Pistol Opera (2002)

79% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(2,211 ratings)

Japanese cult director Seijun Suzuki's combination sequel to and remake of his 1967 gangster film classic Branded To Kill stars Makiko Esumi as Miyuki Minazuki, AKA "the Stray Cat," a beautiful female assassin. She is number three in the hierarchy of killers in her criminal organization at the… More Japanese cult director Seijun Suzuki's combination sequel to and remake of his 1967 gangster film classic Branded To Kill stars Makiko Esumi as Miyuki Minazuki, AKA "the Stray Cat," a beautiful female assassin. She is number three in the hierarchy of killers in her criminal organization at the beginning of the film, but soon a battle breaks out among the assassins, all of whom are trying to become the number one killer by murdering their competition. Miyuki finds herself fighting her fellow assassins one by one, encountering along the way such eccentrically-nicknamed opponents as The Teacher, who is confined to a wheelchair, Painless Surgeon, a bearded Westerner who literally feels no pain, and Dark Horse (Masatoshi Nagase), who wears a blond wig and has a perpetual case of the sniffles. Also making an appearance is Goro Hanada, the hero of Branded To Kill (played in the original by Jo Shishido, but here by Mikijiro Hira), who becomes a mentor to Miyuki, and is now known as number zero. The film's skeletal plot mostly allows director Suzuki to develop elaborate visual tableaus that stretch the possibilities of narrative cinema. ~ Tom Vick, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Seijun Suzuki
Written By: Kazunori Ito
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Anime & Manga, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Jun 24, 2003
Studio: Shochiku

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
I couldn't give a fully coherent synopsis of Pistol Opera if my life depended on it, but it's still the most fun new movie I've seen since Mulholland Drive and Waking Life (both also 2001).
Richard James Havis, Hollywood Reporter
Eighty-year-old Japanese director Suzuki Seijun has always been a gifted master stylist, and Pistol Opera shows that his unique vision has not dulled with age.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
Nothing in Pistol Opera ever seems remotely possible, but it's still gorgeous art -- like a dream David Lynch had after watching too many John Woo movies.
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
Insanely likable but suffers from anemia.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
There's style and panache to spare.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Suzuki has made the ultimate meta-movie, a self-parodying, surrealist gangster daydream as intoxicating and insubstantial as an absinthe swoon.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The screen is artfully covered like the abstract paintings by Jackson Pollock and Man Ray.
Marc Mohan, Oregonian
While it's certainly enjoyable to see this old master up to his tricks again, and the film stands perfectly well on its own, the cinematic high jinks of the 80-year-old director don't quite live up to the reputation he created for himself 36 years ago.
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
Though extraordinarily simplistic at its core, Suzuki's directorial style is so chock-full of vigor and passion for his craft that it spills into Pistol Opera, allowing the flick to carve out its own niche.
Sean O'Connell, Filmcritic.com
The director's gaudy approach to his individual frames begs for a deeper meaning that you're going to have to bring to the table yourself.
Joshua Tanzer, Offoffoff
Stylish but obtuse. Charitably, we might try to think of 'Pistol Opera' as the 'Tampopo' of killing people.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Seijun is helped enormously by Makiko Esumi, a dazzling beauty who delivers a flinty, self-assured performance as Stray Cat.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A strange tale that ultimately achieves a level of abstraction entirely divorced from any conventional mode of storytelling.
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
What counts isn't the convoluted plot or exotic characters -- it's the brilliance of Suzuki's cinematic style, articulating the action with eye-boggling color and split-second editing effects.
Eric Campos, Film Threat
Pistol Opera is unique for sure, it just never made me want to follow it down its strange path.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Whether more is pompously suggested than actually here and merely meets the eye, Pistol Opera is fun in the grand style.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
Whereas Kill was uproariously stylish via pop-noir, Opera goes in the opposite direction by concentrating much more on color, choreography, and composition than any kind of conventional narrative.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

El Hombre I

In what seems to be intended as a fun, avant-garde romp, "Pistol Opera" is made up of sometimes nonsensical but lighthearted scenes featuring shootings and stabbings galore. This is Seijun Suzuki's followup to his 1967 film "Branded to Kill," a stylish film… More
In what seems to be intended as a fun, avant-garde romp, "Pistol Opera" is made up of sometimes nonsensical but lighthearted scenes featuring shootings and stabbings galore. This is Seijun Suzuki's followup to his 1967 film "Branded to Kill," a stylish film said to have been an inspiration to the likes of John Woo and Quentin Tarantino. Be that as it may, this film is no Pulp Fiction. It's meant for avant-garde buffs only. In the acting department, Esumi Makiko as the deadly Miyuki Minazuki, a.k.a. Killer #3, is wonderful. She plays her role convincingly, providing the emotional depth of someone who could die at any moment. A tough film to digest at first, it's perhaps the Japanese equivalent to a David Lynch film. Suggestive and original, it's a film that's in its' own creative world. I could liken it to watching a stage performance or play, but perhaps a little too pretentious for its' own good at times. Either way, if you're in the mood for something interesting, check it out. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=pistolopera.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/pistolopera.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Justin Y

WOW! Holy f****** cow! Alright, after seeing the trailer and hearing the title I knew I was expecting something out of the ordinary. Let me tell you, it really was something out of the ordinary. I've honestly seen some weird movies in my lifetime, but this film is near, if… More
WOW! Holy f****** cow! Alright, after seeing the trailer and hearing the title I knew I was expecting something out of the ordinary. Let me tell you, it really was something out of the ordinary. I've honestly seen some weird movies in my lifetime, but this film is near, if not the top of the "What the hell just happened?" pyramid. Nothing could have prepared me for this.The concept of the story is interesting. If you didn't know anything about this film and you heard the synopsis you will most likely want to know more about this movie. With that said, this movie is ridiculously weird. Weird, weird, weird, weird, weird. I don't even know how to explain it. No one in this entire universe will ever be able to understand what is fully going on here. Maybe with a viewing of more than 10 times then just maybe will it be possible. This movie just jumps around way too much.The thing with this is that although you will only be able to grasp a little bit of what is going on, you still will not become bored because this movie moves very quickly for the most part. Not only that, but this movie is pretty stunning visually. It does have some nice cinematography as well as some colorful set and costume designs. Not to mention the unusual dialogue. This saves the film from becoming a complete disaster.I don't even know how to rate the acting in this film. I might be inclined to say that it was pretty good, but the way that this movie was, I just truly don't know. Makiko Esumi is beautiful though.You want to know about the action? Well there is quite a bit of gun play in here, but I don't know if I would consider the shootouts action scenes. They are more of a theatrical dance if I may call it that.I've heard this movie being defined as "fun and entertaining." I can certainly see why, but I feel that only a few people may find it that way. It definitely has style, but it is just too "out of this world." I would say that 90% of the population is not ready for this.
Anthony V

Might be better with hallucinogens.

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Pistol Opera (2002)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

El Hombre I

Justin Y

Anthony V

Cast

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