Gintama is an alternate-history gag manga by Hideaki Sorachi. Gintoki Sakata is our lazy, nosepicking, Jump reading hero and together with him we have Shinpachi and Kagura who together form Odd Jobs Gin-chan. Japan has been invaded aliens in this alternate setting and that's all you really need to know about the back story to watch this film.
This film is a remake of the orginal Benizakura arc from the actual show (episodes 58-61) and isn't much different from the first version of the arc. You get the same hazy fragments of Gintokis past and the story is the same. Even though it's been a long time since I watched the episodes the film is a remake of, I would say even the jokes are the same. Since it's originally based on the comic, after all.
If you aren't sure of what to expect from the shows Gintama and Gintama', this film is a good start. you get the action, humour and setting with an actual arc from Gintama.
I liked this a lot, but I also love Gintama. Now it's been a while since I watched this so I won't give this a rate, but I do recommend this film. If you don't like it, you shouldn't try out Gintama, and if you don't like Gintama, don't watch the film. It's about as easy as that.
PS. I watched Porco Rosso with my friend S - she know who she is - the other day and the film was completely pointless. It was promising and had potential, but it's a mystery to me how someone can like the film, as it certainly wasn't worth the watch. Pointlessly spent time. I figured I could mention that here, since it certainly isn't worth making a whole post just to tell you a film is completely pointless.
