Portal do Inferno

When you blend historical figures with fictional stories that go way beyond realism, you often get mixed results. Well to be honest you really don't get good results. Suffice to say it's a dangerous line to tread. Luckily when you have an experienced director like Kinji Fukasaku and a great cast of actors like Sonny Chiba and Tomisaburo Wakayama you can't expect anything less then good. And "Makai Tenshu" is good, really really good. Flawlessly using legendary figures from Japanese history such as Jubei Yagyu and Myamoto Musashi in a thick supernatural plot about vengeance, along with some of the most stylish action sequences I've seen in chambara movies.

"Makai Tenshu" is an adaptation of the book bearing the same name. A pseudo-historical variation of the story about the Christian rebellions during the opening years of the Tokugawa Shogunate. And their subsequent, brutal conclusion. That event seals the fate of thousands upon thousands of Christians. It is here where our tale begins, amidst the bloodied aftermath of the massacre. After a mysterious ritual is performed, the leader of the Christians Shiro Amakusa returns from the dead to exact his revenge on the Shogunate. He vows the destruction of Japan and it's rulers. But before that can happen he must gather his retinue. Tortured, wretched souls whose life has been incomplete, unfinished. He offers them a second chance. Reincarnation, as demons like himself. This leaves the Yagyu clan with Jubei Yagyu (Sonny Chiba) and his father Tajima Yagyu (Tomisaburo Wakayama) as the only ones capable of confronting them.

I enjoyed very much how this story was handled. Divided into two parts the movie spends it's first hour on establishing the villains and their present motivations. Everything is written so that it makes sense, Amakusa's chosen for minions is not random and each has a role to fulfill. For example he uses the female he's risen, under a different name and background to seduce the Shogun and cloud his mind. While the ninja is used to used to eliminate anyone who has been curious about her "past". This level of detail is certainly satisfying when it comes to nitpicking every single detail. And it's not just the villains that are developed well. The relationship between Jubei and his father is also explored and plays an interesting part in the story. Fukusaku directs this first part of the film accordingly, while keeping his trademark kinetic action direction for the expositional second portion of the movie. There, the entire build up from firts part explodes into a series of stylishly directed action sequences. Fukasaku demonstrates his skill once again, using the sets and landscapes as an effective tool that enhances the experience of watching samurai duels. Skillful swordplay is not absent with the likes of Chiba and Wakayama both chambara veterans. This is not a movie that depends on strong acting ability to express itself, but even so performances are still commendable and at a higher ladder than most movies in the genre.

Visually speaking "Makai Tenshu" is a feast for 80s cinema fanatics. If you love old-school special effects as I do, then you've come at the right place. There is some lovely use of montages and the classic lighting effect does add up to the whole experience of watching a movie about demons and sorcery. But what really takes the cake in terms of visual goodness is the awesome set design. A tremendous amount of work has been put in the creation of these sets and it all pays out. Looking at that great opening shot of the massacred Christians was a chilling, beautiful moment as a twisted horroresque picture was laid upon my eyes. Bodies piled up, heads stabbed on pikes, crosses everywhere and the scorched sky, mesmerizing shot.

Kinju Fukasaku once again delivers a truly visceral experience. A story so carefully written and so visually stunning that it makes me long for the time when there was no CGI or Digital Cameras, when directing a movie was not just a question of budget but of skill and creativity.

Maybe I'm strange, but I thought this was the best movie I have ever seen. It seems long, but short too, as you watch it. And maybe, to us Americans, the kabuki style make-up is slightly KISS-like. Still, it was beautiful and thoughtful. I can't even begin to describe the plot. Think Charles Dickens crossed with H.P. Lovecraft. Anyway, here's what I think may have happened... an extremely good-looking Japanese Christian denounces his faith in the beginning, bitter about the whole Shogan clan system and all his friends being killed. He becomes an eternal satanic warlock, who is able to raise other disgruntled spirits from the dead. Over time they get up a group of undead who plan to topple the government. (Not, perhaps without some justification, but remember, they are evil.)

