this is a live action adaptation of a manga and/or anime, set in a Japan reality that has been taken over by aliens that obsoleted the samurai class. the story is about a team of unusual characters investigating a serial murder which leads to a more sinister plot. depending on the parents and the society you live in, this film might be deemed unsuitable for younger children because there are crude jokes, violent actions, gun shooting, killing, cigarette smoking, etc. if you are or you are occasionally into silly, exaggerations (the bombastic), corny stuffs, and you are also a fan of anime and manga, do check this film out for its antics. it's a, you like it, or you don't.

humor sometimes pops out in moments least expected. the humor is plain silly. sometimes crude, often (over-)exaggerated. it is sometimes accompanied with corny dialogues and parody that reference a variety of other works. although this is an action comedy, there is an element of fantasy in it, and also a mild serious mood that weaves in and out throughout the film.

i am not sure if there is dubbing (voice over) in this film, but the spoken dialogues match with the lips' movements. i really appreciate that. part of what makes the film enjoyable is the actors' performances. the actors are deep into role-playing their characters, so much so that i imagine they are all hardcore manga/anime fans.

i come into this film feeling handicapped as i am ignorant of the Gintama universe, characters, stories and plots. but, the film is persuasive enough to make me want to check out other Gintama live action film and animated film. it is enjoyable, and would have been even more so if i am younger and/or familiar with the Gintama universe. there are definite aspects in the film that could have been made better, and hopefully the subsequent sequels do not disappoint.