Shogun Samourai

Director Kinji Fukasaku is perhaps best known, in his homeland at least, for his Japanese gangster films, a series with which this movie shares a number of characteristics. Violence and political intrigue are themes throughout both Shogun's Samurai and Battles Without Honor and Humanity, and both feature a lead character who finds his loyalties challenged by betrayals. Both films also feature a large number of characters who seem to have little purpose but to die, and since so little is done to develop them, their deaths have little impact when they do come. This film has other flaws as well. The makeup, costumes and sound design are distractingly poor, and the battle scenes were substandard as well, inferior to other samurai films of earlier years (Seven Samurai comes to mind).

Sonny Chiba plays the Sonny Chiba character in Shogun's Samurai, the no-nonsense master swordsman who strides through the film, scowling menacingly. What a guy; he even gets to wear an eye patch. If you were expecting to see the legendary Toshiro Mifune, you may be disappointed; his appearance amounts to little more than a cameo, and just when it appears that his character might do something interesting, he disappears for good.

Overall, the strengths of the film are its story, which is infinitely more comprehensible than those gangster films, and the challenges posed to traditional concepts of good and evil. Two brothers are challenging for the throne of their recently departed father, who may have had some help on his way out. Early on, it looks as if we will be faced with a couple of characters who couldn't be more clearly good and evil; after all, the older brother stammers and has a birthmark, the sure sign of a villain. Eventually, however, it becomes clear that in a winner-takes-all struggle for power, there are no heroes and villains, only winners and losers.

The Yagyu Conspiracy is an historical saga that take place in Japan on the 17th century. It is in fact a family tragedy. The story is well made and the movie is interesting, I even consider to learn some more on Japan history after watching this film, it may be of a use when watching samurai movies. I find it very important to learn about the countries that produce a genera cinema. Except from the story I find the movie a bit short on action, also the battles are too short and photograph from wide angle which makes it a bit hard to understand who are the bad guys and who are the good guys.

Sonny Chiba is doing his usually tough guy acting, and I love him for that, without him this movie would have been another non interesting samurai flick. It is sad that you don't see him as much on this long movie. Unless you are a sonny Chiba fanatic like me, don't buy it Rent it!

There are several reviews here, that stress how the narrative of this chambara film by director Fukasaku Kinji is hard to follow. As someone, who frequently has trouble putting together the plot-lines of 1950's and 1960's jidai-geki films, I did not find this to be the case. Like with so many other samurai films, that were intended for foreign markets as well, this one has a narrator in the beginning, introducing the historical period. I do admit, that the role call happens way too fast, but for the rest of the film, there are a few main characters with clear personalities and agendas, that makes the large narrative comprehensible. Also the pacing is not too fast.

The film's story-line deals with the fight for the shogunate in the 1620's Japan. The second shogun of the Tokugawa line dies under mysterious circumstances without announcing his successor. He has two sons. The older Iemitsu (Matsukata Hiroki) stammers and has a huge birthmark covering half of his face. The younger son Tadanaga (Saigo Teruhiko) does not have these disadvantages, but he also doesn't have a supporter quite as determined as Iemitsu's. That would be the title character Yagyu (Nakamaura Kinnosuke), Iemitsu's fencing instructor, who views the prince as the most important person to him in the whole world, despite having three children of his own. The narrative shows us a fight for power, where innocent blood is shed because of the greed and corruption that takes place amidst the ruling class.

I am not going to spoil it, but people should really stick till the ending, since it powerfully encapsulates the film's message about power corrupting. Before that, the violent images were not clearly used for anti-violence message, since some jidai-geki films merely like to include "cool violence". The presence of Chiba Sonny also makes you anticipate certain things. Chiba's narrative is very important for the final act, but in the early parts, I didn't really like the way it jumped to a different location from the palace drama that we started with.

All in all, this is a very good story, though not historically accurate. There is a big budget, some cameos by famous actors (Tamba Tetsuro, Yamada Isuzu, Mifune Toshiro...), and well-thought-out characters. Especially Nakamura Kinnosuke gives a fantastic performance.

After the second Tokugawa Shogun has died unexpectedly but mysteriously, the is a struggle for succession between two of his sons.

Though the history is bogus, there are plenty of opportunities for Samurai fighting. It is also well written and acted.

Wonderful color, costumes, sets and countryside in widescreen. A grade A production all around.

Kinji Fukasaku was one of Japan's most prolific directors - its ironic that his breakthrough movie in the West was the last one he made before his death at the age of 73 - that being Battle Royale.During the late '60's to the mid '70's he made a series of excellent Yakuza gangster movies then in 1978 turned to the historical epic with fine results.

It is 1624 - Japan after a lengthy civil war which resulted in the Emperor being marginalized and the Shogun running the Government - the current Shogun has died suddenly leaving the succession in doubt - his eldest son Iemestsu should succeed but he is disfigured and stammers - his more handsome younger son Tadanaga has the backing of most of the powerful Lords. Things get complicated very quickly when it becomes apparent that the Shogun was poisoned at the behest of Iemestsu's main supporter Yagyu(Kinnosuka Nakamaru) - Iemestu is as at first appalled by this but as the country get embroiled in the struggle he realises how much he needs Yagyu's support if he is to become Shogun.Meanwhile the Emperor and his courtiers plot behind the scenes to exploit the chaos and return to power.

It is an epic tale with political intrigue,battles,assassination's and some spectacular sword-fights and the question of just how much would you sacrifice to attain power - Yagyu will stop at nothing to install Iemestu and this has appalling consequences for both the country and for him personally but he is willing to commit these - Nakamara is excellent in the role - at first you side with what he is trying to do but at the tragedy unfolds you realize what a monster he is. Sonny Chiba is equally good as his eldest son who bears the brunt of one consequence of his Fathers action and he brings the whole thing to its tragic conclusion with more than a touch of hubris.

It hasn't quite got the epic feel of a Kurosawa but has a much more cynical take on political struggle - highly recommended.