History Film / Gojoe

* {{Ninja}}: Shanao and his two cohorts definitely evoke this, as they [[DarkIsEvil dress in black]], wear [[MalevolentMaskedMen lacquered black facemasks]], and kill everybody in the room mmany times.

* TakeYouWithMe: [[spoiler:Benkei's last trick against Shanao.]]

''Gojoe Reisenki'' (''Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle'') is a 2000 fantasy/samurai film by avant-garde director Sogo Ishii. It takes the long-standing Japanese myth of Yoshitsune and Benkei and turns it into an ExternalRetcon, telling that the valiant Yoshitsune now a power-mad super-ninja, while the brawling Benkei was once a bloodthirsty warrior but is now a repentant Buddhist monk.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Benkei is dead, Tetsukichi is blind, and the Genji are waging war against the Heike again anyways, meaning even more war and famine will fall over Japan. However, the real Yoshitsune is dead and replaced by a much less psycho imposter, meaning the conflict will be less bloody, and at least civilian and monks will be respected. Benkei also died more or less in peace with itself, and the baby he revived is alive and well, symbolizing a new future.]]

* DrivenToSuicide: Suzaku commits seppuku in desperation after ensing his lord Tadanori's death.

* GodhoodSeeker: Watching the CrapsackWorld Japan has turned into, Shanao has concluded the Buddhist gods have abandoned it and only a superpowered warrior like him can rule it.

* JitterCam: The fight sequences are long, long stretches of this, albeit at high shutter speeds (which makes them a little less, well, jittery).
* {{Ninja}}: Shanao and his two cohorts [[DarkIsEvil dress in black]], wear [[MalevolentMaskedMen lacquered black facemasks]], and kill everybody in the room. Many, many times.

* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer: The ultimate conclusion of the film. [[spoiler:After trying to find his spiritual redemption through pacifism and Buddhist mumbo jumbo, Benkei discovers only an actual fighter can save the day now. He relinquishes his vows at the end, fully embraces his demonic warrior side, and opens a 55-gallon drum of kickass on Shanao; only by that way he manages to kill him and save Japan's soul.]]

* AGodIAm: Watching the CrapsackWorld Japan has turned into, Shanao has concluded the Buddhist gods have abandoned it and only a superpowered warrior like him can rule it.
* AnyoneCanDie. All bets are off.

A samurai film by avant-garde director Sogo Ishii, which takes the long-standing Japanese myth of Yoshitsune and Benkei and turns it on its head. The valiant Yoshitsune (here Shanao) is now a power-mad super-ninja; the brawling Benkei was once a thief but is now a repentant Buddhist monk.

* BoltOfDivineRetribution. [[spoiler: Benkei uses his broken sword as a lightning rod in the, um, electrifying climax.]]
* CoolSword. Onkirimaru ... at least until it breaks.
* CrapsackWorld. The rag-end of the Heian era, a period when it was not uncommon to see corpses abandoned in the streets. See ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'' for more on that score.
* DualWielding. Shanao does this.
* ForTheEvulz. Shanao's motive for his death spree.
* HighPressureBlood. EVERY SINGLE TIME Shanao swings his sword, this happens.
* JitterCam. The fight sequences are long, long stretches of this, albeit at high shutter speeds (which makes them a little less, well, jittery).
* {{Ninja}}. Shanao and his three cohorts [[DarkIsEvil dress in black]], wear [[MalevolentMaskedMen lacquered black facemasks]], and kill everybody in the room. Many, many times.
* OffWithHisHead. At least one character loses his, on-camera.
* RainOfArrows. Fired by the security forces at Gojoe Bridge, although they're mainly used to illuminate the battleground.
* RedOniBlueOni. Benkei and Tetsukichi.
* ReforgedBlade. Onikirimaru.
* ScreamingBirth. Asagiri, a woman Benkei lends aid to, has one of these.
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill. The weapons cache that [[spoiler: Benkei]] brings to the final fight. Completely justified, as every single weapon is trashed in the fight.
* TrashcanBonfire. The homeless camp is like a Heian-era version of this.
* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer. [[spoiler: Benkei relinquishes his vows at the end and opens a 55-gallon drum of kickass on Shanao.]]

* CrapsackWorld. The rag-end of the Heian era, a period when it was not uncommon to see corpses abandoned in the streets. See {{Rashomon}} for more on that score.

Not to be confused with ''GIJoe'', of course.