I had picked up this film because it promised an unusual Japanese take on Westerns. It is not a new idea to observe that samurai films and westerns are linked. Yojimbo, which serves as an acknowledge source of inspiration for Sukiyaki, was remade as A Fistful of Dollars. Apparently, that story of a mercenary serving dueling gangs was in turn inspired by Dashiell Hammett novels. Furthermore, much as Akira Kurosawa remade Shakespeare, Sukiyaki also name checks Henry VI. If all this seems a bit involved and meta, I've done a good job of conveying what the film can feel like.
Beyond the series of references, the Sukiyaki adds to the surrealism by having the Japanese cast (with the notable exception of Quentin Tarantino) speak the dialogue in often heavily accented English. We chose to watch with subtitles on, although on subsequent rereading of reviews, I do wonder if that distanced us from the film.
In any event, it relies more on nodding to its roots, cross-culture juxtaposition, and outright weirdness than Airplane-style parody. [The cinematography, costuming, and humor all do a good job of exploiting the cultural medley for laughs and moments of often terrible beauty.] However, most of the male characters aren't really fleshed out enough to merit audience sympathy in their own right. The two women are a prominent exception, with interpretative dance and unexpected depths going beyond the limited roles available for females in classic westerns. Nonetheless, I wasn't particularly pleased with the Sukiyaki's ultimate treatment of the characters, they were grounded soon enough in the often misogynist tropes of the genre.
On the whole, I found Sukiyaki Western Django to be an memorable experience that's probably best for those who know its sources well. I do enjoy Sergei Leone films, but perhaps would have gotten a bit more out of it if I knew the canon cold. As is, I may keep it around for loaning purposes, but probably won't rewatch anytime soon.
[Update: Listed a few more of the strong points.]
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