Eiichi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Eiichi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 31, 2026

The "evolution" of portrayals of samurai in Japanese cinema is a subject worthy of considerable attention, but for those particularly interested in so-called zankoku jidaigeki films, home theater aficionados have been getting the chance over the past couple of years to build their collections, at least if they have access to either region free or various region coded players. This new Region A release of Eicchi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy is also being offered by Arrow in Region B, adding to a growing list of titles in both regions, including Cruel Tale of Bushido (available in both regions), The Betrayal (available in both regions) and Revenge (available in Region B only as of the writing of this review). Kudo's trilogy may nonetheless offer a kind of "one stop shopping" opportunity for those intrigued in this subgenre, as the three films, released from 1963 to 1967, offer an often visceral deconstruction of samurai culture, at least insofar as the very term samurai may suggest noble intent and that aforementioned term bushido supposedly indicating a code of honor and a secure moral compass. While the Takashi Miike remake of 13 Assassins was released on Blu-ray almost 15 years ago (!), these look like the first Region A and Region B releases of the three films in this set.

For reviews of the films in this set, please click on the following links:

13 Assassins Blu-ray review

The Great Killing Blu-ray review

11 Samurai Blu-ray review

Eiichi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Eiichi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Eiichi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

On disc supplements are detailed in the above linked reviews.

This Limited Edition comes with an O ring type slipcover enclosing a handsomely designed slipbox which itself holds three keepcases and another really nicely appointed insert booklet with some interesting essays. All three keepcases have reversible sleeves.

Eiichi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

All three of these films are viscerally compelling both from an action standpoint but perhaps more importantly (and interestingly) for some of the potentially "outraged" emotions they may evoke. Technical merits are generally solid, and as usual Arrow has included a worthy set of supplements and handsome packaging. Recommended.