Gun Crazy (2001)
Episode One: A Woman From Nowhere

When a movie revs immediately into top gear showing a man tied to a pole and a moving truck torturously tearing him in two , then accelerates into a pre-credit shot of a leather laced lithe lovely astride a speeding motorcycle , you’ll think your popcorn has been dipped in a magic mushroom melt. Fasten the armchair seatbelt for the thrill ride ahead and prepare for vigilante justice , Japanese go get ‘em girl style !. Trip your cornea vision mode to attentive as the Sergio Leone styled opening credits splash across the screen , like a post modern expressionist painter throwing visual animations at a living canvass. The Spaghetti Western theme music resonates with a welcome groove , complimenting the designer film tenor from the Director of the 1999 Zombie Action flick ‘ Junk ’ , Atsushi Muroga. Ryoko Yonekura stars as the lone figure Saki , appearing from the distant horizon astride her modern day steed of steel , a twenty first century incarnation of the man with no name upon a metallic mount named Harley Davidson.

She arrives in a small town adorned with all the recognisable traits of the classic old west feel , including the obligatory creeky name sign that here reads ‘Welcome To Tsuson’. Residents stay within their homes behind locked doors , peeking out from curtain drawn windows draped in dust. The local police are purely titular in presence as the hand of tyranny governs , with a recreational pay role byproduct in killing for obedient culling. Under the imposed martial law of criminal kingpin Tojo his deputies of demise dish out death to all who stand in their way , as the untouchable villain pools every possible financial larceny opportunity going. The remorseless intent of Tojo’s enforcers immediately draws Saki into proceedings as she witnesses a solitary man fleeing for his life cut down as cruel sport. With knee caps bloodily shot out the man is brought to ground , before his life is ended in a close on barrage of bullets served out by his merciless killers.

Harassed soon after by the same despotic duo in a bar Saki seeks justice by turning to the town law enforcer , a drunken shell of a man wrapped up in self guilt over past events and clearly unable to stand up for righteousness. With her own badge of honour Saki stands tall at the bar and with lightening reflexes shows her moves as she hands out doubles , not drinks but two locked and loaded guns with a kick Shot all their own. The Action is fist furious as the bullet ballet babe fires out her message to Tojo , with his scampering lackeys sent packing to deliver news of her intent.

The timeless ode to good and bad plays out amidst a familiar setting with pleasing homage to a classic genre. Tojo portraying the egotistical scourge with applicable arrogance and his antithesis in Saki with equal opposing as surety. The sub eighty minute running time packs the movie with all the Action in place , alleviating all unnecessary dialogue to refreshingly reward audiences regularly indoctrinated with needless frame filling. The tight budget and other restraints associated with shot on video productions go pretty much unnoticed in this stylish production , overlooked in awe of the sheer amount of Action on display and the portrayal of the lead characters.

Tojo lights cigars with a blow torch and flinches not at having the sloppy hired help blown away with a snap of his fingers. This lawless money merchant is so powerful even the surrounding border law enforcement agencies leave him alone but unofficially offer reward money for his riddance. Saki is the Angel of Vengeance , a bounty hunter of virtue. Her black painted nails are coffin casket cuticles , triggers of death in foreclosure upon all who seek to harm her. The moments of lull are minimal and barely leave time to draw breath before an explosion lights up proceedings leading to conflict. Vibrant red blood spurts from the violent attack by wielded golf club hit repeatedly to the head of one unfortunate , splitting his skull like a cracked coconut. A gun totting gang stands off against two with expected results , and the big bang vehicle wreckage’s are strewn along the way. The Spaghetti Western overture crescendos with a very welcome finale in true to form ‘ Django ’ styled affirmation. The showdown surrounding is the equivalent of the paupers graveyard where the currency exchanged is embossed in death. It is how the weapon of destruction is pulled off that will finally leave its audience ‘hopping’ for more from the ‘ Gun Crazy ’ series to come.

Presentation : Widescreen Ratio Aprox 1:77:1
Release : Cannibal King
Coding : NTSC Region Free
Sound : Dolby Digital 5.1 / Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Extras : The Making Of Gun Law / Music Video / Trailers /
English Subtitles