Shinobi (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Ten Shimoyama

Writers:

Kenya Hirata (writer)
Futaro Yamada (novel)

Release Date:

17 September 2005 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

After more than four hundred years of war between the Shinobi warriors of the Manjidani Koga and Tsubagakure Iga clans...

Plot Keywords:

Ninja | Love | Japanese | Female Ninja | Manga

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Yukie Nakama	...	Oboro (Iga)
Jô Odagiri	...	Kouga Gennosuke (as Joe Odagiri)
Tomoka Kurotani	...	Kagerou (Kouga)
Erika Sawajiri	...	Hotarubi (Iga)
Kippei Shiina	...	Yakushiji Tenzen (Iga)
Takeshi Masu	...	Muroga Hyouma (Kouga)
Mitsuki Koga	...	Chikuma Koshirou (Kouga)
Tak Sakaguchi	...	Yashamaru (Iga)
Houka Kinoshita	...	Kisaragi Saemon (Kouga)
Shun Ito	...	Mino Nenki (Iga)
Lily	...	Ogen (Head of Iga-clan) (as Riri)
Minoru Terada	...	Kouga Danjou (Head of Kouga-clan)
Masaki Nishina	...	Yagyu Jyubei Mitsuyoshi
Toshiya Nagasawa	...	Yagyu Tajima-no-kami Munenori
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Hattori Hanzou

Also Known As:

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade

MPAA:

Rated R for some violent images.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Taiwan:R-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:MA | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R | Germany:16 | New Zealand:R13 | France:U | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company:

Shochiku Kinema Kenkyû-jo

Movie Connections:

Version of "Basilisk: Kôga ninpô chô" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Heaven

Great Ninja Action Movie

First I should say that I watched the subtitled version of this film but apparently there is an English dub on the North American release. Make no mistake, this IS an action movie. It is not as heavy on plot or characterization as similar films of the genre, and focuses more on matrix-like ninja fighting and great costumes. This is not necessarily a bad thing though as it does these things very well. The special effects are some of the best I've ever seen in a Japanese feature, and the overall cinematography is great. The story is pretty light and you really want to know more about some of the characters who are introduced in a totally classic "Good The Bad and the Ugly" style with their names being displayed on the corner of the screen as they are introduced.

The story centers on a pair of star-crossed lovers from rival ninja clans. The Tokugawa Government has just taken control of Japan and a new era of peace has broken out. To preserve this peace the Shogun decides that the two ninja clans must be destroyed, for their abilities are simply too dangerous and unpredictable. So the Shogun orders the two clans to each pick their five best warriors who will then battle to the death for the favor of the Shogun. Chosen to lead their respective clan's teams are the two unfortunate lovers who thought a new age of peace would allow their love to bloom, as rivalry between their clans was no longer necessary in their view – now in a cruel twist of fate they must battle to the death. This is pretty much where the story ends, and the rest of the film is a cat and mouse game between the two ninja teams as they use their seemingly supernatural abilities against each other. The team members themselves are all very interesting and I found myself wanting to know more about them but was disappointed by the rate in which they are killed off.

Overall the film is well worth watching and is smarter than your average action film, but not by much.