Goemon (2009)
A visually audacious Japanese action-fantasy following the legendary ninja bandit Ishikawa Goemon through feudal intrigue and spectacular combat.
Goemon - Movie Information
- Original Title: Goemon
- Release Year: 2009
- Directed by: Kazuaki Kiriya
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy
- Runtime: 2h 8m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 17, 2009 (France)
- Alternative Titles: GOEMON (JP), 五右卫门 (CN), The Legend of Goemon (NL), Goemon - Die Legende des Ninja Kriegers (DE)
- Production Companies: Kinoshita Management, Shochiku, Warner Bros. Japan, Daiichi, Kinoshita Komuten, Eisei Gekijo, KIRIYA PICTURES, DWANGO CONTENTS, TV Asahi, dentsu
- Production Countries: Japan
Goemon - Plot
Follow the infamous ninja bandit named Ishikawa Goemon (Yosuke Eguchi) in an epic story. One night while looting treasure from Nanban (Southern Barbarians), Goemon finds a mysterious box hidden inside a secret grave. A forgotten relic from the past containing untold powers.
Goemon - Trailer
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Goemon - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Kazuaki Kiriya
Main Cast
- Yosuke Eguchi
- Hirosue Ryoko
- Takao Osawa
- Jun Kaname
- Mikijiro Hira
- Masatô Ibu
- Tetsuji Tamayama
- Ryo
- Erika Toda
- Eriko Sato
Writers
- Kazuaki Kiriya
Producers
- Takashige Ichise
- Kazuaki Kiriya
Goemon - FAQs
What is Goemon about?
Goemon follows the legendary ninja bandit Ishikawa Goemon, who stumbles upon a mysterious box hidden in a secret grave while looting treasure. The relic holds untold powers and drags him into a sweeping conspiracy set against the turbulent backdrop of feudal Japan's warring factions.
Is Goemon based on a real historical figure?
Yes! Ishikawa Goemon was a real outlaw and folk hero of late 16th-century Japan, often compared to Robin Hood for stealing from the rich. The film takes considerable creative liberties, blending historical figures like Tokugawa Ieyasu and Sen no Rikyu into a stylized, fantastical action epic.
Where can you stream Goemon online?
You can check all current streaming and rental options for Goemon on JustWatch, which tracks availability across platforms in your region. Availability can change, so JustWatch is the best place to find the most up-to-date viewing options.
What makes Goemon's visual style so distinctive?
Director Kazuaki Kiriya, who also served as cinematographer and editor, crafted a hyper-stylized aesthetic heavily reliant on CGI-drenched environments and graphic-novel-inspired compositions. The result is a film that looks closer to a painted fantasy world than a conventional live-action period piece.
Who are the main actors in Goemon?
Yosuke Eguchi leads the cast as the charismatic ninja bandit Goemon Ishikawa. He's joined by Hirosue Ryoko as Chacha Asai, Takao Osawa as rival ninja Saizo Kirigakure, and Masatô Ibu as the formidable Ieyasu Tokugawa, among a strong ensemble of Japanese talent.
Is Goemon connected to the Lupin III franchise?
This film is not related to the Lupin III anime franchise, despite sharing the Goemon name. The 2009 movie is a standalone live-action epic drawing directly from Japanese historical legend, not from the manga or anime series featuring Goemon Ishikawa XIII.
How was Goemon received by critics?
Critical reception was mixed. Many praised the film's breathtaking visual ambition and Kiriya's bold stylistic choices, while others felt the relentless CGI spectacle overshadowed character depth and narrative coherence. Fans of visually driven action cinema and Japanese period epics tend to appreciate it most.
Did Goemon perform well at the box office?
Goemon was produced on a budget of around $9 million and earned approximately $16 million at the box office, making it a modest commercial success in Japan. While not a blockbuster, the film's returns reflected solid domestic interest in its ambitious visual spectacle.
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