Ninja bugeicho momochi sandayu (1980)

Director:

Norifumi Suzuki

Writers:

Fumio Konami (writer)
Ichirô Ôtsu (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 November 1980 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

In the middle of the 16th century, Hideyoshi, a power hungry warlord sets out to destroy the Momochi clan...

Plot Keywords:

Monkey | Seppuku | Sword Fight | Treason | Martial Arts

Cast

Hiroyuki Sanada	...	Momochi Takamaru
Sonny Chiba	...	Shiranui Shogen
Etsuko Shihomi	...	Ai-Lian
Yuki Ninagawa	...	Otsu
Tetsurô Tanba	...	Tozawa Hakuunsai
Isao Natsuyagi	...	Hattori Hanzo
Asao Koike	...	Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Makoto Satô	...	Junka no Yatoji
Fumio Watanabe	...	Tokugawa Ieyasu
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Masumi Harukawa	...	Yodo-Gimi
Masashi Ishibashi	...	Momochi Sandayu
Lee Murayama	...	Tang Shun-Qi (as Ichiryu Li)
Yôko Nogiwa	...	Chiyo
Katsumasa Uchida	...	Shiranui Gennosuke

Directed by
Norifumi Suzuki

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Fumio Konami		writer
Ichirô Ôtsu		screenplay

Cinematography by
Toru Nakajima

Production Companies

• Toei Company

Distributors

• American National Enterprises (1984) (USA) (dubbed)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Platinum Disc (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Rainbow Products Limited (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2005) (USA) (all media)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Ronin Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Toei Company
• Vintage Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Shogun's Ninja

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Iceland:16 | Norway:18 | USA:R

Company:

Toei Company

A great anti-classic

SHOGUN'S NINJA has so many strange and cool aspects in it, it's hard to even remember it all. Whereas its more fantastical counterpart LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI (which even has lots of the same casting) is somehow too disjointed, SHOGUN'S NINJA remains cohesive and fun to watch through all two hours; I couldn't take my eyes off it.

The basic plot revolves around the dying Momoichi clan after Takamaru returns (played by Henry Sanada, in this role looking so much like NINJA SCROLL's Jubei that they must've seen this film). The clan members have steadily been eradicated by the evil Shogun (Sonny Chiba!) and so have to learn all they can to strike back. Along the way, there are so many outrageous stunts, traps, and elements that you will be unsure whether to laugh or stare in awe; more on those later. Takamaru is aided by a pair of kung-fu women (one of whom, Airin, is most likely the inspiration for "Tekken"'s Xiaoyou), the reluctant warrior Hanzo (who is quite reminiscent of Patrick Stewart with hair), and more ninjas than you can shake a stick at. Shogun wants Takamura's swords, because their blades hold the map to the Momoichi gold cache. This of course leads to confrontation after confrontation, with every weapon imaginable and more gory deaths than you can count.

But enough about the plot, which is somewhat tenuous. SHOGUN'S NINJA should be viewed for its crazy features. These include (in some semblance of order) harakiri, a circus monkey, slo-mo kicks, spider AND mole ninjas (not ninja spiders, but almost as cool...), an escape by candle, kung-fu handmaidens, execution by hot oil, human shields, a white-haired master, a booby-trapped forest (complete with ninja tack!), and a showdown in a rock quarry. Yes, that's right, all that crazy crap is in the movie; look for it all!

One of the movie's funniest elements is its music; everything from battle sequences to casual conversations are underscored by psychedelic '70s jazz. At first seeming inappropriate, the score grew on me as the movie continued, being edited in quite well and seeming to actually be written FOR the movie (a frightening prospect in itself!). While some might berate the soundtrack, it must also be taken into account that the immensely popular "Cowboy Bebop" employs a similar style of music that is anachronistic and yet creates a jarring shift in mood; in battles that would otherwise be fraught with tension, the lounge-style sounds kept me from being too involved and were, overall, entertaining!

In addition to the previous list of thingamabobs, SHOGUN'S NINJA still has some surprisingly reflective and artistic moments, from a staredown through steam to flashbacks of a pool of blood. The director obviously knew what he was doing, assembling a competent cast and putting them together in an epic movie that is still over-the-top. Be sure to watch this movie with a load of friends, and you will certainly enjoy yourselves. My rating: 8.5/10