7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Confident that he has destroyed the Iga Ninja, the evil Oda Nobunaga continues his quest to conquer Japan. Meanwhile, Ishikawa Goemon (Ichikawa Raizo) has settled down with his wife and child, and wishes only to live in peace -- a wish that will not be granted. As mighty warlords battle and connive, Goemon must once again try to assassinate Nobunaga, in order to save the Bhuddist religious community that has come to mean so much to him. But the path to success is once again a twisted one, full of scheming samurai and nefarious traps!
Starring: Raizô Ichikawa, Sô Yamamura, Shiho Fujimura, Mikiko Tsubouchi, Tomisaburo WakayamaForeign | 100% |
Drama | 45% |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.43:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Radiance's
Shinobi set.
Years ago FUNimation, a label almost exclusively associated with anime, kind of unexpectedly released a live action film (albeit one steeped in an
intentionally cartoonish ambience) and I began my Goemon Blu-ray review of that release by kind of joking
about the many different cinematic versions of Robin Hood
(kind of hilariously, that link points to a version that came out after my Goemon review). I guess I could start this review
of
Radiance's release of the first three so-called Shinobi films by kind of joking about the many different cinematic versions of Goemon there
are, since these three films do indeed center on that legendary Japanese character, who, maybe just a bit like Robin Hood, seems to have been
culled
from both historical and fictional elements. There's still considerable scholarly debate about how "real" Robin Hood may or may not have been, but
there's little question that there was indeed a 16th century ninja named Ishikawa Goemon (Raizô Ichikawa), who really rather quite like the
behaviors
often attributed to Robin Hood and his Merry Men, "stole from the rich and gave to the poor". Rather interestingly, at least within the confines of
my
review queue, I'm also currently getting through the new Eureka! release of Prison Walls: Abashiri Prison I-III, another trilogy of Japanese films where several of the supplements discuss
the
incredibly rapid production pace for those particular films, all coming out within a year of each other. Something very similar was at play
with regard to these first three Shinobi outings (there were several more to follow, which one assumes Radiance may be bringing out at
some point), with all three debuting between December 1962 and December 1963.
Shinobi: Revenge is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.43:1. Radiance's insert booklet only offers some generic verbiage in its transfer notes, as follows:
Each film in the Shinobi series was transferred in high definition by the Kadokawa Corporation and supplied to Radiance Films as high definition digital masters.This is another very appealing looking transfer, one that offers secure contrast (if, again as with the first film, an arguably overall slightly dark appearance), and commendable detail levels in at least midrange and (especially) close-up framings. A number of effects sequences, including the horrifying fire at the film's opening, can offer elements like smoke and mist, and again as with the first film, potential compression stumbling blocks are largely avoided. There are some more noticeable anamorphic oddities in this presentation than the first (look at the edges of the frame in screenshot 3 for one example). Minor damage has made it through whatever restoration gauntlet was undertaken, but nothing I'd term overly problematic. Grain resolves naturally throughout.
Shinobi: Revenge features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono in the original Japanese. Once again as with the first film there's noticeable hiss from the get go, though what might initially seem to be crackling distortion like in the first film turns out to be the actual crackling of a fire. That said, t explosions in the same scene have minor distortion and some of the really astringent modern score reveals signs of slight wobbliness as well. Sound effects like galloping horses or ninjas climbing through treetops resonate well, if as with the entire track, a bit on the boxy side. Dialogue is cleanly and clearly presented. Optional English subtitles are available.
Radiance has packaged these films with Band of Assassins and Revenge sharing a disc, and Resurrection on its own
separate disc, with the following supplements:
Disc One (Band of Assassins / Revenge)
- Shinobi: Band of Assassins (HD; 2:19)
- Shinobi 2: Revenge (HD; 2:19)
- Shinobi 3: Resurrection (HD; 2:31)
There's that oft quoted phenomenon called "the sophomore slump", but I think many would be hard pressed to find this second film in the Shinobi series a letdown, and in fact I'd argue pretty strongly that in the emotional department as well as the action side of things, it probably easily outpaces its predecessor. Technical merits are generally solid with a few caveats, and the supplements very enjoyable. Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
新・忍びの者 / Shin shinobi no mono
1963
忍びの者 / Shinobi no mono / Ninja, A Band of Assassins
1962
賞金稼ぎ / Shōkin kasegi
1969
賞金首 一瞬八人斬り / Shōkin kubi: Isshun hachi-nin giri
1972
五人の賞金稼ぎ / Gonin no shōkin kasegi
1969
Standard Edition
1976
悪太郎伝 悪い星の下でも / Akutarô-den: Warui hoshi no shita demo
1965
Guang Dong shi hu yu hou wu hu / 廣東十虎與後五虎
1980
Lie mo zhe / 獵魔者
1982
Mai ming xiao zi / 賣命小子
1979
Jin bi tong / 金臂童
1979
1982
1977
Pas de roses pour OSS 117
1968
2011
Long men jin jian / Lung moon gam kim / 龍門金劍
1969
三匹の侍 / Sanbiki no samurai
1964
Fei dao shou / Fei do sau / 飛刀手
1969
Yu luo cha / Yuk law chaat / 玉羅刹
1968
夜の片鱗 / Yoru no henrin | Limited Edition
1964