Overview: Before starring in John Wick: Chapter 4 and Shogun, Hiroyuki Sanada got to showcase his physical prowess in his first lead role with 1980’s Shogun’s Ninja, a madcap martial arts caper energetically directed by Norifumi Suzuki (Wandering Ginza Butterfly) and co-starring Sanada’s mentor, the legendary Sonny Chiba.

During the Warring States period, a lone man on a small boat approaches the shores of Japan. His name is Takamaru Momochi, heir to the Iga clan, returning after ten years of hiding in China and fully intent on finding the ruthless ninja Shiranui (Chiba), the man who betrayed and murdered his father. But with Shiranui and his thugs now in control of the country, Takamaru must gather the scattered remnants of his clan and train in the shadowy art of ninjutsu so they can mount a guerrilla resistance, defeat the corrupt ninja and restore the Iga’s honor.

Packed with explosive fight sequences and acrobatic stunts courtesy of Chiba’s team the Japan Action Club, and co-starring Etsuko Shihomi (Sister Street Fighter) and Asao Koike (G.I. Samurai), Shogun’s Ninja’s frenzied blend of Japanese period drama, hyperviolent karate movie and action-comedy stands out as an unmissable entry in Japanese martial arts cinema.

Blu-ray Verdict: 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 so 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 employed 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 stare down 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! [G.C.]

Bonus Features:
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
Original lossless mono Japanese and English-dubbed mono audio
Optional English subtitles
Brand new audio commentary by Asian cinema expert Chris Poggiali
The Rebirth of Japanese Action Cinema, a brand new interview with Japanese cinema expert Clément Rauger
Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Earl Jackson
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Skinner

Official Purchase Link

www.arrowvideo.com