Goemon review

A camp martial arts romp

Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

In 16th-Century Japan, master thief Goemon becomes embroiled in a power struggle when a mysterious box falls into his possession.

Yôsuke Eguchi plays the Robin Hood-like title role more Errol Flynn than Russell Crowe – a vaguely camp bounder – and the mix of romance, adventure and hokey comedy is pure summer blockbuster.

Don’t expect the elegant acrobatics of other period martial arts movies; instead, fashion photographer turned-director Kazuaki Kiriya gives us anime-style blood splatter and CGI landscapes.

More garish than stylish, Goemon is best viewed on a screen the size of a small country.