseball is much faster moving and atsui Tak actually gets to act -or at least make an expression- in this one. Though I kept wanting to tell him to stand up straight. Posture, honey!
This movie could be described accurately as Shaolin Soccer, but Japanese and about baseball... with zombies and without the deeper character content. I hate comparing movies, but come ON folks... tell me I didn't just nail it right on the head.
There are out-and-out hilarious moments, a random musical or two, some complete silliness and a lot of overacting in this feature... I approve of it ALL entirely! HIGH-LARIOUS! Certainly, those who expect a 'real' movie or try to take this without a good sense of humor will not be happy. For those of us blessed with funny bones that don't quit, this is right up our alley. Highly recommended! Have fun!
(This review does not include the highlights of the extra features, except that it's pretty darn neat that they translated the commentary by Tak for us English speakers.)
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
????, October 9, 2006
This review is from: Battlefield Baseball (DVD)
This movie was my first foray into ridiculous Japanese culture (Well, live action at least) and it won't be my last.
As a baseball movie, its terrible. Really though, it isn't about baseball. It is about a family...I think. I don't know. The ending was pretty funny though and zombie teams coach kept reminding me of that blue Jay Leno looking dude from Beetleborgs.
The movie was over the top in every aspect. The one downfall it has was its lack of action. After reading reviews and previews and watching trailers I expected a little bit more action than was presented.
It's still worth buying though if only to see it and try to explain it to others.
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