The Calamari Wrestler (2004)

[Derf]

I know a few of you have seen this Japanese wrestling movie. I just bought it the other day at a movie store sale and watched it today. It's....an experience. I don't speak Japanese, but I could tell the acting was bad. The special effects? Laughable. I'm guessing that most of the leads are played by actual Japanese wrestling stars, but I'm too lazy to verify that.

The story begins with a young wrestler winning his first championship belt. As he is celebrating in the ring, a giant squid appears behind him and lays him out, knocking him unconscious. The squid is kaiju monster style: He has many tentacles hanging down, but only two work, and he supports himself on two more that always sport wrestling boots (even when he walks around on the street). The champ wants a shot at him in the ring, naturally. The squid's trainer, for reasons of his own, approaches the champ and takes him away to a secret training facility. When the big night arrives, the squid is waiting in the ring. The champ is announced, and when they pull off his cover, he's turned into an octopus! The fight ensues, and the Calamari Wrestler is victorious, and the champ turns back into a human. Apparently, some monks have a ceremony during which a person renounces all amorous desires, and he turns into a sea creature of some kind. Go figure. Anyway, the squid becomes champion, and basks in his fame, until he is assaulted on the street by a boxing Squilla (Mantis Shrimp) who wants a shot at the title. There is a big climactic match, and... I'll let you see it for yourself. There's also a love story in there that is just too complicated to explain in a short review.

I enjoyed this movie, but it is a strange experience. It is played straight, so the humor is slightly more understated, but it seems that about half of the supporting cast is about to crack up as they deliver their lines. Anyway, it's a fun bad movie that many on this board would likely enjoy. I recommend it, if only to know that others on the planet have seen and experienced it.

[metalmonster]

I Was Thinking About Seeing This Movie But Never Got Around To It.........I Should REALLY Get Around To It!