Don't ask me why I had to watch this, just know that I pretty much had no choice! Released in 1979,
G.I. Samurai follows a small group of modern day Japanese military who in possibly the worst special effects sequence in history, are transported back 400 years to the days where a civil war between two Samurai factions is underway. These soldiers are caught right in the middle and must choose which side to fight with, in an attempt to possibly get back to their own time (I don't think plot matters in this flick). Indeed, the movie is being sold on it's imagery of Samurai warriors and their swords going up against modern day soldiers with their tanks and guns. Most of the second act and certainly all of the third is just one big battle action sequence which just keeps growing and growing and you wonder if this battle might rage forever. They are wonderfully filmed though and like I said, if the thought of Samurai's vs. Tanks is up your alley, then you should check this out. G.I. Samurai is at times confusing, very cheesy (with a hideous 70's pop soundtrack), has weird sex scenes and at times is a narrative mess but somehow
Sonny Chiba's performance kinda draws you in. It's a typical thing for Chiba. Some great performances in some shitty movies. G.I. Samurai is a terrible movie, but I laughed at the absurdity of it all several times and it's never one that takes itself too seriously, so it's an easy watch. Just don't go out of your way to see it. Next up...
THE HOST