2003 Color 97min
Starring: Tak Sakaguchi, Atsushi Ito, and Hideo Sakaki
Directed by: Yudai Yamaguchi
Baseball. America’s national pastime. As uniquely American as apple pie, the Fourth of July, and French fries. But its popularity isn’t limited to just the United States. Ever since the Cincinnati Red Stockings took the field in 1869 as the world’s first professional baseball team, baseball has been growing in popularity throughout the world. It has become especially popular in Japan, where it can accurately be described as Japan’s national pastime as well. The extent of Japan’s love of baseball can be evidenced by the success of their pro leagues, their recent win at the World Baseball Classic and even in their motion picture industry…
Enter Battlefield Baseball. A while back I had said that The Calamari Wrestler was probably the oddest movie I had ever seen. Well, scratch that, because this movie far exceeds the aforementioned Calamari Wrestler in the weirdness department. This movie is on a whole new level of lunacy. It’s like Al Gore crazy. Yeah, I know. Hard to believe isn’t it?
Michael Jackson’s twisted vision of baseball finally comes to fruition.The story centers around Jubeh (Played by Tak Sakaguchi of Versus fame), a loner with an uncanny talent for pitching. His fastball is so devastating, in fact, that he actually killed his father while playing catch. Jubeh’s amazing skills gain the attention of Seido high school’s baseball coach, who eventually persuades him to join the team. It’s a good thing too, because Seido’s first round opponent is none other than Gedo High School, a team of murderous Zombies who has won all of their games by massacring the other team. That’s gotta be against the rules, right?
Despite the illegality of Gedo’s style of play, they continue to dominate high school baseball, slaughtering any team that dares stand in their way. It’s up to Jubeh and his Seido teammates to stop Gedo once and for all before they can turn their attention to the pro ranks.
I could give a detailed account of this film but I think that it would be a disservice to anyone who actually wants to see it. Needless to say there is a ton of weirdness to go around. Talking dogs, oddly timed musical numbers, manic cheerleaders, kung-fu moms, machinegun-wielding mummies, and dizzying character turns are just some of the things that make this movie so enjoyably deranged.
Ahh…he’s so dreamy.If you like watching grown men break into song, weep uncontrollably, and beat the hell out of puppets, then you will probably enjoy this movie. If you aren‘t into that kind of thing, then why the hell are you on this site in the first place? Huh? Hey, I’m talking to you!
Umm…Ouch.Just to warn you, if you are expecting an actual baseball movie like I was, you might be a little disappointed. After the first 30 seconds or so there is little to no actual baseball to be found. It’s more of a baseball themed battle royale, than anything else. Still worth every penny, however.
Reviewed by Derek Miller
Posted 10/5/06
