"Shinobi: Heart under Blade" is a rare live-action release from FUNimation, a company known more for their animated offerings. However, if "Shinobi" is an example of the live-action films they can license, I heartily hope they bring more stuff over. "Shinobi" is a fantastic, action-packed, ninja-filled, thriller that has plenty to keep both guys and girls entertained- outrageous fighting action and angst-ridden romantic drama.
It is Romeo and Juliet. With ninjas. As ninjas make everything better, this movie is much more fun to watch than your average Romeo and Juliet story. Set during the Tokugawa Shogunate of the 1600's, "Shinobi" tells the tale of two rival ninja clans- the Kouga of the Manjidani and the Iga of the Tsubagakure, who currently exist under a fragile peace treaty. The Tokugawa, fearing the power of these ancient clans and knowing that their feud could eventually disrupt his rule, decides to play them against each other in order to eliminate them both. His plan is disguised as a contest to help him determine who will be the heir to the Shogunate. The top five fighters of each clan must do battle, and whichever side is left standing will decide who the heir will be. The contest is a ruse, of course, a framework for the Tokugawa to manipulate the clans into annihilating each other.
Unfortunately, the forced fighting disrupts a secret love affair. Oboro Iga, the heir to the Tsubagakure clan and a fierce warrior in her own right, is in love with Gennosuke Kouga, the heir of the Manjidani clan. They have been meeting secretly in the woods, dreaming of a time when their clans would find real peace and they could get married. Now, thanks to the Tokugawa's cruel plan, they are compelled to meet on the battlefield not as lovers, but as enemies. What follows is a furious, violent, and fantastic series of ninja duels between the rival clan members, each with his or her own supernatural ninja skill. Oboro and Gennosuke struggle to find a way out of their impossible situation, but fate presses down heavily upon them. The time of the ninja is coming to an end.
Watching "Shinobi" is a lot like watching a live-action version of anime. In fact, FUNimation has also released the animated version of the same story, known as "Basilisk". What "Shinobi" has going for it is great special effects and fine performances by lead actors Yukie Nakama and Joe Odagiri. I am a big fan of Yukie Nakama, having enjoyed her comedic work in the live action "Gokusen" television series (how I wish that would be released on DVD here). "Shinobi" reveals her to be an excellent dramatic actress too. She really brings a luminous, yet somber and pessimistic edge to her character. Her performance is deep yet restrained, very fitting of the cool colors worn by her character's clan. Nakama does a good job of conveying suppressed passion behind formal speech patterns. Odagiri's Gennosuke is more outwardly passionate and hopeful of finding a solution to their problem. Clad in warm earthen colors, Gennosuke is the gentle, soft heart of his clan, and he has no wish to fight. Unfortunately it will take more than optimism to avoid their cruel fate.
The special effects are believable, and really bring the characters to life. I watched the anime before seeing this live action version, and wondered how they would translate some of the crazy ninja techniques. The effects team in "Shinobi" does a great job of recreating moves and attacks in imaginative yet plausible ways through a combination of wire work and CG. The look of the film is realistic, unsaturated, and somewhat gritty. It is not quite as aesthetically slick as some Hong Kong action films these days, but it is still a beautiful film thanks to the impressive scenery and costumes.
It is Romeo and Juliet. With ninjas. As ninjas make everything better, this movie is much more fun to watch than your average Romeo and Juliet story. Set during the Tokugawa Shogunate of the 1600's, "Shinobi" tells the tale of two rival ninja clans- the Kouga of the Manjidani and the Iga of the Tsubagakure, who currently exist under a fragile peace treaty. The Tokugawa, fearing the power of these ancient clans and knowing that their feud could eventually disrupt his rule, decides to play them against each other in order to eliminate them both. His plan is disguised as a contest to help him determine who will be the heir to the Shogunate. The top five fighters of each clan must do battle, and whichever side is left standing will decide who the heir will be. The contest is a ruse, of course, a framework for the Tokugawa to manipulate the clans into annihilating each other.
