Six-String Samurai (1998)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Lance Mungia

Writers:

Jeffrey Falcon (writer)
Lance Mungia (writer)

Release Date:

18 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Music | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Vegas Needs A New King

Plot:

A mysterious and powerful hero of the classic kind, Buddy is as skilled with his guitar as he is with his samurai sword...

Plot Keywords:

Post Apocalyptic | Orphan | Guitar | Musical Duel | Spoof

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jeffrey Falcon	...	Buddy
Justin McGuire	...	The Kid
Kim De Angelo	...	Mother
Stephane Gauger	...	Death
Clifford Hugo	...	Psycho
Oleg Bernov	...	Red Elvis
Igor Yuzov	...	Red Elvis
Zhenya Kolykhanov	...	Red Elvis
George L. Casillas	...	Mariachi / Campfire Cast: Archer (#64)
Avi Sills	...	Red Elvis
Monti Ellison	...	Head Pin Pal
Kareem	...	Bowler #2 / Campfire Cast: Other Actor (#76)
Richard McGuire	...	Cantina owner
Zuma Jay	...	Car Guy
Paul Szopa	...	Bowler #3 / Campfire Cast: Other Actor (#77)

Also Known As:

The Blade (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for martial arts and swordfight violence.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Company:

HSX Films

Trivia:

The band The Red Elvises who are featured throughout the film's soundtrack appear as themselves, the band with the "nice shoes". The large, triangular string instrument that one of the band members is playing is an electric balalaika.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Buddy is walking toward the archers toward the end of the film we see the kid running behind him trying to bring his sword to him. However, you can clearly see Buddy's sword still attached to his guitar.

Quotes:

Buddy: If you scratch my guitar, I'll kill you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Making of 'Bubba Ho-tep' (2004) (V)

Wow....

Here we have a post-apocalyptic retro-futuristic surfabilly samurai Mad Max type flick. I'd say that's about the best I can describe it without sounding like it's not a good movie, because it is. It also would probably take the cake on weirdness, but I guess my only complaint is that it wasn't quite weird ENOUGH. So we have this mysterious Buddy Holly-Elvis Costello look-alike type, who wanders the wasteland on his way to become King of Lost Vegas. Along the way he picks up a sidekick, who happens to be a small boy, and meets up with Ozzie & Harriet Cannibals, over-the-top mutants (in a pickup truck, no less) and Top Hat/Death, and his gang of henchman who also seem to be transformed crows? Have I lost you yet? I'm not trying to, really. PLUS, as an extra added bonus, we have The Red Elvises, an ex-patriot Russian band complete with oversize guitar and weird hairdos (or don't's). They provide most of the soundtrack which varies a bit between rockabilly & instrumental surf music with a rather pleasant ballad to boot. Now if you've ever seen someone that looks like Buddy Holly open up a can of whoop-ass on a bunch of interlopers with his samurai sword, then you will probably enjoy this movie. I can't even begin to describe how this conglomeration of unlike styles and things come together, you'll have to see it to believe it. And see it you should, because it's an enjoyably weird little ride. 8 out of 10 stars.