GyatsoLa I don't think i've ever seen a movie so guaranteed to confuse, befuddle, but still enthrall. I won't even begin to summarise the plot, because I'm still trying to work out what it is. But ultimately, the plot is irrelevant as this is a pure exercise in style - and what style! Its full of dazzling images (and some that probably should have been cut out), most owing more to opera and noh theater than the cinema. Its overlong and self indulgent, and constantly teether's at the edge of pretentiousness. But its worth seeing for the sheer daring of Suzuki who throws out all the rules of film making while still showing a deep love of the art.

nedwalton I first saw the preview for Pistol Opera on several Japanese DVDs I had the pleasure of viewing. It was the vivid imagery that captured my attention not to mention a very attractive leading lady. Now what followed was an amazing journey through the world of Stray Cat, a hired gun with a love for her pistol, engaged (reluctantly at first)in a competition to be #1 among the top gunslingers. Simple enough, right? WRONG!!!! What follows is a film that keeps your fingers on the rewind button, your mouth wide open and your eyes ready to bug out of your skull. A simple skeleton of a plot is covered with layers of sexuality (subtle, and in your face), violence, and just a whole bunch of WTF (WT is for "What The" you can figure the rest out) moments. I enjoyed it in the same way that we all have our guilty pleasures, but I will admit that some of the scenes and displays may go beyond past limits you may have set for yourself. Viewer Discretion is ADVISED!!

pharmaci911 Suzuki Seijun is a master of craft, and one of the greatest visual stylists ever. This film is a loose reworking of Branded to Kill, the jakuza clasic that marked the end of his career at Nikkatsu studios, whom Suzuki was a contract director. That film took many risks in narrative and presentation, and it was post modern before post modern became chic.Before you complain about why you don't understand this film, just look at it less in terms of narrative and more in terms of the abstract. It's a spectacle of sight and sound, and one of the most beautifully shot movies in recent times. The photography alone is reason enough to see it. This is a film that does not bother to explain it's convoluted story because it's very design DOES NOT warrant that path. It's cinematic style brings to mind elements of Kabuki and opera theater. The performances are mannered and exagerated, something that is understandibly strange if you are not japanese.All in all, it's a film devoid of anything rational and a spectacle of sight and sound. A 10.

nkw88 Since I saw Suzuki Seijun's 'Branded to Kill', I have been enchanted by his weird and absurdistic filmmaking style. His 'Pistol Opera' does not betray my expectation and I really enjoyed his gorgeous visual style and absurdism.I feel like seeing a painter do an abstract painting. He ignores the typical storytelling and performance, and searches the dark and irrational aspect of human desire and emotion.In this film, 'the stray cat', NO.3 in the professional killer guild was asked to kill No.1 'hundred eye'. If she succeeds, she will be No.1, but if fails, she will be killed by No.1. So her assassination of No.1 is driven both by her will to rise in social hierarchy and by her drive to survive. It is the same as 'Branded to Kill'.He must enjoy filmmaking. Some one tries to complete his artistic goal, others to earn money. Sujuki Seijun shows me the third, and the most important, level of filmmaking.Just enjoy filmmaking itself! He reminds me the mentality Carpe Diem - filmmaking as a play, or ludenic element of filmmaking.