Unfortunately, the forced fighting disrupts a secret love affair. Oboro Iga, the heir to the Tsubagakure clan and a fierce warrior in her own right, is in love with Gennosuke Kouga, the heir of the Manjidani clan. They have been meeting secretly in the woods, dreaming of a time when their clans would find real peace and they could get married. Now, thanks to the Tokugawa's cruel plan, they are compelled to meet on the battlefield not as lovers, but as enemies. What follows is a furious, violent, and fantastic series of ninja duels between the rival clan members, each with his or her own supernatural ninja skill. Oboro and Gennosuke struggle to find a way out of their impossible situation, but fate presses down heavily upon them. The time of the ninja is coming to an end.
Watching "Shinobi" is a lot like watching a live-action version of anime. In fact, FUNimation has also released the animated version of the same story, known as "Basilisk". What "Shinobi" has going for it is great special effects and fine performances by lead actors Yukie Nakama and Joe Odagiri. I am a big fan of Yukie Nakama, having enjoyed her comedic work in the live action "Gokusen" television series (how I wish that would be released on DVD here). "Shinobi" reveals her to be an excellent dramatic actress too. She really brings a luminous, yet somber and pessimistic edge to her character. Her performance is deep yet restrained, very fitting of the cool colors worn by her character's clan. Nakama does a good job of conveying suppressed passion behind formal speech patterns. Odagiri's Gennosuke is more outwardly passionate and hopeful of finding a solution to their problem. Clad in warm earthen colors, Gennosuke is the gentle, soft heart of his clan, and he has no wish to fight. Unfortunately it will take more than optimism to avoid their cruel fate.
The special effects are believable, and really bring the characters to life. I watched the anime before seeing this live action version, and wondered how they would translate some of the crazy ninja techniques. The effects team in "Shinobi" does a great job of recreating moves and attacks in imaginative yet plausible ways through a combination of wire work and CG. The look of the film is realistic, unsaturated, and somewhat gritty. It is not quite as aesthetically slick as some Hong Kong action films these days, but it is still a beautiful film thanks to the impressive scenery and costumes.
The plight of star-crossed lovers is a universal and timeless story, and the historic Japan of "Shinobi" provides an elegant yet violent backdrop. This is a film that is well worth watching.
"Shinobi: Heart under Blade" is a rare live-action release from FUNimation, a company known more for their animated offerings. However, if "Shinobi" is an example of the live-action films they can license, I heartily hope they bring more stuff over. "Shinobi" is a fantastic, action-packed, ninja-filled, thriller that has plenty to keep both guys and girls entertained- outrageous fighting action and angst-ridden romantic drama.
It is Romeo and Juliet. With ninjas. As ninjas make everything better, this movie is much more fun to watch than your average Romeo and Juliet story. Set during the Tokugawa Shogunate of the 1600's, "Shinobi" tells the tale of two rival ninja clans- the Kouga of the Manjidani and the Iga of the Tsubagakure, who currently exist under a fragile peace treaty. The Tokugawa, fearing the power of these ancient clans and knowing that their feud could eventually disrupt his rule, decides to play them against each other in order to eliminate them both. His plan is disguised as a contest to help him determine who will be the heir to the Shogunate. The top five fighters of each clan must do battle, and whichever side is left standing will decide who the heir will be. The contest is a ruse, of course, a framework for the Tokugawa to manipulate the clans into annihilating each other.
Unfortunately, the forced fighting disrupts a secret love affair. Oboro Iga, the heir to the Tsubagakure clan and a fierce warrior in her own right, is in love with Gennosuke Kouga, the heir of the Manjidani clan. They have been meeting secretly in the woods, dreaming of a time when their clans would find real peace and they could get married. Now, thanks to the Tokugawa's cruel plan, they are compelled to meet on the battlefield not as lovers, but as enemies. What follows is a furious, violent, and fantastic series of ninja duels between the rival clan members, each with his or her own supernatural ninja skill. Oboro and Gennosuke struggle to find a way out of their impossible situation, but fate presses down heavily upon them. The time of the ninja is coming to an end.
