Il ritorno del samurai

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!

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.

This movie was pretty good, but not the best samurai movie. Hiroshi Fujioka, an excellent actor, did portray a samurai better than most actors have in past movies. Infact, Fujioka gave one of the best samurai performances of all time. He really knows his stuff. But it's the plot that keeps this movie from being one of the best samurai movies. And some of the acting is rather bad from Fujioka's supporting cast members. Hiroshi Fujioka is the main reason to see this movie. Mr. Fujioka used a REAL katana in this movie, which is rare in movies to use a real weapon.

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!

A moderately interesting start, some pretty scenes in sixteenth-century Japan, and a promising idea. But the execution? The comparison that springs to mind after about fifteen minutes is "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death." Really. A specialist in "Oriental history" who doesn't speak any Japanese, walks on tatami without removing her shoes, and is generally dumb as celery? Please. This looks like a student film: the sets are risible, the acting (except, perhaps, for the title character) close to wooden, the plot utterly arbitrary. At least "Cannibal Women" was funny! This is best watched with someone who knows something about Japan, just to watch disbelief repeatedly crawl across their face.