Overview: Japanese box-office sensation directed by the revered Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale), Legend of the Eight Samurai brings together an impressive ensemble cast, including Hiroko Yakushimaru (Sailor Suit and Machine Gun), Hiroyuki Sanada (Ring), Sonny Chiba (Message from Space) and Etsuko Shihomi (The Street Fighter), in a sweeping epic that blends fantasy with historical drama.

The Satomi Clan have been all-but wiped out by their mortal enemies: the ghoulish members of the undead Hikita Clan. The last Satomi survivor is Princess Shizu (Yakushimaru), who goes into hiding to avoid meeting the same fate as her family.

Left to wander on her own, she eventually becomes entangled with farmer-turned-soldier Shinbei (Sanada) and then a pair of warrior monks who reveal themselves to be two of eight fabled Hakkenden - or Dog Warriors - who can lift the curse that has been placed upon her family.

Together, they must find the rest of the Hakkenden and take on the leader of the Hikita Clan: the evil Tamazusa (Mari Natsuki).

Following Message from Space, which transported the story to a science fiction setting, Legend of the Eight Samurai is Fukasaku’s second loose adaptation of Toshio Kamata’s Shin Satomi Hakkenden, itself an adaptation of Kyokutei Bakin’s earlier epic novel Nanso Satomi Hakkenden.

The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time in North America from a new 4K restoration.

Blu-ray Verdict: Although he’s well-defined by his slew of Yakuza films, it’s easy to forget that Kinji Fukasaku had an experimental phase like many others and Legend of the Eight Samurai came at the height of that phase.

A bold fantasy epic, taking cues from Kurosawa’s samurai movies, it mixes classical imagery with the stuff of nightmares, martial arts, beautiful music, giant bug monsters, Fukasaku’s hyper-kinetic camera work and potency for bloody violence into a movie about friendship, good vs evil and a woman’s quest for identity in not being defined by her lineage.

Thus, Kinji goes back to the fantasy martial arts genre with his take on ... Dragon Ball? Or something? Also, can anyone explain why is there are some English power ballads in a full Japanese movie? Bruh, that was so bizarre!

But yeah, despite some choices that had me scratching my head, this was a really fun movie. The cinematography and set designs are great, especially the villains’ dungeon it had a really great scope, and many of the exterior shots have a great cinematic quality to them.

The special effects were goofy AF, but I particularly adored the practical effects whether it’s some unexpected beheading during the final showdown or the goofy flying worm and the blink and you miss it face meltdown before the final transformation was wild!

Hanada was fantastic as Shanbei; he appears to be unlikeable at first, but you grow to enjoy him despite his shortcomings, and he gets to kick some ass. Natsuki’s campiness and scenery-chewing were entertaining. As the princess, Yakushimaru held her own, however I couldn’t help but feel that Hiroyuki overshadowed her.

All in all, while it starts a bit slow and the story can get convoluted at times, this was still a very amusing ’80s fantasy film about a princess trying to escape from the claws of some evil face ripping witch.

Special Features:
Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Chris Malbon
1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 4K restoration
Uncompressed original Japanese audio and alternate English dub track
Optional English subtitles
New audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Joe Hickinbottom
New Interview with Kinji Fukasaku’s son, filmmaker Kenta Fukasaku
New video essay by film historian and critic Stuart Galbraith IV
Theatrical trailer
PLUS: A collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by Tom Mes, co-founder of Midnight Eye

Official Purchase Link