Product Details

• Actors: Robert McCollum, Kazuya Nakai, John Swasey, Norio Wakamoto, Johnny Yong Bosch
• Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: Japanese, English
• Subtitles: English
• Dubbed: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Funimation
• DVD Release Date: October 12, 2010
• Run Time: 325 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003SPDSEO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #163,694 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Based on the Capcom video game series, Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings (2009) is an over-the-top samurai adventure set during the wars that led to the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa Shoguns. The battles among the provincial lords take a back seat to the rivalry between Sanada Yukimura ("The Tiger Cub of Kai") and Date Masamune ("The One-Eyed Dragon"). They're forced to ally against Oda Nobunaga, the brutal but charismatic general who conquered most of Japan--depicted as a monster who slurps sake from a human skull. The large cast includes fantastically costumed feudal lords, loyal warriors, and scantily clad female ninjas. The period battles feature such unexplained anachronisms as a Gundam-like giant robot, machine guns that fire endless rounds of ammunition in the era of the harquebus, and the reins on Masamune's horse, which resemble the handlebars of a low rider's Harley. Director Itsuro Kawasaki and screenwriter Yasuyuki Muto use some real names and places in their fantasy, but killing off Ieyasu Tokugawa as a boy poses something of a problem: it's like shooting George Washington at the start of a Revolutionary War epic. The battles and duels recall Dragon Ball, with the heroes radiating auras of colored energy and punching each other through walls. But the endless combat gives the viewer little sense of the progress of the greater war. The story seems to end with episode 12, only to veer off in a new direction in episode 13--which presumably continues in Sengoku Basara Two (2010). Samurai Kings may make sense to players of the original game, but the uninitiated will find themselves hopelessly lost in its alternate reality. (Rated TV 14: graphic violence, violence against women, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

(1. Azure and Crimson: A Fateful Encounter! 2. Horrific! Confrontation at Okehazawa! 3. Vagabond, Maede Keiji! 4. Wavering Scarlet Flower--Loyalty That Brings Sorrow! 5. Brutal! The Righteous Battle of Nagashima and Shitaragahara! 6. Bonds Torn Asunder--Mortifying Retreat for Masamune! 7. Marauding Villain! Two Dragons Duel in Earnest Under the Moon! 8. Great Temple of Carnage! Kojiro in Dire Straits! 9. The Tiger of Kai Dies at Mitsuhide! 10. Yokimura Beyond Recovery? The Date Army's Tearful Disbandment! 11. Mitsuhide's Betrayal! Jonnoji Temple Goes Up in Flames! 12. Azuchi Castle Keep--A Fight to the Death for Tomorrow! 13. Clash in the Inland Sea of Seto! Fugaku, the Great Fire-Belching Fortress of the Sea!)

Product Description

Based on the brutal world created by the masters at Capcom.

Sengoku Basara drops you directly into the burning battlefields of feudal Japan, where rival warlords hack and slash their way to total domination. Each conqueror wields a special attack that boosts their powers of devastation, and each commands a horde of relentless warriors. But when a supreme evil – the Demon Lord – threatens the land, these fierce generals launch a co-op campaign of annihilation and build an army of armies to obliterate their common foe. As the front line grows crowded with gun-toting, mechanized samurai and mystical ninja, some will say that war is hell – Sengoku Basara proves it can also be kick ass.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One word sums up this series: AWESOME. October 27, 2010

By PetraDragoon

Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase

Based on the world of the Sengoku Basara videogames which are [loosely] based on the infamous Sengoku Period in Japanese history, Sengoku Basara is a mish-mash of explosive action, slapstick comedy, and romance caught in a whirlwind war for supremacy. In the words of a reviewer on ANN, it's "JAPANESE HISTORY MAXIMUM". And I loved every second of it.

Story:
While the Japanese audience are very familiar with the Sengoku period and its many players, us foreigners might have a bit of a rough time recognizing the famous samurai and battles that pepper the Sengoku Basara universe. With a large cast, SB works quickly to familiarize viewers with the varied generals and their respective heavily-named territories, focusing especially on Masamune Date, the Big Boss of Oshu [an utter badass] and Lord Shingen and his (servant? protege?) Yukimura Sanada of the Takeda Clan. Main villain Oda Nobunaga (he has one HELL of a theme song) explodes onto the scene in episode 2 leaving a wake of blood, fire and lightning in his path and forcing the generals of Japan into a somewhat uneasy alliance to try and take him down. I don't want to give away too much, but essentially the series revolves around the east, west, and Nobunaga fighting eachother. While this seems like moody and heavy stuff, SB manages to balance its relatively dark material with hilarious character interaction (I never get tired of Shingen punching the hell out of Yukimura), stirring drama and a refreshingly modern sensibility. Fans of the series (or of the sengoku period) will be able to follow the series kinetic pace easily as it reflects the games' pace, however new-comers to the series may be lost in a swirling vortex: utterly confused but dazzled at the same time. While prior knowledge is not necessary to enjoy the show, it certainly helps to know who the characters are ahead of time, else you'll be confused just who that old guy bein shot on the beach is [Yoshihiro Shimazu, if anyone is wondering].

