Karate-Robo Zaborgar – Review

America was hell-bent on making the Summer of 2011 a super-hero filled summer. Luckily for us with a different kind of film taste, Japan has provided Zaborgar!  With his partner in crime Yoshihiro Nishimura, the duo have made films like Machine Girl and Tokyo Gore Police. The beginning half puts the character in it’s heyday it’s the 70s fighting evil cyborgs, flying heads and alien samurai with his robot pal, Zaborgar, who knows karate and can transform into a motorcycle. But they suddenly find themselves over their heads, when the evil mastermind Dr. Akunomiya attacks the town, extracting the DNA of scientists, top-politicians and other highly influential people, in order to build a giant killer robot, which will give him unlimited power.

Understand that the film is low budget and this film doesn’t take itself serious. But basically, this movie (based on a 52-episode TV-series from the 1970s) is a fun romp to watch. Basically, the silly moments will either turn you off or these funny moments will charm you coming completely out of left-field and keeps the adult viewers from getting bored with the sillier main plot. Silly, but nothing too special, and it’s all littered with childish humor ranging.  Or at least it does for the first half, before jumping forward 25 years.

That’s right! They fling you into the future and now the young crimefighter is a recently-fired chauffer with diabetes. With the loss of his friend and lover Daimon has hit rock bottom, but he must once again fight Sigma as it finally completes the giant super robot to rule the world. Usually films like this don’t fit a certain demographic but these elements really make Karate Robo-Zaborgar an exciting and fun film for young and old alike. Well, maybe the breast milk and diarrhea robots aren’t kid friendly, but the rest is!

Yes, it’s super corny and hilarious because of how much it is just like the old tv shows with big monsters, the theme song playing in the background and bad fighting! But this is now a kid flick, there’s a lot of boob based reference, the obligatory fanservice shot and just strange humor.  The triumphant score, and crazy credits, and the over the top action make this the film to see this summer. It is playing in select cities across America right now and making the festival circuits. Go out and check them out if you can, as I can’t recommend a more fun time at the theater this year. I had a complete blast with Karate Robo Zaborgar and I salute Sushi Typhoon for distributing such a fun movie.