Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang!

Having spent the better part of the last few years quietly endorsing the works of other directors, it would seem just a bit odd that for the upcoming North American release of crazy Japanese director Takashi Miike's Sukiyaki Western: Django, the most decidedly mod director Quentin Tarnantino would feature so prominently in the advertising.  Not only does the first trailer showcase his, um, acting talents but also features a ringing endorsement from the man himself.  Ego and hubris to the extreme?  Or just another page in the always entertaining world of all things Tarantino.

Essentially a strange mix-mash of  "spaghetti" Western cowboy action combined with Miike's unnerving sensibilities, this Japanese-starring, English-speaking cultural hybrid is set to unleash its bizarre wrath into American theaters this August.  Yeah, I'm surprised too, because given the film's 2007 Japanese theatrical release date I figured that (at best) we'd see a straight-to-DVD release here in the states.  Guns, girls, and plenty of strange things are bound to happen during its running time...as though an English-spoken, subtitled Japanese Western featuring Quentin Tarantino wasn't strange enough.

Just a word of warning to those who've yet to fall under the grotesque, although charming spell of Takashi Miike's work - expect the unexpected.  Been a fan myself for many, many years and while most people watch Ichi the Killer and swear off anything else, that man's got range and style that put most name-brand director's to shame.  Tarantino (at least recently) included.  Can't comment on Sukiyaki Western: Django as I've been a good boy and not imported or 'found other means' to watch the final version, but one can never tell with Miike.