Such a frustrating disappointment

So much average

Pretty Good

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

And you thought your years in high school were rough! Well, think again! Welcome to Hope Hill High, a Japanese school – please disregard the tacky and typically American name – were the desperate student counsel struggles with a recurring problem. The aggressive and relentless members of the Yagyu biker gang stop by the school each semester to beat up the kids, steal their lunch money and vandalize their belongings. The kids want to fight back but realize they're too weak and undermanned against the bikers, and so they hire a handful of tough gals to train and defend them "Seven Samurai" style. The plan is a huge success at first, but the battle becomes more vicious and deadlier when it turns out the female leader of the bikers and the head-samurai are old nemeses. A couple of years ago, I wrote a review for an extremely obscure film called "Crazy Thunder Road" and claimed it was Japan's only deranged biker-gang flick. I stand corrected, as back then I didn't know about the existence of "Go for Broke". This is more than just a biker film, however, especially with the aforementioned "Seven Samurai" theme but also the clear influences of the so-called "Pinku" violence films of the 70's, where sexy schoolgirls in revealing uniforms kicked butt and sucked on lollipops. "Go for Broke" isn't very violent or sleazy, but it nevertheless has a swinging atmosphere and it's entertaining too watch at least once, even though it's too long and the English dubbing is absolutely horrendous. The video box promisingly states "A peaceful high school playground turns into a disturbing bloodbath", but that's just a slight exaggeration as the film hardly features any blood or unsettling moments. A friend of mine coincidentally just stumbled on an ancient videotape of this crazed 80's production, but it's extremely rare and unknown. Luckily enough, it's not really worth tracking down.

Nakamura Genji's rousing "V Madonna Daisensou" is certainly not for everyone. With its ultra violence, intense drama and gritty storyline it seems almost like a throwback to Toei's low budget "Sukeban" exploitation films of the 70's. As others have noted,"V Madonna" definitely takes its inspiration from Kurosawa Akira's landmark "Seven Samurai" but also is heavily influenced by Toei "Pinky Vionece" films like "Sukeban Guerilla". Its raw intensity definitely is riveting especially when the "Madonnas" are being tortured by the sadistic teenage "Yaguu". Yet one can't help but cheer these gals on especially when they unleash their full "female fury" upon their opponents towards the end of the film. The "Go For Broke" reference actually refers to the legendary Japanese-American 442nd battalion of World War II who used it as their inspirational motto (the 442nd were the most decorated soldiers in WWII). It's used here probably as a casual reference to the Madonnas "do or die" attitude. Some might see some resemblance to the "Sukeban Deka" (I think this film predates the series). If you like Toei's "Pinky Violence" films of the 70s or female revenge driven films like "Gonin 2" then this movie is for you.

It's hard to believe this bizarre Japanese action flick got an American video release--but it did, and someone even paid to have it dubbed! Set in a seaside town, the film revolves around a group of high school students (I think) who are trying to defend their school from the Yagyu (again, I think), a gang of motorcycle thugs who ride into town once a year for an orgy of raping and pillaging. Taking a page or three from The Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven--both of which are name checked--the kids decide to hire a group of tough as nails women, including some lady wrestlers, to help defend Hope Hill school. Perhaps Go For Broke made some sense in its original form, but it's utterly baffling in English. On the other hand, if you like the idea of Japanese kids kicking ass in their school uniforms, you'll probably get a kick out of it.