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      Samurai Assassin

      Released Jan 3, 1965 2h 2m Action List
      Reviews 83% Audience Score 1,000+ Ratings A samurai joins a band of revolutionaries who intend to kill an official who favors opening Japan to foreigners. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Sep 24, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      DanTheMan 2 The way that Kihachi Okamoto stages Samurai Assassin feels akin to that of a Shakespeare play, you always know who's in command of the scene by how everyone is positioned and how he moves his camera, making gorgeous use of the outdoor black and white photography and Tohoscope format. The first half is a deliberate slow burn, comprising excessive exposition and complex characterisations, sparsely populated by swift, decisive clashes of swords. The second showcases the ultimate downfall of those most revered by Japanese society, akin to that of a gritty crime-noir protagonist, and a final bout that rivals duels seen in the Zatōichi series. Punctuated by its prolonged genre-shattering monologues, the powerhouse performances of its cast, particularly that of the ever-captivating Toshiro Mifune and its spectacular climax will leave any fan of Okamoto's other works hungry for more. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/22/23 Full Review Gen J Samurai Assassin presents a great depiction of a major event in Japanese history which played a major role in the beginning of the Shogunates downfall. This film gives great insight to the idea of the lone ronin searching for glory and acknowledgment. This character archetype is very well received, and definitely many different anti-hero type characters in later movies throughout the world. Mifune, as always gives a spectacular performance. His roles in various jidaigeki films throughout Kurosawa's works are further exemplified through Kihachi Okamoto's direction. My opinion is that Okamoto's style with jidaigeki films present a darker tone that makes the characters more relatable, and at times more reverent comparatively to similar characters in different films. As much as I would love to give negative feedback to balance out the review in order to appear as un-biased as possible, I unfortunately fall short of such comments. This is a great movie, and I have nothing negative to add. I highly encourage anyone to watch it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A lone former warrior looking to retain his former glory is faced with the project of assassinating the Elder Shogun. With his odds against him, as well as his daughter barely a toddler left in his care...the two of them embark on a journey to get this task taken care of. In doing so he discovers that life truly is a gentle situation, not to be taken granted of. Unmistakably and truly one of those slow brewed classic samurai stories that stays with you long after it is over. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Although it doesn't rank with the best of Kurosawa's samurai flicks, Samurai Assassin by Okamoto has a lot going for it. One might complain that the voice-over (by an omniscient and anonymous narrator) is a bit intrusive, but along with the flashback structure, it provides the film with a noirish quality that sits well in this genre. Mifune shows up with his now well-worn outcast samurai character (and at times he doesn't quite seem the young man still questing to know his father); yet it is always a pleasure to spend time with him. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Wow, this movie unfolded in a super-awesome way. It starts out real slow and you're not sure if it's going to be interesting, but it keeps building and building and building until it ends in a crazy frenetic bloodbath. Highly recommended if you're a fan of Toshiro Mifune (as I am) or the samurai genre. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A very good Samurai film but very slow paced. Like Meany films you might see sometimes it takes more then one go to get trow this happened to me when I watched Blade Runner, Death proof, Jackie Brown and others. And the samurai assassin has taken me more then one watch to see all of it. But there are Meany movies like these most of witch are set during the Edo period or later on in Modern day societies. My favourite one out of all was The shogun assassin because I just thought that was epic. Even though its based on some of the Mangas we made. 1860 inside Edo castle. A group of assassins wait by Sakurada Gate to kill the lord of the House of Ii, a powerful man in the Tokugawa government, which has ruled Japan for 300 years. They suspect a traitor in their midst, and their suspicions fall on Niiro, an impoverished ronin who dreams of samurai status, and Kurihara, an aristocratic samurai who befriends Niiro. Niiro longs to identify his father, knowing he is a high-ranking official who will disclose himself only if Niiro achieves samurai status. With American ships in Japan's harbors, cynicism among the assassins, and change in the air, Niiro resolves to reach ends that may prove ephemeral. Mainly the story is told throw flashbacks and all those kind of things witch can somewhat make the story confusing. But as I have said before it is very slow that’s what puts you off watching it. I am sure any Chambara fan would love the fight scenes to me they were very good. The movie has some very beautiful cinematography. As for Music very good that’s all I can say. Toshirô Mifune and Keiju Kobayashi very well acted the movie. As for Production such as Sets, Costumes, Music everything like that is very good. The Length is the major problem maybe if it saw more editing on scenes the film could have been amazing to watch and go throw. But I am sure people should see this movie if you ever find it. Also not my best review I was in a bit of a rush to write this. Keiko’s score 80-100 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Samurai Assassin

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis A samurai joins a band of revolutionaries who intend to kill an official who favors opening Japan to foreigners.
      Director
      Kihachi Okamoto
      Screenwriter
      Shinobu Hashimoto
      Production Co
      Cosmopolitan (Hearst), Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
      Genre
      Action
      Original Language
      Japanese
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 3, 1965, Original
      Rerelease Date (Theaters)
      Mar 5, 1965
      Runtime
      2h 2m