Customer Reviews

The Sonny Chiba Collection: Shogun's Ninja

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not you average movie, unless you have seen all of chibas samurai movies. I found it very enjoyable. I don't have this version, but I did get 9 movies for $6, so for the price, this movie rates more like a 5/5, but just reviewing it as a movie, it was pretty good. Sonny chiba's fav apprentice is back for this one and shows a lot of the stuff that he did in Ninja in the Dragon's den. His dad was kille dand now hes like that last of his line and he needs to defeat chiba's evil ninja character. Some very good exhibitions and good hand to hand. All the action is VERY good, but there is not enough, all in all final fight was good, very good parts in the movie all the way through. Much better than ninja wars-a similiar movie that came with this collection.

I saw this film in 1985 when I was 13, and was knocked off my feet due to the fact that not only was this a good story, but the music took it to a different place. The music was a jazz infused score that reminded me of the sounds that were coming out of Japan in the 70's thanks to the Japanese Jazz/Fusion group Hiroshima. Japan was really big into urban contemporary jazz at this time when Hiroshoma ushered in this style into their culture. Hiroyuki "Henry" Sanada became a favorite Japanese actor of mine as a result of this film, and I made it a mission to track down every film he had done. The music made it an unusual treat in this film, especially Sanada's dance sequence that gave you a glimpse into his former pop star days. In case you didn't know Henry Sanada was a 70's pop star in Japan for a minute; he also is a Shakespearean trained actor with an immense classical background in theatre. Linking up with Sonny Chiba's Japan Action Club as one of Chiba's stunt actor's took him to another level in his career, which is why at age 43 he is still doing his thing in films such as The Last Samurai and Rush Hour 3. It's hard not to love this film, especially for those with open minds to alternatives in Japanese cinema.

If you aren't a fan of the Sonny Chiba ensemble, you most likely will not like this film, and if you are a fan, then you still might not like this film. This film is one of their less memorable films.

The warlord, Hideyoshi (but I can't remember if it is Hideyoshi Toyotomi, or a fictional warlord)sends his vassal, Shiranui (played by Sonny Chiba), who has ties with the Koga ninjas, to destroy the Momochi clan, an Iga ninja group. The reason: The Momochi clan has a stash of hidden gold, its whereabouts which will be known when two daggers are puyt together. Shiranui's side destroy the village and kill their leader, Sandayu Momochi, and get one of the daggers. One of the survivors is Takamaru, a boy who escapes overseas. Ten years later (played by Hiroyuki Sanada), he returns for revenge.

It's a standard Japanese revenge plot. The only suspense is with Hattori Hanzo, the leader of another Iga ninja clan. He also knows of the daggers and the gold. Will he be an ally to Takamaru, or an enemy?

As far as the action, there is nothing special with this movie over any other Hiroyuki Sanada, Sonny Chiba, or Etsuko Shiomi film. You do get to see Hirouyuki Sanada do some ritualistic dance, that I've not seen in other films, but this did not move me, either.

So, it's got this plot twist, a dance by Sanada, and everything else is standard. Why a two, and not a three star rating? I really couldn't connect with the characters. Without a connection with the characters, the action needs to take command, and it didn't. The plot had a little intrigue, but it was too little to make a difference.

Bottom line, if you are intent, for completeness sake, on seeing all the films by one of the actors who appear in this film, it's not that painful. But if you've never seen a film by the ensemble together, pass this one up and start with a different film these three made together.

This is a samurai flick that put Sanada on the map as one of the great jindai, or otherwise actors. The plot is solid, if a little water colored. No need to fight with the sword when you got two magical daggers and hot chicks fighting for your love.

I first rented this from Blockbuster on VHS in the early 90's when I became interested in Japanese cinema, martial arts and history. I immediately fell in love with this flick, which takes incredible liberties with historical figures, but delivers some very memorable showdowns. Sometimes funny, sometimes brutal, sometimes bizarre, sometimes educational, always entertaining!

A ruthless warlord bent on gaining control of Japan. At the behest of the Emperor, he kills the head of the Mimoshi clan and then comes after his family. And then comes the REVENGE what kind of plots would there be if it wasn't for revenge. "Vengenace is mind saith the Lord" This movie spun anime flick ninja scroll which is really good check that out too! Holla dubose123@verizon.net