On the other side, a one-eyed, fabulously talented swordsman. He's more of a Buddhist, not so interested in eternal vengeance and all. He goes to the most evil swordsman in Japan, and asks him to make him a sword, because only a creature of evil can create a sword that can kill evil ghosts, (or gods). There are many wonderful scenes besides the sword making one. (The swordmaker gives his all and dies.) The Shogun lord is enamoured of one of the undead group, (she's very lovely). I think this may have been his ex-wife whom he had murdered. When the royal court goes out hunting (with beaters dressed in black and white french prisoner costumes???), as the villagers flee before them she says "Oh look, there's a nice deer to shoot", (or something to that effect, and all the courtiers and eventually the prince, begin shooting the villagers with arrows, sort of a mass hallucination). They tie them up on stakes, still thinking they are deer. It was all very surreal. If you like excellent sword fights, good mob scenes, nice nature scenery, and theological conflict, this movie has it all and more. You MUST see it. Oh, and it all ends in flames. Lots and lots of flames. A must see for pyromaniacs as well.

Samurai Reincarnation is my favorite film. Every aspect of this movie caters directly to my taste. And although my taste is often for the bizarre, this movie is almost always held together by great acting. The story, if you can get passed the totally strange (yet contextually wonderful) opening, is completely engrossing to anyone interested in Japanese myths, history, culture, or just really great ghost stories. Aesthetically, Samurai Reincarnation is masterly crafted. From a battlefield filled with mountains of corpses to the elaborate interior of the shogun's palace, each setting perfectly sets the stage for the story to unfold. The costumes are all beautifully designed as well. Of course, the sword fights! With characters such as the sword fighting legend Miyamoto Musashi and Jubei Yagyu, it would only be appropriate to include sword fights of the highest caliber. And that's exactly what you'll find! Everything in the movie comes together as the complete package for me, and even though it might not end up being your favorite movie, give this one a chance if anything I wrote about above interests you; it won't disappoint!

Oh, GREAT MUSIC TOO!

I would like to preface my review by saying that I am reviewing the Canadian (subtitled) version of Makai Tensho, NOT the sacreligious, crap-dubbed, bargain basement version, recently released. The subtitled version is probably out-of-print by now, but if you can find it, it has Sonny Chiba as Jubei on the cover (the new dubbed version has Sonny incorrectly portrayed as Iba from Shogun's Shadow on the front).....Now for the review....We have many of the heavy hitters from the famed Japan Action Club in this movie: Sonny Chiba, reprising his role as Yagyu Jubei from "The Yagyu Conspiracy", Ken Ogata (Shogun's Shadow) as Musashi, Henry Sanada, Tomisaburo Wakayama (Lone Wolf and Cub) as Yagyu Tajima, and many other noted actors. Incredible fight scenes (the flaming castle at the end---damn!), mystical script (Christians vs. the Shogunate), moody soundtrack, and an "interesting" scene with Sanada...they all make for a truly classic chambara epic. Whenever Sonny grabs that cool hat, eyepatch and a sword, you know it's quality. GET THE SUBTITLED VERSION!!! Watch it the way it was meant to be watched (or go to Japan, get an original tape and make a fansub!) ----Master Yagyu

I recently viewed a subtitled version of Makai Tensho: Samurai Reincarnation from my video store. I had previously viewed the dubbed version a few times throughout the years and found the movie to be strangely appealing but also confusing and the dubbed dialog rather silly. Characters would suddenly disappear or appear without any explanation and the plot seemed somewhat incoherent. The subtitled version appears to have more footage, which helps explain the story much more clearly and the movie appears much more sophisticated. In the subtitled version, the subtlety of the acting is quite good. For example, the acting of Kenji Sawada as the Christian Shiro appeared almost ridiculous and over the top in the dubbed version, but hearing it in Japanese with subtitles, it had much more subtlety and created a much more complex character. There are many good and familiar actors (to those familiar with this genre)who give good performances from Sonny Chiba as Jubei Yagyu to Tomisaburo Wakayama as the elder Yagyu, who is famed for his character in the Lone Wolf and Cub series. Don't judge this movie, until you have the opportunity to view the subtitled version!