BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL (Japan, 2008)
Directed by: Tak Sakaguchi
Starring: Gou Ayano, Tak Sakaguchi, Tomoko Nakajima, Hideo Sakaki

Action superstar Tak Sakaguchi unveils his tongue-in-cheek directorial debut with BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL, a wild journey to the secretive Otoko-juku university: Japan’s only remaining samurai school, where machismo is taught with an iron fist and bullying isn’t just commonplace – it’s required! 

In this hilarious mix of social commentary and slapstick martial arts mayhem, Otoko-juku’s latest recruits show up for school completely unaware of what it takes to make the grade – and soon find themselves in a world of gratuitous pain. With their upperclassmen and teachers forcing the newbies through a series of humiliating and dangerous punishments straight out of a SAW sequel, the first years are nearly ready to throw in the towel. All that changes, however, when a power hungry ex-student (BATTLEFIELD BASEBALL’s Hideo Sakaki) shows up with a band of warriors to reclaim the university as his own. Suddenly, the students and staff of SAMURAI SCHOOL find its time put aside their differences, band together and truly become men.

Basing BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL on Akira Miyashita’s long-running, critically-acclaimed manga of the same name, writer/director Sakaguchi has crafted a stunning mix of action and comedy that plays upon Japan’s own national identity while not taking itself seriously enough that it loses its sense of free-spirited fun.

Originally garnering worldwide acclaim as the star of Ryuhei Kitamura’s VERSUS, Sakaguchi (who appears here as school hero Momotaro) has since become a greatly sought-after actor and fight choreographer, headlining such films as ALIVE and GODZILLA: FINAL WARS.  Now, BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL shows us a new side of the multi-faceted talent, and exposes his quick eye for entertaining the masses through slapstick, heart, and unparalleled action. Swords release walls of pure energy when swung through the air, battles occur from cliffsides to pools of sulfuric acid, and – in a moment of truly inspired lunacy – a student prepares for a fight by running down to the river and jump-kicking a bear in the face.

Whether you cheer or laugh at the inhabitants of Otoku-juku, one thing’s for sure: Tak Sakaguchi has come out swinging, and when the bell rings for SAMURAI SCHOOL, you’d better be in line.