Characters:
While there are a lot of them, luckily each is easily recognizable due to interesting character design and memorable personalities. You'll definitely find a handful of characters that you just adore, and even the ones you don't like very much have some worthy quality to them that makes them intriguing. Each character has a signature style and the voice actors portray their roles exceptionally well. The generals are utterly over the top in terms of fighting strength (they blow up MOUNTAINS) but it is just so much fun to watch and seems believable within the context of the universe. There are some inside jokes about the characters that pop-up that might not be recognizable to an audience not familiar with the Sengoku Period, but a quick trip to wikipedia fixes that up in a jiffy.

Animation:
I ordered the Blu-Ray and WOW does this series look good! Almost movie-quality animation that is awe-inspiring to behold, particularly the lightning fast fight scenes that roar off the screen. Simply gorgeous!!

Music:
Epic pulse-pounding rock music and war drums is this series bread and butter, and it serves well to the overall intense atmosphere and adds a dramatic flourish to the fight scenes. The OP and the ED fit the mood of the show and, I daresay, make your spirit soar with passion!! hell yeah! PUT YA GUNS ON!!!

Final Verdict:

Great for hardcore anime vets, great for fighting game fans, fans of samurai or Japanese history, fans of giant robots (yes, there is a giant robot character), great for even non-anime fans who need a gateway drug- man, this show is awesome. A fantastic choice for a viewing in an anime club or just about anywhere. While newbies to the show may be confused story-wise, but the story is not the main focus of the show: awesomeness is. No matter who watches it, you'll find something to like about SB. And for 35$? You can't go wrong people!! BUY IT.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Japanese History Just got a Lot More Awesome! January 11, 2012

By Samuel J. White

Format:Blu-ray

Based on a video game series that itself turned Japanese history into a comic book, this is the coolest anime show I've seen in quite some time. You see, the "Sengoku" of the title refers to the "Sengoku" or "Warring States" period of Japanese history, which lasted over 100 years and saw constant battle as numerous factions fought for territory and control. Several of the characters are even based on actual people...but here they are given flashy, colorful outfits that make them look like medieval superheroes/villains, weild badass kung-fu weapons, have nicknames like "One-Eyed Dragon", "Tiger of Kai" and "The Devil King", spout dialogue that sounds like Sheakespeare on testosterone(it's cooler than it sounds), and use DBZ-style super powered martial-arts moves that defy the laws of physhics. One character even has a mortorcycle handle bars and exhaust pipes on his horse! If you think that sounds over the top...well, thats the whole idea.

I'll admit that some of the characters are fairly shallow (a couple don't even have any personality at all), but given the source material (the SB games have more action than plot) and that the series is so short & so crowded, it does good with what it's got. And its good points more than make up for its flaws. It has beautiful animation, high octane action scenes, good character moments between the mayhem, and even provides equal opportunity fan service (not only are there men with handsome/pretty faces and great bodies, it throws in a few hot babes, chiefly a well endowed ninja chick with a costume that also defies the laws of physhics)! And really, you cant ask for much more than that in a good anime show.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Are you ready ghuys?!!!! March 1, 2012

By NC

Format:Blu-ray

Yes, that is ghuys, not guys. The words of Date Masamune in this series always sound better when you add his little accent.

If there is any series done which reeks of more testosterone fueled action than Basara, I haven't seen it yet. This series takes the warring states period and injects it with a dose of about 1000 energy drinks. Is it meant to be accurate? No. Is it meant to obey the laws of physics? No. Is it meant to be an action packed show where bitter enemies band together to face a common foe? Yes.

That is mostly what both seasons sum up to be. It is not an over the top emotional drama story or a feel good story where enemies come to love each other. It is an action series showing the strength found when rivals put aside differences and join forces. The two most prominent heroes are the ones gracing the box cover: Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune. The epic rivalry between these two knows no end. Their battles always engulf entire battlefields and regular soldiers are but ants before them.

Sounds wild, off the wall, and a bit over the top right? Well, that is mostly what this series is about. However, there is some story mixed into this parade of sword slinging action. Most centers around Yukimura and Masamune. But as you get to meet more Sengoku generals, you will find some rather fun characters in the mix. This is after all, a very big series in Japan. We only get the ripples from this in the form of the anime and video games.

But that doesn't mean this show isn't without it's issues. Yes that is a 4 star rating up there, but I would rank it more a 4-4.5. Why not a solid 5? Because the two seasons are really not all that different. Events are different but the same general structure is there. Don't expect the general flow of the plot to change much between season 1 and 2. Everyone happy killing each other...nemesis arises to threaten their fun, beats them up a bit...rivals ally to defeat nemesis...everyone goes back to killing each other in peace. It is almost the kind of plot you'd find from an old superhero show.

So why on earth is it any good? Simple. The characters, the action, and even some of the bits of backstory...it all molds together well and it keeps you watching. Despite the predictable flow, I can't fault it for serving it's purpose of being great entertainment. This show isn't going to win Academy Awards, but if you want an action packed, sword slinging, good time...can't go wrong with Sengoku Basara.