646f9e108c Ami is a typical college girl. She's bright, friendly, popular and athletic, with nothing to set her apart from other girls her age other than the fact that she is an orphan, left to care for her younger brother after her father committed suicide after being falsely accused of murder. But while there is tragedy in their past, the siblings' future looks good, except for one thing. Ami's brother has racked up a considerable debt to another boy at school, and that boy just happens to be the heir to a clan of vicious ninja-yakuza. Ami's brother can't pay, violence breaks out and in the course of trying to avenge her brother, Ami is captured by the clan. They torture her and hack her arm right off. Ami escapes, barely alive, and is taken in by the owners of a machine shop who build her a customized, bullet-spewing arm. From that point, the quest for revenge is on in earnest.
Maimed while seeking revenge, a girl becomes stronger than ever.
Recap: Yu is bullied by the son of a yakuza leader and his gang, to the extent that he is actually killed. His only remaining family, his big sister Ami vows to take revenge. That quest don't go too well though, resulting in the loss of Ami's forearm. Fortunately she can attach a machine gun to the stump, and the quest for revenge can begin again.<br/><br/>Comments: Well, the standard is set right away, so you will know what to expect just by watching the first few minutes. And the standard is low. Sure, I didn't expect any award winning drama in any way, but the extent of blood, gore and violence is so over the top it is beyond silly. And then it continues on for 90 more minutes, in the same style, more or less over the top.<br/><br/>To make a slasher movie like this actually demands quite a fine balance. It should be outrageously gory, but it loses most of its edge if it goes over the top, past a certain hard defined line. Machine Girl is so ridiculously beyond that line so it becomes dull and repetitive. But that's a matter of taste I suppose.<br/><br/>3/10
The trailer for this film apparently made some impact on the internet upon its release. When I saw it, I was really worried that Machine Girl might turn out to be another lame Japanese action flick along the same lines as Versus; but after having seen the film, I'm pleased to say that Machine Girl is a completely mental, over the top and thoroughly enjoyable thriller that does not disappoint! Machine Girl is primarily a tale of revenge, with the revenge being served up in a variety of gory ways by various extra limbs; which come in the form of machine guns and chainsaws. The film focuses on Ami Hyuga, a young schoolgirl who, due to the death of her parents, is left with the task of looking after her younger brother on her own. Her brother has found himself in trouble with a group of 'Ninja Yakuzas' who want the money they are owed, and when he can't pay; they kill him. It's not long before the same set of gangsters get their hands on the girl and after a brutal torturing leads to her losing her left arm; she swears vengeance on those who killed her brother.<br/><br/>The film is extremely violent, but the violence is served up with a good dose of humour; and while that does mean the film can't be taken seriously, it is seriously fun to watch! There's really very little substance in the film at all and the focus is always on the style; but this really isn't a problem as the style is always enough to hold interest. The good ideas do come in the way that the violence is dished out however; the weapons on display are stunning and the fight scenes are very well choreographed. The film is also extremely violent, and while it is all done humorously; the violence is still plenty enough to shock some viewers. The way that the blood flows is spectacular and mirrors the bloodshed in the classic Japanese Pinky films. Lead actress Minase Yashiro is stunning both in looks and her performance - it surely does take talent to play a vengeful teenager in a schoolgirl's outfit and make it believable! The film pretty much plays out how you would expect it to; and it all builds into an entertaining climatic battle sequence. Things are left wide open for a sequel at the end and I know that I would certainly be up for round two!