Watching "Shinobi" is a lot like watching a live-action version of anime. In fact, FUNimation has also released the animated version of the same story, known as "Basilisk". What "Shinobi" has going for it is great special effects and fine performances by lead actors Yukie Nakama and Joe Odagiri. I am a big fan of Yukie Nakama, having enjoyed her comedic work in the live action "Gokusen" television series (how I wish that would be released on DVD here). "Shinobi" reveals her to be an excellent dramatic actress too. She really brings a luminous, yet somber and pessimistic edge to her character. Her performance is deep yet restrained, very fitting of the cool colors worn by her character's clan. Nakama does a good job of conveying suppressed passion behind formal speech patterns. Odagiri's Gennosuke is more outwardly passionate and hopeful of finding a solution to their problem. Clad in warm earthen colors, Gennosuke is the gentle, soft heart of his clan, and he has no wish to fight. Unfortunately it will take more than optimism to avoid their cruel fate.
The special effects are believable, and really bring the characters to life. I watched the anime before seeing this live action version, and wondered how they would translate some of the crazy ninja techniques. The effects team in "Shinobi" does a great job of recreating moves and attacks in imaginative yet plausible ways through a combination of wire work and CG. The look of the film is realistic, unsaturated, and somewhat gritty. It is not quite as aesthetically slick as some Hong Kong action films these days, but it is still a beautiful film thanks to the impressive scenery and costumes.
It is Romeo and Juliet. With ninjas. As ninjas make everything better, this movie is much more fun to watch than your average Romeo and Juliet story. Set during the Tokugawa Shogunate of the 1600's, "Shinobi" tells the tale of two rival ninja clans- the Kouga of the Manjidani and the Iga of the Tsubagakure, who currently exist under a fragile peace treaty. The Tokugawa, fearing the power of these ancient clans and knowing that their feud could eventually disrupt his rule, decides to play them against each other in order to eliminate them both. His plan is disguised as a contest to help him determine who will be the heir to the Shogunate. The top five fighters of each clan must do battle, and whichever side is left standing will decide who the heir will be. The contest is a ruse, of course, a framework for the Tokugawa to manipulate the clans into annihilating each other.
Unfortunately, the forced fighting disrupts a secret love affair. Oboro Iga, the heir to the Tsubagakure clan and a fierce warrior in her own right, is in love with Gennosuke Kouga, the heir of the Manjidani clan. They have been meeting secretly in the woods, dreaming of a time when their clans would find real peace and they could get married. Now, thanks to the Tokugawa's cruel plan, they are compelled to meet on the battlefield not as lovers, but as enemies. What follows is a furious, violent, and fantastic series of ninja duels between the rival clan members, each with his or her own supernatural ninja skill. Oboro and Gennosuke struggle to find a way out of their impossible situation, but fate presses down heavily upon them. The time of the ninja is coming to an end.
Watching "Shinobi" is a lot like watching a live-action version of anime. In fact, FUNimation has also released the animated version of the same story, known as "Basilisk". What "Shinobi" has going for it is great special effects and fine performances by lead actors Yukie Nakama and Joe Odagiri. I am a big fan of Yukie Nakama, having enjoyed her comedic work in the live action "Gokusen" television series (how I wish that would be released on DVD here). "Shinobi" reveals her to be an excellent dramatic actress too. She really brings a luminous, yet somber and pessimistic edge to her character. Her performance is deep yet restrained, very fitting of the cool colors worn by her character's clan. Nakama does a good job of conveying suppressed passion behind formal speech patterns. Odagiri's Gennosuke is more outwardly passionate and hopeful of finding a solution to their problem. Clad in warm earthen colors, Gennosuke is the gentle, soft heart of his clan, and he has no wish to fight. Unfortunately it will take more than optimism to avoid their cruel fate.
The special effects are believable, and really bring the characters to life. I watched the anime before seeing this live action version, and wondered how they would translate some of the crazy ninja techniques. The effects team in "Shinobi" does a great job of recreating moves and attacks in imaginative yet plausible ways through a combination of wire work and CG. The look of the film is realistic, unsaturated, and somewhat gritty. It is not quite as aesthetically slick as some Hong Kong action films these days, but it is still a beautiful film thanks to the impressive scenery and costumes.
The plight of star-crossed lovers is a universal and timeless story, and the historic Japan of "Shinobi" provides an elegant yet violent backdrop. This is a film that is well worth watching.
No comments:
Post a Comment