As a radical détournement of bourgeois cultural hegemony, this largely fails to effectively apply dialectical materialism to its subject. Instead, the viewer is subjected to boorish name-dropping, misogynist jokes parading as sexually revolutionary wit, and lame plugs for Champ libre publications.
It is not a Japanese karate film being détourned, as many critics and the film itself claim at times, but a Hong Kong film shot in South Korea. The protagonists are unarmed Taekwondo practitioners resisting armed Japanese oppression. Nothing is made of even this in the Situationist commentary, which instead promotes armed violence in revolt.
In general, the elements most obviously suited to being repurposed are ignored in favor of simply putting slogans in the characters' mouths. Presumably, with the intent of eliciting a knowing chuckle from those in on the agenda. Surprising that a sinologist such as Viénet would not draw upon Eastern traditions of cinematic narration to make a more informed critique.
In general, the radical potential of the film and its context are ignored, and a strictly one-sided technique is employed to layer on dogma. A few of the post-Marxist jokes and historical references work, but most of them do not.
It is not a Japanese karate film being détourned, as many critics and the film itself claim at times, but a Hong Kong film shot in South Korea. The protagonists are unarmed Taekwondo practitioners resisting armed Japanese oppression. Nothing is made of even this in the Situationist commentary, which instead promotes armed violence in revolt.
In general, the elements most obviously suited to being repurposed are ignored in favor of simply putting slogans in the characters' mouths. Presumably, with the intent of eliciting a knowing chuckle from those in on the agenda. Surprising that a sinologist such as Viénet would not draw upon Eastern traditions of cinematic narration to make a more informed critique.
In general, the radical potential of the film and its context are ignored, and a strictly one-sided technique is employed to layer on dogma. A few of the post-Marxist jokes and historical references work, but most of them do not.