BelugaJames

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky

I don’t think anything will ever beat the experience of seeing this for the first time, having no idea what to expect, with a packed midnight movie crowd. Is there really any way to watch this other than the dub? What a fun and completely bonkers movie. Where’s the legacy sequel for this?

BT1886

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky is a film that’s been on my watchlist for quite some time now. I’ve always heard of its insane nature and over-the-top gore, and, uh, yeah…it’s definitely a ride. Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky, based on a Japanesemanga by Masahiko Takajosimply titled Riki-Oh, received a Category III rating in Hong Kong. This greatly affected the film’s box office as it’s pretty much a rating that’s commonly used primarily for erotic material - this made Riki-Ohone of the first films to receive this rating that is not an explicitly erotic picture. Thankfully it was a hit in rentals, as all the teens and kids that were not allowed a way to watch it in theaters wanted to get their hands on this film - I wonder how many were scarred by the insane, and pretty convincing, violence. As for the film itself, it’s just a ton of fun to watch. I don’t particularly find the plot to be interesting, nor did I really connect to any character, albeit it was never director Lam Nai-Choi’sintent for Riki-Ohto be a moving piece of cinema. This is a film that you watch with a group of friends, open up some beers, and enjoy. The quintessential “hell yeah” film.

BT1886

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky

This just gets better and better upon rewatch. It’s the perfect film to put on, get drunk, and watch it with a couple of friends - so I did just that. Not much to say as the film itself isn’t particularly worried with having a heavy hitting story, but I do find Lam Ngai Kai’s persistent, unadulterated love for the craft undeniably endearing. Riki-Oh:The Story of Rickyis dumb fun, but even beneath its over-the-top farce you can find a ton of heart. One of the best.