Six-String Samurai

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As a genre-buster, Six-String Samurai--just your average, run-of-the-mill postapocalyptic kung-fu-rock & roll road movie--has a lot going for it. The film takes place in a Soviet-ruled America (they nuked the U.S. in 1957; with the exception of Lost Vegas [sic] and the badlands around it, the country is a Soviet territory). It revolves around Buddy (Jeffrey Falcon, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Buddy Holly), a guitar-slinger-swordsman who's on his way to Vegas, where he plans to succeed the just-deceased Elvis as the King. Along the way, he picks up an orphaned preteen traveling companion, and the pair's quest leads them to confront various Mad Max-style pop-culture weirdos, the Red Army, and Death--a rival guitarist who looks suspiciously like Guns n' Roses' Slash.

Falcon's background is in Hong Kong cinema, and it shows in this made-on-a-shoestring production, filmed mostly in Palm Springs and Death Valley. (He certainly had enough opportunities to influence the production, since, besides playing the lead, Falcon pitched in as cowriter, coproducer, production designer, and costume designer on the film.) Despite the limited budget, the movie is generally entertaining, though it could probably stand to lose a couple of go-nowhere subplots that account for about 15 minutes of the 91-minute running time. --Randy Silver

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful idiocy.......2007-09-03

This is NOT a story to take seriously. This is simply a fun piece of what Ray Bradbury calls "sublime trash". This has no redeeming values, will teach you absolutely nothing and has no real moral, either. However, it is a fun and wonderful way to spend 90 minutes or so. It moves from one crisis to another quickly, is full of action and has all kinds of one liners. Personally, I loved it, but then, I have a sense of humor unlike some of the other reviewers.

Fun.......2007-02-01

This movie is not to be taken seriously. If you enjoyed Army of Darkness, than you will like Six String Samurai. It is an offbeat comedy that pretends to take itself seriously. It was honored at the Slamdance Awards (An award show for the "bad" movies). Indeed this film was so bad, it's good.
It is not an artsy or big-budget Hollywood movie. Most people might not enjoy it, but if you are willing you might actually laugh. Rent before you buy.

I won't say much, all the 1 star reviewers said it for me.......2006-10-26

This movie was recomended by a friend (who usually has impeccable taste) and it turned out to be the worst movie I have ever seen. I know it's a B movie and it's kind of a badge of honor to be a bad B movie but this movie is so bad it is unwatchable. Trust me, I get all the references. I listen to surf and rockabilly and like indie and samurai movies. The concept is brilliant and they could have gone so many ways with this movie. They didn't. Don't waste your time.

A Post-Apocalyptic, Spaghetti Western, Rock-N-Roll Samurai Film?.......2006-07-28

A post-apocalyptic, spaghetti western, rock-n-roll Samurai film? Yep. That pretty much sums up SIX-STRING SAMURAI. It's quirky. It's B-movie all the way. It's wonderful.

What we have here is a film shot on weekends on a minuscule budget in and around Death Valley, California. It also pays homage to many films; every Clint Eastwood spaghetti western ever made, Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, Night of the Living Dead and, of course, The Wizard of Oz, just to name a few.

The movie was dubbed giving it a hokey spaghetti western feel that matched the production values perfectly (very low). "The Kid" in the film (Justin McGuire) was a carbon-copy of the mangy little guy that follows Mel Gibson around in Beyond Thunderdome. There's a family of cannibals and "The Windmillers" who represent the slow brain functions from Night of the Living Dead. And then there are the multiple references to The Wizard of Oz ("Just follow the yellow brick road").

The story's focus is on Buddy (Jeffrey Falcon), a six string carrying, Samurai sword wielding bad boy who wants to be the new "King" of "Lost Vegas." But first he has to get there. Traveling across the desert wasteland of the post-apocalyptic world, Buddy (who looks remarkably like Buddy Holly) has to slash, punch, and scratch his way toward The Emerald City (another Wizard of Oz reference that we see, Lost Vegas looking very much like the gateway to Oz's hometown). Along the way Buddy picks up "The Kid", a young boy who's mother was killed by humans resembling troglodytes. The Kid doesn't speak (initially) and only screams/moans whenever he wants Buddy's attention. But The Kid is good with mechanical objects (cars, motorcycles, bicycles) and the two form a grudging relationship as they travel together. The only issue between them is Buddy's priceless guitar which he nurtures more than The Kid ...in the beginning. But Buddy can play his six string as potently as he can don his sword, giving him a good shot at becoming the King of Lost Vegas.

On Buddy and The Kids' tail, however, is Death (represented as the four horseman of the apocalypse ...but without their horses). Death wants to be/remain the King and kills anyone who gets in his way, leaving a lot of rock-n-roll wannabes as corpses. And in front of Buddy and The Kid is the Russian Army (Oh! Did I forget to mention that the USSR took over the U.S. after it nuked us in 1957?)

After much bloodletting, Death and Buddy have their day on the sand. First comes a guitar duel (Death wields a wickedly good six string himself!), then the sword. But what will happen if Buddy wins? Can he be a true father-figure to The Kid? And what would happen to The Kid if Buddy died? Would Death take the little tike, too?

There are A LOT of well choreographed fight sequences (perhaps one or two too many). The camera work was done with an eye toward professionalism, never being herky-jerky or under -over exposed. The acting was okay. And the story was so ridiculous that suspending disbelief was quite fun. The dialogue often set the tone for the entire production, giving us some great bits like...

Death: "You have failed me for the last...hey, nice shoes." Then we watch Death kill the men wearing the shoes and walk away with new footwear.

The musical score is also pulled off well. The Red Elvises leant their music and themselves for the production (they are the ones with the nice shoes mentioned above). Their musical numbers reminded me very much of The Stray Cats (a band I liked).

If you don't mind low production standards but enjoy spoofs with a good, if somewhat ridiculous, script, then slip this little B-flick into your DVD player and bask in its foolishness. You won't be disappointed.

Strange, Fun, and Addicting.......2006-02-24

When I first heard about this movie from a friend, I thought -- B-Movie/Cult Film. But this movie is so much more than a Cult Film and doesn't have the gore of a B-Movie. The music is fantastic, the acting is great, and the premise -- although far-fetched -- is just wacky enough to get you addicted. This is a movie you'll want to watch over and over again. And if you want some great Ska-Punk-Rockabilly, I suggest you pick up the Soundtrack or buy some Red Elvis' albums.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful idiocy
Fun
I won't say much, all the 1 star reviewers said it for me
A Post-Apocalyptic, Spaghetti Western, Rock-N-Roll Samurai Film?
Strange, Fun, and Addicting

Six-String Samurai
Starring: Monti Ellison , Jeffrey Falcon , Stephane Gauger , Clifford Hugo , and Zuma Jay
Director: Lance Mungia
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000A1HRV
Release Date: 2003-08-26