If you take some comic book styling, in the tradition of 300 or Sin City, computer game imagery, massive CGI set pieces, love and lots of violence, you have Goemon. This Japanese epic, is huge. Love and vengeance are heavily sprinkled throughout, and the glimmer of hope sought by some of the characters is there always, right until the end. Reality and fantasy swirl together in a overwhelming attack on the senses, with huge vistas, sets and battle sequences born out of special effects engulf the screen. It is both breathtaking and absurd. At times the imagery seems straight out of something in your X-box, other moments there are reminders of films like Sin City, utilizing a moving comic book effect. Sometimes it seems a little unrealistic, but this is brushed away before the scene has even ended as you are confronted by another sensory overloaded. Despite this special effects world there is also elements of brilliant story telling, one of pain, suffering, revenge, hope and love. All these elements combine to make an incredible journey for the viewer to go on. There are a few moments of humour to lighten all this bombardment up, as well as some misty eyed moments: I knew it was coming, but when Saizo's son was thrown into the cauldron, the tears welled up. This is a superb film, brilliantly combined different styles, that tell a human story and entertains to the fullest. My only fault was that sometimes the special effects were too clearly special effects. But this is a minor thing among a hugely enjoyable film experience.