Customer Reviews

Samurai Assassin [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Samurai Assassin" is based on a historical event in 1860 when a group of assassins waited by Saurada Gate inside Edo castle to assassinate the lord of the House of Il, who is high up in the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate. This is a Japan on the verge of major changes, represented by the American ships in the harbor. However, the assassins think one of them is a traitor. The main suspects are Tsuruchiyo Niino (Toshirô Mifune), a ronin who wants to become a samurai so that his unknown father will declare himself, and Kurihara Einosuke (Keiju Kobayashi) a high-born samurai who strikes up a friendship with Niino.

As the characters are developed the tension builds as the assassins wait day after day for their prey. The fact that he is staying inside is taken to mean that there is a traitor in their midst and as the tension builds as we realize there is more at stake here that the assassination of a high official of the Shogunate. We also learn as the Tokugawa Shogunate begins to move towards its point of crisis that both sides have the same goal but believe in decidedly different ways of protecting Japan from the influence of the foreigners who are knocking on the door (in terms of reference points this is a whole lot closer to the musical "Pacific Overtures" than the movie "The Last Samurai"). The conclusion takes place in a world of falling snow that lends an unearthly beauty to the bloody carnage, filmed in glorious black & white Tohoscope by Hiroshi Murai (was Quentin Tarantino inspired for the duel between the Bride and O-Ren Ishi in "Kill Bill, Volume 1"? You decide).

This 1965 film offers a nice mix between the historical samurai films of the Fifties (e.g., "The 47 Ronin") and Chan-Bara bloodbaths of the late Sixties (e.g., the "Lone Wolf and Cub" films). It is not so much a true marriage of the two traditions but more beginning in the one approach and ending more decidedly in the other. The film is two hours long but this is not really a concern because of the brisk pacing by director Kihachi Okamoto and the increasing complexity of the story. Of course in front of the camera is Mifune's riveting performance and because of his presence alone we know that his character cannot be a minor player in what is to happen.

"Samurai Assassin" is a film that should appeal to fans of diverse genres of samurai films. I certainly appreciate the sense of history and the detailed narrative that is created, because for me the sword play and the blood-letting always ends up being secondary considerations. The significance of a person's death matters more than the creative way in which they are sliced and diced by the samurai hero. However, "Samurai Assassin" also ends with the sort of irony that is usually found in a Greek tragedy, which is not usually the case with Japanese samurai films.

This B&W masterpiece chronicles the events of late Febraury and early March 1860, the beginning of the fall of the samurai. Toshiro Mifune stars as Niiro, a rumpled samurai looking for employment with a repsectable house, who ends up involved in a plot to assassinate the leader of the Ii clan. Beautifully filmed, the backstory unfolds slowly, emphasizing character over hack-and-slash action. Tension builds nicely throughout, leading to the climactic and bloody battle on a snowy field, where Niiro seeks to make his mark. He does indeed, but not how he had intended.

Anyone familiar with Mifune's collaborations with Akira Kurosawa will know what to expect here, as Mifune is completely gripping as the ultimately doomed hero. Fans of samurai action and classic Japanese filmmaking will love this.

The film, set in the mid-1800's plays out a Greek tragedy through a Japanese lens. The film's basic story of a young man who is denied knowledge of his father's identity, rebels by joining a gang (of ronin), murders his best friend in order to maintain the trust of the gang leader, and ends up, unknowingly, committing one of the most horrific of crimes is amazingly contemporary. The ending is bloody, but the imagined aftermath is more powerful than any fight scene. Mifume and co-stars are excellent. This is a film I could have imagined Mifume and Kurosawa collaborating on.

This a wonderful movie with an intricate plot and storytelling. Not only is Toshiro Mifune great in this film but so is the rest of the cast. Great film work and an excellently filmed sword battle scene as a finale. This ranks as one of the top samurai films I have seen. A must see for anyone who doesn't mind following subtitles. The plot in this movie gets involved so you have to pay attention. It isn't hard to do though because this is a gripping powerful movie.

how far will a man go to succeed in life? This film delves more deeply into the samurai/ronin/political psyche than any other film I have seen! It is a brutal, violent and at the same time beautiful film. The cinematography is flawless. The music is haunting. I usually don't like narration but the narrator in this film takes your breath away! Everything about this film is powerful. Mifune's portrayal of Niiro is fascinating! His is a dark portrait of a very complex man driven to self-loathing and murder by his own ambition. The story jumps through time at a frantic pace yet the film is so well done that you are never confused. The final confrontation in the snowstorm is incredible! There are two rather talkie scenes but these do not diminish the power of the rest of the film. At the end of two very intense hours we are left wondering what might have happened if the truth had been revealed!

I've never been as emotionally affected by a samurai film
as Samurai Assassin! The reason? The director made the
right decision to take his time and allow character
development! That's not all that common within this genre...

Philosophically, there is no right and wrong; these are
just men with conflicting ideas as to the right road for
Japan's future.

The snowy fight scenes in the final moments of the film
are well choreographed... [Bravo!!!] If you find yourself
thinking of William Shakespeare, with regards to poetic
irony, then you'll surely understand why I used the
phrase, "Stings Emotionally".

Mifune is in top form!! You'll watch this one more than
twice! I assure you......

Mifune stars in this telling of an historical event -an assassination plot against a high government official in the last years of the Tokugawa shogunate. Mifune protrays an outcast ronin, unacknowledged son of a high official, who attempts to win riches via participation in the plot. Flashing swords and plenty of human pathos highlighted by artisticly framed B&W photography.

