The Calamari Wrestler (2004)

The greatest movie ever made..!

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Let's be realistic.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

A wrestling championship is interrupted in its final seconds by a new challenger: a 6-foot Calamari! He wins the title and becomes the nation's mascot. Many also liken his style to a former champion. His opponent, seeking revenge, seeks to confront him again.Rocky with a calamari thrown in might be an adequate pitch, but it barely does this film justice. "Calamari Wrestler" is a very knowing satire of the whole sports film genre, checking every cliché in the formula and turning it on its head by showing its silliness without ever resorting to sarcasm. Indeed, there is a moving earnestness to the film, because the premise is so ridiculous that it can allow itself to play it straight. Wrestling is also an inherently over-the-top sport, so throwing in a calamari (especially a latex one) isn't half as jarring as you would expect."Calamari Wrestler" deserves a 10, hands down, for its sheer silliness, novelty, unique appeal to squid fans (of which I am an unashamed member) and good heart. You can feel the love and fun of the creators in every frame. This is the kind of film you watch to laugh with your friends or lighten your mood when you feel a bit low.90 Minutes of gleeful fun!

It's surprising that this idea wasn't done earlier. Given that your average Japanese "Kaiju" TV show is all about guys in monster suits wrestling with each other.A giant squid (in wrestling boots) humiliates the champion wrestler of Japan. The only recourse is a rematch but how can a human wrestle with a giant talking invertebrate? There are no bones to grapple. Is the squid a reincarnation of the previous champion and who is the squid's mysterious trainer? How far is the champion willing to go to defend his honor? Will his fiancé fall in love with the squid?A delight to watch. The entire cast is having a great time, one actor can't keep a smile off his face. The first half hour is brilliant, the remainder great fun. Lots of jokes that translate well into English. The fights are silly but not much sillier than your average pro wrestling match. Interestingly, the rubber monster suits wrestling in a ring has been done here in the US for quite a while by the crazy performing group "Kaiju Big Battel", look them up. Recommended, especially to wrestling fans and Japanese monster fans.

After seeing this delightful little film, the only way I can think of to describe it is as a Santo (Mexican wrestling) movie set in the weird, weird world of a Japanese cartoon sushi menu. In fact it follows the typical Santo film formula to a T: orphans, love interest, entertaining the children, fighting for the glory of the sport of wrestling. Only the wrestler is a giant squid.Oh, and the Squilla Boxer is a Mantis Shrimp, and they really do have a punch as fast as a bullet. The biology is surprisingly accurate, such as pointing out that invertebrates are naturally good wrestlers because they can get out of any hold. I guess that shouldn't be surprising coming from a Japanese film, though.If you love sushi, cephalopods, magical realism and wrestling, this is the film for you! (if you can find it)Charming, and very, very odd.

Totally wacky pro-wrestling/sci-fi spoof. Giant squid crashes championship match & steals title belt.Just too goofy, it's simply silly enough to keep you giggling till the end.The low-tech costumes are perfect for the tone of the movie. Excellent performances by the human cast, well sorta. The fight scenes are hilarious, the squid is joined by an octopus & a Squilla(some kinda giant shrimp)... again the goofy costumes work great here, as wel as in in the scenes of sunsets and romance ;-) Then when it wasn't getting weird enough, there's an appearance by a boy-band.