Bohachi: O Vilão

Takashi Harada's effort is neither a sequel nor a prequel to Teruo Ishii's but renders a nevertheless similar, sometimes parallel storyline. Although one may easily see this as an intrinsic disadvantage and possible turn-off, the film proves to be a major work since the outcome is remarkably different from Ishii's film. Goro Ibuki plays a nihilistic ronin who is bored of his life, Reiko Ike plays a Bohachi operative and nympho, Bin Amatsu plays a Bohachi boss who is ready to sacrifice everything and everyone for his own sake. Even though these main characters make the film sound more like a copy of Ishii's film, the depth characters are depicted proves just the opposite. Furthermore, whereas Ishii often resorts to 'sleaze' and gratuitous female nudity, Harada presents a coherent story without missing both simple and subtle aspects of cinema albeit it is certainly darker and bloodier. While Ishii's film may claim to be the 'porno jidaigeki' mentioned in its title, Harada's film well deserves to have the claim to being the 'film noir jidaigeki'.

Actor Goro Ibuki is underrated and certainly deserves to receive more credit than he gets. Back during the 1970s I bought a 45-RPM vinyl record which featured Mr. Ibuki singing the theme song from his television series, Omimiyaku (Samurai Secret Agent). I felt he was perfectly suited for that TV role. Yet on the other hand I felt Mixed emotions about his Bohachi role-- as compared to Tetsuro Tanba whose looks and demeanor were well-suited for the decadence of his Shiro character. Yet Ibuki did the best he could, and the end result was passable. If samurai fans want to see Ibuki at his best, they should see him in his Omimiyaku series. Also in his other tv series, Muyonosuke (Stray Dog Ronin) in which he portrays a ronin similar to Mifune's Sanjuro. Another great appearance from television was where he appeared in a single episode of "Seven Duels of Yagyu Jubei" in which Ibuki fought the titular character. Of those 3 roles, only the 7-Duels is Subtitled and currently available on DVD. Highly recommended.