Ghost Warrior

When I first saw this movie, I was quickly taken by it and impressed. Sure it was a low budget movie and I wasnt expecting Gone With The Wind, but I certainly was not expecting as much bang for the buck as I got. I recommend this little jewel to anyone who is willing to watch it. You would not be disappointed.

American cryosurgeons tried to anatomize frozen body of Yoshimitsu Taga, the great samurai general of 400 years ago, then found he had been in suspended animation. Occasionally, a guard of the institution tries to steal the priceless katana(samurai sword) of resurrected warrior, to be slashed with the very treasure. Yoshimitsu wanders about modern American town, happens to slay street gangs with guns to save an old man. Yoshimitsu is living in laws and morals of ancient war age, so that is very natural to him. But cryosurgeons want to kill him secretly to avoid trouble, and of course, police force tries to shoot him down...

You can easily see how silly the plot is, however, I recommend this film. The samurai in this film is REAL. Actor Hiroshi Fujioka is genuine sensei of swordsmanship, so he knows how to use katana and how a samurai think, feel and act in a strange situation. Fujioka's presence made this lame plot a memorable tragedy.

Magnificent and sad music by Richard Band is another salvation of the feature.

Instead of trotting out a generic plot, "Ghost Warrior" is propelled by it's imagination. Suspend disbelief, sure, but this "fish out of water" scenario works. The story is straightforward and almost fable-like. The introduction of an honorable 16th Century fighting arts master to the sometimes dishonorable reality of modern Los Angeles, inevitably forces confrontation. An ancient warrior, re-animated by science, must battle for his life. The film is beautiful, especially flashbacks to the samurai's past. No better than average acting is easily forgiven, because the imaginative script holds your interest. Recommended for anyone looking for something out of the ordinary. - MERK

A whiskey stream of consciousness review.

Cool exteriors of Motosuka, Japan in the intro scene. As preposterous as the beginning sequence is (knowing the premise). There is a mythical quality that is appealing. Music has some similarities to Red Dawn and First Blood, which is funny, as it is composed by Richard Band, brother of Charles Band (Full Moon Studios). That said, the score is the best and most consistent element of the film. The idea that they could revive a centuries old samurai frozen in ice without brain damage is beyond our current capabilities and requires quite the suspension of disbelief. The fact that it is a cryogenic research facility is a nice touch though, knowing that the hope for revival is in future technological advances and many of todays elite technocrats are fully invested in it. The film borrows a bunch from the film Iceman starring Timothy Hutton. The samurai is much cooler than the caveman, tho me thinks. Having the samurai discover tv for the first time with W. A. S. P. "Tormentor" Playing is a nice touch. Hiroshi Fujioka does a pretty good job of showing curiosity as well as a propensity for the human instinctual gift of understanding in an alien timeline. As much interest as the beginning of the film inspires, the last half hour grinds and seems to lose any of its original inspiration-probably due to lack of budget. There just isn't enough compelling action or memorable scenes to tie the story together. Disappointing with what started with potential. Slashed with a dram of Old Soul (full proof store pick). Cheers!

For all its modest running time, the unfairly neglected 'Ghost Warrior' (1984) is, for me at least, one of Empire Pictures more fascinating and singular productions, much like the iconic, neon-bright Sci-fi mash-up 'Trancers', 'Ghost Warrior' is a low budget, boldly inventive Sf/Chanbara hybrid about an enigmatic protagonist from an alternative time-line adrift in the greatly disorientating milieu of 20th century Los Angeles. Yoshi (Hiroshi Fujioka) an esteemed Samurai Warrior from 16th century feudal Japan is Rod Serlinged into a discombobulating diorama of unfamiliar technologies, amusingly prototypical B-Move Gang-bangers, a strange, oppressively vast city with its perplexing multitudes of baffling cultural incongruities, a burgeoning love affair that spans centuries, and the shock rocking sounds of L. A. metal warriors W. A. S. P all coalesce to make Yoshi's fateful sword-slashing exodus such a quixotic B-Movie delight! Two splendidly engaging lead actors, another nifty score by maestro Richard band, and some sanguinary Samurai showdowns made me a hardcore believer, man! 500 years ago deadly samurai Yoshi was left for dead, in 20th century L. A. he's woken up completely on the wrong side of his head!