If you love Toshiro Mifune samurai films as I do then you will not be disappointed with this one. I bought this film hoping because it stars Toshiro Mifune that it would be good.
Well I was right on. It is exceptional. I am sure you will enjoy this movie as much as Sanjuro and Seven Samurai.
Enjoy!

I have a pretty nice collection of Japanese/Samurai films on DVD. I bought a copy of this Mifune classic from a guy in France and it became the pride of my collection instantly. If you like samurai films, if you like Japanese films, if you like Toshiro Mifune, if you love film....you must see this lost classic.
I will just say that the story is based on an actual historical event towards the end of the Samurai age.
I can't recommend this film enough! Thank goodness Koch Vision had the sense to finally make it available on DVD!
Better than Yojimbo, Seven Samurai or any Zatoichi.

1860 proved to be one of the bleakest times for the Tokugawa Shogunate. Triggered by a reversal of isolationist policies which allowed the U.S. battleships to port in Japan; the country became divided between factions of samurai clansmen that support isolationist policies and those who embrace the changes made by Naosuke Ii, nicknamed the "Red Devil" (played by Koshiro Matsumoto). Each faction has their own different ideas for the future of Japan, but they all have one thing in common; each faction is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of their goals. What results is a time when assassinations and murder became really common in this very chaotic period.

SAMURAI ASSASSIN (1965) is a film based on real people and true events and is one of the most historically detailed chambara films ever made. It has also been hailed as one of the finest Japanese films of that era. The screenplay by Shinobu Hashimoto is truly involving and thankfully he has a knack for working with great directors. In this film, the depth of detail is blended with violent swordplay that also made director Okamoto Kihachi (Sword of Doom) famous. The film is one of the first to embrace the blood splattering violence in samurai films.

Ii Naosuke is the power behind the Shogun in 1858. After the 14th Shogun died, a youth named Iemochi assumed the position. Ii saw to it that the younger of the two heirs would ascend the throne since he could easily manipulate him. Ii openly embraced Western culture and his decisions angered several factions that support the isolationist rule. The Tengu faction of the Mito clan have devised a plan to assassinate Lord Ii. Among their number is a Bishuu Ronin named Niiro Tsuruchiyo (Toshiro Mifune), a skilled swordsman who supposedly has noble blood coursing through his veins, and only Kisoya and his deceased mother knows his father's identity. For valid reasons, his father's identity must remain unknown to him. Niiro seeks to claim a high rank in the samurai clan by assisting in the plot of Lord Ii and would do anything to succeed.

The film is screaming with characters so it would be to the viewer's advantage to pay careful attention. My review's introduction is a bit unorthodox but in order to appreciate this film, you will need a little background. The past is revealed through flashbacks and Niiro's character is fleshed out through the narrations of Sir Kisoya and Hoshino . The film is a collection of Toho superstars: aside from Toshiro Mifune, the familiar faces include Eijiro Tono (Yojimbo), Yoshio Inaba (Seven Samurai), Takashi Shimura (in almost any Kurosawa film), Michiyo Aratama (Kwaidan) and Koshiro Matsumoto (Chushingura) just to name a few. The movie is about conspiracies, machinations and the lust for political power that had been a driving force during this period.

The Mito "Tengu" faction may see themselves as patriots to their country as they are adamant that Ii Naosuke would eventually lead to Japan's ruin. Therefore, they are paranoid and attempt to dispose of any who may pose a threat to their machinations; as demonstrated by their attempts to find a traitor among their midst. One of the group's leaders narrates his investigation into Niiro Tsuruchiyo's background that results in his character becoming fully fleshed out. The film becomes his story; Niiro is a determined samurai. He is tough, skilled, very ambitious and is looking out for his own advancement. While Hoshino's tale delves into Niiro's current state of mind, old Kisoya (Eijiro Tono) narrates his real background to Okiku (Michiyo Aratama), a woman Niiro fancies because she's a dead-ringer for his lost love. The end result is an effective tale of Tsuruchiyo Niiro and director Okamoto made a very wise decision since the audience can truly become attached to the main character. A very wise move since that film is quite tragic and for a tragedy to become truly effective, the audience has to be invested in its main character.

I don't like being repetitive, but Toshiro Mifune can definitely immerse the audience with raw magnetism. The man bears his soul and becomes Niiro himself. Niiro looks out for number one and his past definitely explains why such a man can be this way. Mifune also displays his prowess in action sequences as he cuts down 9 would-be assailants in a matter of seconds. It is not the manner of which he performs the moves, but the manner that the actor does so very convincingly. If you've seen the quick draw scene is "Sanjuro", then you'll definitely know what I'm talking about. Mifune is an awesome actor and there are few who can match his screen presence; and this film is undoubtedly one of his greatest roles. Action fans will not be disappointed, since there are quite a number of swordfights and the climactic battle in the end adds a lot of violent emotion.

The film is quite pessimistic in its views as expressed by at least three different characters but none more so than Niiro when he says; " This world never works the way you wish it to" and by the film's climax, this statement plays out to its ultimate extreme irony. "SAMURAI ASSASSIN" may seem like an obscure gem compared to other masterpieces made by Kobayashi and Kurosawa, but the film does come with a highly recommended rating from me. I do say it is one of the best. The film does end with a large exclamation point and I didn't want the film to end. Overflowing with awesome talent, and it just demands to be seen.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! [4 ½ + Stars]

Note: The dvd from AnimEigo is kept pretty simple and lacks necessary enhancements. The video isn't bad, but it would need a lot of enhancing. Criterion definitely needs to pick this up.