Ghostroads: A Japanese Rock N Roll Ghost Story (2017) User Reviews

Awful

[PunkyMcJunkie1973 · 1/10 · 30 November 2022]

Amatuerish and terribly written. A bunch of non-actors try to be rock'n'roll but just end up looking like sad Dads.

Not sure what anyone was thinking with this mess. Its incoherent, poorly shot and looks as though it was edited by a cocaine fuelled monkey.

Apparently directed by multiple people, shame none of them are capable of making a film. Hopefully none of these fools make anything else. Also gets extra crud points for having the camera leering on an underage actress, which is a not a surprise given that one of the directors is known for that kind of thing. Gross.

Avoid at all costs. Thank me later.

A musicians movie for the tour bus.

[leepopapdx · 9/10 · 27 January 2018]

This is a classic movie. A Japanese twist on Robert Johnson at the crossroads. The music never disappoints here just pure on fire rock and roll. Manabe Takashi as Tony isn't acting he is rock and roll. Look for all the super cool vintage band gear lotta eye candy! I give a 9 for the good time you'll have watching this with your friends!

When they said this had 'cult' status, did they mean like The Room?

[peeedeee-94281 · 1/10 · 5 September 2018]

I should have seen the warning signs on this one. Not very much written about it online, only one review on IMDB, nobody commenting on the trailer, despite it having been released in early 2017, while Wikipedia says it had 'cult status in Japan'. Well, this movie makes Wiseau's The Room look like Citizen Kane. At least The Room was entertaining in a funny way, this film is neither entertaining nor funny. It doesn't help that 'Tony', the protagonist, has little or no personality. Why should we feel for this guy? I thought the other guitars in the Neatbeats was more charismatic. This film is just a series of scenes of him going into the studio, playing for barely 20 seconds with the band, then him leaving. His band mates literally look like they live in the studio, they're always there! And if Tony's not walking in and out of the studio, he's randomly walking on the street, stuff happens that leaves one scratching your head. And The Music - which they want us to believe makes this like A Hard Day's Night - is barely even there. They don't even play complete songs, just starting half way in and stopping midway. The only good song they play all the way through is what is in the trailer. The pacing is bad, the dialogue is forced full of long pauses like the actors were either trying to remember their lines or they weren't sure if the other person should start talking. Visually, this movie looks like it was shot and edited on a cellphone. Sometimes the image moved smoothly, sometimes it was choppy, like watching a youtube video from 2007. Most irritating was the spooky musical cue they played for Peanut Butter. They played it ALL the time. Yes we get it, he's a ghost! Save your money on this one. I'm all for supporting up and coming film makers, but I think I should be paying for a GOOD product. This one, sorry, I wouldn't even bother streaming for free if it was offered. I would have shut it off after the first 3 minutes.

A Rock and Roll Love Letter

[TheAll-SeeingI · 9/10 · 2 November 2019]

As the contextual setting for the story of a struggling rocker, the sublime and completely-its-own "Ghostroads: A Japanese Rock N Roll Ghost Story" marries a clear love of the very roots of rock n roll with that same era's unique fingerprint on Tokyo's compelling modern-day music scene. This is a wonderfully self-aware and cleverly camp film leveraging the core tenets of rock mythology to tell an immensely charming, engrossing, and absurdly fun story -- and all with a wholly individualized presentation that somehow has no direct comparables. How does one say "imminent cult classic" in Japanese?

The charismatic and enigmatic Mr. Pan plays Tony -- a quaffed Tokyo rocker who fronts the initially underwhelming Screamin' Telstars. While shopping for gear pre-show, he discovers a seemingly haunted amplifier whose resident spirit endows Tony with the rarefied musical powers we dream of when we first reach for a guitar. Literally overnight, Tony becomes a face-melting Chuck Berry doppelgänger, and the crowds take notice. Yet it comes to pass that the possessed amp isn't solely a one-way genie in a bottle: Its spiritual occupant wants something from Tony in return, and that proposed tradeoff places our man at the crossroads between band loyalty and the rapid onset of Lead Singer's Disease.

"Ghostroads..." proudly waves the flags of the wild-hearted spirits of both indie film and rock music, as it's a tale which leans on the best DNA markers from each to create something of its own fabulous and inspired shape. It's further legitimized by a heavy fortification of killer '50's-influenced but resolutely modern Japanese rock, leaving no doubt that its creative team must be well-versed in the machinations of music's great historical engine. It's a reverence that empowers the film to break the language barrier as a vehicle made by music fans for music fans. "Ghostroads: A Japanese Rock N Roll Ghost Story" is aspirational, humorous, and visionary, and with a payout that hits like an adoring punch. - Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful". Cheers!

A great entertaining story that anyone can enjoy.

[carvingthedivine · 10/10 · 7 July 2022]

While Ghostroads could attract the people who love music and Japanese culture, the film is extremely entertaining and can be enjoyed by any human being. I'm not so knowledgable about music but I just enjoyed this film as it is. Many films of this kind require the basic background knowledge of the industry but this film doesn't. This film really cares about anyone who watch it rather than very selected group of fans. Nowadays, there are many films that only care about theme and political correctness. This film doesn't. This film cares about the coherent strong narrative story which cinema should pursue in the first place. Highly recommended!