Samurai Gun: Cocked and Loaded, Vol. 1

If one is to interpret Japanese history from its films, it would seem the most popular occupation in pre-industrial Japan was that of the samurai. The anime Samurai Gun focuses on the killing adventures of the white-haired/one-eyed Ichimatsu, who roars through 1860s Japan shooting up bad guys. Yes, shooting, as this samurai has traded in his sword for a six-shooter. Ichimatsu has a reason for being so violent (he survived a massacre in which his family was slain and his sister raped before being murdered), and in fairness he reserves his sharp shooting for those who deserve a bullet (he is usually found working in a tavern by day and visiting brothels at night). This off-kilter faux-Western is heavy on violence and commotion--it's loud, bloody, and chaotic--but it absolutely lacks anything resembling an original idea. In fact, it feels as if the production company took a half-dozen Westerns and a half-dozen samurai epics, and sliced-and-diced them together into a mulligan stew with no cohesion. This title cannot even fall back on its artwork, as even that is mediocre. Featuring the first four episodes on a dual-language disc, rated TV-MA, Samurai Gun is not recommended. [Note: Samurai Gun, Vol. 2 is slated for release on Sept. 20.] Aud: P. (P. Hall)