Genre:
Comedy
Release Date: 05/17/2005
Dubbed: Japanese
Sound: DDS2.0/DD5.1
Run Time: 97 min
Distributor/Studio: Subversive Cinema
Yudai Yamaguchi, who worked with
Ryuhei Kitamura on the screenplays for
Versus and
Alive, makes his directorial debut with the low-budget zombie
sports musical comedy Battlefield Baseball. The prospects for the new season are looking bright for the Seido High baseball team. With their best hitter,
Gorilla, leading the squad, the coach anticipates a successful year, despite the presence of the runty
Four Eyes (
Atsushi Ito). But then the coach finds out that his team has to play the dreaded murderous zombie team from Gedo High, a team that makes up its own deadly rules, and he considers forfeiting the entire season. But a new student, the intriguingly named
Jubeh the Baseball (
Tak Sakaguchi, who has appeared in several of
Kitamura's films), shows up and demonstrates his amazing baseball prowess in a fight with the local gang of dropouts.
Jubeh's arrival renews the team's hopes, but when
Four Eyes asks him to play,
Jubeh explains, in a heartrending
musical number, the tragic reason why he's vowed never to play baseball again.
Four Eyes sees through
Jubeh's pain to his genuine love for the game, and convinces him to help the team. But on the day of the big game against Gedo High,
Jubeh finds himself in jail, and
Gorilla and the rest of the Seido team try to forge ahead, with horrific results.
Jubeh eventually gets out of jail, and with the help of some unlikely allies, takes on the Gedo team in a bloody showdown.
Battlefield Baseball, based on a manga by
Gatarô Man, was shown at the
2004 New York Asian American Film Festival.
~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
