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Calamari Wrestler

UnrightPosted on 12/17/05 at 17:13:36

Oh man, I watched the strangest Japanese movie last night.  It's called The Calamari Wrestler (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428662/).

Basically, the story starts off with Koji Taguchi winner the Super Japan Pro Wrestling title. In his moment of glory a giant squid shows up and steals the title. Taguchi tries to take it back in an impromptu fight by locking in his "inverted-reverse full nelson" but it doesn't work because the squid is an invertebrate. Instead the squid headbutts Taguchi and hits the Northern Lights Suplex and gives himself a 3-count to embarass the new champ.

What follows is a pretty absurdist comedy. Everyone pretty much takes it in stride that a giant squid is walking around among them and demanding a wrestling match. There is a montage on the news at one point with some guy complaining saying squids should wrestle squids, and humans should wrestle humans.

The Giant Squid (The Calamari Wrestler) turns out to be a re-incarnation (of sorts) of Kan-Ichi Iwata (sp?) who was Taguchi's mentor, Taguchi's fiancee's former lover, and an all-around promising wrestler who had succombed to a terminal illness. The fact that they got Osamu Nishimura to play his part is kinda interesting.

Anyways, the story goes on to also involve a giant Octopuss and my favorite, the Squinta Boxer! who takes on the Calamari Wrestler in kind of Ali/Inoki recreation. The movie is a low budget affair though, but it definately makes for a camp classic.

Try to rent this movie if you can (I'm lucky enough to have a cool indie movie rental shop who'll order in stuff like this).
CarlzillaPosted on 12/26/05 at 14:19:07

I saw this in the theater. It was sweet.