Darren D
Kinji Fukasaku's "Samurai Reincarnation" a violent journey through Japan's dark fantasy of devils, corruption, madness & persecution.
Starring Kenji Sawada, Hiroyuki Sanada, & the legendary Sonny Chiba, who is almost in a support role as Kinji Fukasaku focues large parts of the story on the villains, to flesh them out by giving them purpose. Despite Sonny Chiba's lack of screen time, his screen presence owns every scene he's in.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/13/24
Full Review
Chris J
MOVIE REVIEW
Samurai Reincarnation (Makai tenshô)
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Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror
Year Released: 1981, 2023 Eureka Blu-ray
Runtime: 2h 2m
Director(s): Kinji Fukasaku
Writer(s): Kinji Fukasaku, Tatsuo Nogami, Fûtarô Yamada
Cast: Shin'ichi Chiba, Kenji Sawada, Akiko Kana, Ken Ogata, Hiroyuki Sanada
Where To Watch: available to order from www.eurekavideo.co.uk
RAVING REVIEW: Welcome aboard as we journey to the past. Destination: the Edo period of Japan. Our visual compass for this exhilarating journey? None other than Kinji Fukasaku's riveting SAMURAI REINCARNATION. Known for weaving cinematic magic with the Yakuza Papers series, Fukasaku strikes gold again. This film delivers a potent blend of Chanbara and fantasy genres, making it a feast for the eyes of the viewer.
Enter our protagonist, Amakusa Shiro. Immortalized on-screen by Kenji Sawada, Shiro is a Christian leader whose spirit refuses to accept defeat even after his gruesome beheading, a consequence of an explosive rebellion that claimed the lives of 37,000 peasants at Hara Castle. His severed head stands as a haunting symbol of the Shogunate's victory. But what follows is a twist that grabs us by the throat – a transformation from martyr to evil force, fuelled by an unquenchable thirst for revenge. Shiro harnesses his newfound powers to rally the dying samurais to rise against the reigning Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, a role executed brilliantly by Noboru Matsuhashi.
It's no small feat to bring these figures to life on the big screen, but SAMURAI REINCARNATION manages just that, elevating it to a league of its own. Our antagonist Shiro's spectral army, boasts a long list of names from Japan's past – the awe-inspiring female samurai Lady Hosokawa, priest Inshun Hozoin who has perfected the art of the spear, and Musashi Miyamoto, the legendary samurai.
A ray of hope emerges before despair can take hold – the solitary samurai Yagyu Jubei, portrayed by the masterful Sonny Chiba. Amidst the chaos and danger, he rises as a beacon of bravery, standing up to the formidable task of quelling the ominous uprising.
Fukasaku's directorial hand reveals its firm grip over the narrative in SAMURAI REINCARNATION. It beautifully tackles the film's vast ensemble, balancing the tale between its heroes and villains. The initial chapters of the film delve into the pasts of the tragic samurais, while the climax crescendos to the long-awaited face-off between Jubei and his supernatural army.
With its tapestry of rebellion, resilience, and revenge, SAMURAI REINCARNATION is a cinematic journey through 17th-century Japan that leaves a lasting impression. Featuring an ensemble cast of historical figures, the film skillfully tells a captivating and memorable tale. This beautiful edition via the Masters of Cinema series' 2K restoration is a testament to this film's timeless charm. So, sit back, make yourself comfortable, and prepare for a unique cinematic expedition. But remember, this one's not for the faint-hearted!
SPECIAL FEATURES
– Limited Edition slipcase featuring artwork by Takato Yamamato [2000 copies]
– 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K restoration of the original film elements
– Uncompressed original Japanese mono audio
– Alternate English dubbed audio
– Optional English subtitles
– Brand new audio commentary by Tom Mes
– Brand new interview with filmmaker Kenta Fukasaku
– Original Japanese trailer
– A collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film
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Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
06/28/23
Full Review
Audience Member
First off, you have to watch the subtitled version of this film to really enjoy it. The dubbed version is absolutely awful. Samurai Reincarnation follows Shogun's Samurai (The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy) in which Sonny Chiba's character Jubei loses his eye. The premise of the movie is based on a the real life crucifixion of Christians in Japan (including Christian samurai). In the film, one of these Christian samurai comes back from the dead after being unjustly killed and brings back to life an army of the dead to fight against Japan and it's powers. Jubei takes on this army of the dead and asks a master sword maker to make him a sword that can kill demons. What follows is the classic line repeated in Kill Bill 2, "If you encounter God, God will be cut."
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/19/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Severed heads on sticks from the start! A soul sold to Satan for vengeance. The dead are brought back to life. Storming use of lighting and design, the sets are beautiful and detailed. A first half as we do the magnificent 7/Samurai bit as we gather our villains from the dead. Flashback and montage to build the story. Great bits of horror, top flight fight scenes and a little bit of flute.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A Sweet samurai movie
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/29/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This film is a bit long and some scenes lag, but overall it was a very enjoyable watching experience. I'd say it's better than any film that you can see in movie theaters today.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/20/23
Full Review
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