Shinobi no mono: Kirigakure Saizo

Wow was this a confusing installment of the Shinobi series. In episodes 1-3, the main character was Goemon Ishikawa and he was played by Raizô Ichikawa. Starting in episode 4, the main character was Saizo Kirigakure and was ALSO played once again by Raizô Ichikawa! What makes this even more confusing (and a bit silly) is that Goemon and Saizo fought on opposite sides!! So, in the first three films, Goemon is trying to destroy the Toyotomi clan and in the subsequent ones, he's trying to save this doomed clan!! Talk about letting confusion reign supreme! Because this is such a confusing film, I strongly suggest you watch the program notes on the DVD BEFORE the film begins. This way you aren't quite as confused and the film makes sense.

As for the film, it goes quite a bit further than previous films in fictionalizing and glamorizing ninjas. While in some cases ninjas had some great skills, by this film they are practically superhuman (such as Saizo's ability to make himself appear dead) and they show a devotion to a cause which is decidedly un-ninja like! In other words, they were essentially mercenaries but in this one Saizo has a fanatical loyalty to the head of the clan--something which is a bit unrealistic, as ninjas really were not concerned with causes but money and power. But, it made for an interesting film and so I guess some of this can be forgiven. Additionally, the movie has some nice battle sequences and is interesting--even if it is very confusing and inaccurate.

Overall, this is well worth seeing if you are a die-hard fan of ninja films. As for me, I just can't enjoy and get into the Shinobi films as much as many other Japanese films (such as the Zatoichi series) but it is a decent time-passer.

In spite of the ending of the third film bringing the story to a satisfactorily close, Daiei studio has continued on the series with a new ninja, Saizo Kirigakure, but still played by Ichikawa Raizo. This casting seems a little odd. Raizo is a good actor, but I think the film would have been less confusing had a new face played the new ninja. In addition to Raizo, Tomisaburo Wakayama returns in a new role (his first character dying in a previous entry). However, characters from the previous three films do appear in this entry, some still played by the actors in the previous films, making the plot a bit hard to follow.

This fourth film is set fifteen years after the events in the previous film. Ieyasu, the schemer from the two previous films, is trying to break the last of those opposed to his rein, these being the son and mistress of the late Hideyoshi, who lost an ill-advised invasion of Korea in the third film. Ichikawa Raizo's Kirigakure is on the side of the son and against Ieyasu. What follows are two sieges, a love interest, and our hero ninja turning himself invisible (is that historically accurate?). There is more action than in the last entry, but I have grown tired of the series. Fans might want to continue through all eight Shinobi No Mono films, but this is where I am bailing.

Those interested in Japanese military history might enjoy the Shinobi No Mono series. However, for those who just want to watch Ichikawa Raizo kill a lot of people, the Kyoshiro Nemuri films are the way to go.