Samurai

279 posts in 'Samurai'

DVD REVIEW . Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   March 19, 2007   ⋅   Comments [3]

In the past few years AnimEigo has restored and released all the Lone Wolf and Cub films, even going so far as to use their restored footage to manually reassemble a restored version of Shogun Assassin. Now, with Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death, their Lone Wolf and Cub collection is complete (that is, [...]

MOVIE REVIEW . Stereo Future

by Chris   ⋅   December 21, 2006   ⋅   Comment [1]

If there’s one thing Hiroyuki Nakano has demonstrated over the course of his five films, it is an absolute love for life in all its forms. His keen visual style, vibrant use of color (and high contrast black and white), carefully chosen music, and unguarded enthusiasm infuse his films with an undeniable fun and pep [...]

MOVIE REVIEW [Capsulefest] . Demon Spies, Labyrinth of Flames, Otaku Unite

by Chris   ⋅   August 28, 2006   ⋅   Comment now

Okay, here’s another batch of quick and dirty capsule reviews for films we want to talk a little about, but don’t warrant a full review. Up this week: Demon Spies, Labyrinth of Flames, and Otaku Unite.
Demon Spies. Brought to you by writer Koike Kazuo (creator of Lone Wolf and Cub and Lady Snowblood) and director [...]

DVD REVIEW . Shogun Assassin Collector’s Edition

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   August 16, 2006   ⋅   Comment now

I just received my Shogun Assassin Colletor’s Edition DVD through AnimEigo’s amnesty program. The exchange was pretty darn quick – about two weeks between send off and receipt. Since I’ve already reviewed the film, I’ll just be reviewing the new disc.
First and foremost: the transfer. Since AnimEigo had previously restored Sword of Vengeance and Baby [...]

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade movie review

by Chris   ⋅   June 9, 2006   ⋅   Comments [2]

Based on the novel by Futaro Yamada, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (aka: Shinobi 2005, nothing to do with the SEGA game) is a classic tale of star crossed lovers in Tokugawa era Japan. Oboro and Gennosuke, born to opposing ninja clans locked in a centuries long quiet war, have found a love that flies in [...]

DVD REVIEW . Sword of the Beast [Criterion Collection]

by Chris   ⋅   February 5, 2006   ⋅   Comment [1]

We continue our reviews of he films comprising Criterion’s Rebel Samurai Collection. This week we cover the the second film in the set, Sword of the Beast. As mentioned in the previous review all films featured in the set are available on their own.
Now, our Sword of the Beast review.
The Movie:
Way back in highschool [...]

DVD REVIEW . Samurai Rebellion [Criterion Collection]

by Chris   ⋅   January 28, 2006   ⋅   Comment now

Over the next few weeks we will be reviewing the films comprising the Criterion’s Rebel Samurai DVD box set, a collection of “Sixties Swordplay Classics” honoring directors who sought to enact political and social change by expressing conscientious objections to the status quo through period dramas. While each film is available on its own, outside [...]

MOVIE REVIEW . Seven Swords

by Chris   ⋅   December 5, 2005   ⋅   Comments [3]

What is it about the number seven that makes for a successful action tale? Take for example Seven Samurai and its remake, The Magnificent Seven, Seven Years in Tibet… Okay, maybe not that last one. Part Seven Samurai, part Lord of the Rings, Seven Swords, the opening film of the 62nd Venice International Film Festival, [...]

MOVIE REVIEW . Shogun Assassin

by Chris   ⋅   November 14, 2005   ⋅   Comments [2]

Take the first two Lone Wolf and Cub films. Remove 90% of all story exposition. Keep all the best and bloodiest action scenes, and fit them to ultra-wide Tohoscope, regardless of original aspect ratios. Now set the fight scenes to groovy moog synth music, craft a threadbare English narration to tie the sequences together, [...]

Zatoichi (2003) movie review screener!

by Chris   ⋅   April 24, 2004   ⋅   Comments [4]

BEAT TAKESHI BEATDOWN To say that Zatoichi is one of cinema’s all time most iconic anti heroes would be an understatement. The tale of the blind, gambling masseur turned expert swordsman has spawned more sequels than Bond and generated countless imitators ranging from Marvel Comic’s cult hero, Daredevil, to Phillip Noyce’s Zatoichi remake, Blind Fury. [...]

Love Object he-said-she-said movie review

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   February 14, 2004   ⋅   Comments [2]

HOW ROMANTIC ARE YOU? We were lucky enough to be able to catch one of the midnight Valentines Day screenings of Love Object at San Francisco’s Independent Film Festival.
HE-SAID: Inspired by the cadaverous “beauties” of RealDoll.com, Love Object is the story of Kenneth (Desmond Harrington), a socially inept technical writer who falls head over [...]

Samurai Fiction movie review

by Kris   ⋅   January 16, 2004   ⋅   Comments [3]

THIS MOVIE SLAUGHTERS KILL BILL and KUROSAWA! Just give reputed rebel Hiroyuki Nakano 45 days and he’ll return with a completely unique, extensively tricked-out treasure that indulges its audience in everything that works well in cinema today, as well as many decades past. Innovative, incredible and awe-inspiring, this film combines seemingly spontaneous shots with amazingly [...]

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