BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL

Film Review by FIORE

Allow me to begin this review with a succinct culture lesson.  In America, we create superheroes, benevolent aliens or specially gifted humans, in graphic novels and in film.  We marvel at abilities to run faster than a speeding bullet, leap higher than the tallest building or do whatever a spider can.  Though fantasy, these superheroes often exude the finest qualities of man, augmenting our enjoyment.

The Japanese have a different form of graphic novel, called manga.  They too are filled with superheroes, but they are based on legendary warriors of Japan’s past.  Samurai, Ronin and monks with exceptional fighting skills and powers.  Probably the biggest difference between the cultures is the Asian heroes are tragically flawed.  The tales, much like those of Homer, involve perilous journeys and impossible feats designed to instruct.  Sometimes the lessons are learned; sometimes they are not.  Americans have a difficult time accepting Japanese superheroes.  They see high flying wire-fu antics as silly, though they are no sillier than the Flash, Spider Man, Captain America or Wolverine of our ethos.  It may, therefore be initially irresponsive to dismiss BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL as silly.  That would be an error, for the film is epic in the manga tradition and well worth watching.

Manji is a premiere samurai, though due to circumstances, he has turned Ronin.  To save his sister, he breaks the bushido code and is cursed with immortality.  He is destined to live, fighting evil, until he can gain control of his soul. 

In a few short years, he encounters Rin, a young girl who witnessed the brutal slaying of her family.  Rin seeks revenge and because she reminds Manji of his departed sister, he opts to champion her cause.

Hiroaki Samura, who wrote the manga tale, teams with Tetsuya Oishi to script the film.  BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL  plays like the manga reads; incredible battles, questionable character decisions, impossible feats of strength and skill, and of course gallons of blood and severed body parts.  Who better to direct this movie than Takashi Miike, the director responsible for 13 ASSASSINS, GOZU, ICHI THE KILLER and YAKUSA APOCALYPSE.

Takuya Kimura plays Manji.  Like most samurai, his fighting skills are best displayed while he is wielding swords.  Hana Sugisaki plays the dual role of Rin and Manji’s sister Machi.  Sota Fukushi is quite menacing as antagonist Anotsu Kagehisa.

Regardless of its source, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL  is still fantasy; though the Japanese tend to have more stock in their fantasies than we do ours.  Cinematography by Nobuyasu Kita is standard for this type of film.  The lighting tends to be darker, but then the story isn’t totally uplifting.  BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL  runs too long.  This is a penchant of Asian films, still editor Kenji Yamashita could cut a solid thirty minutes from BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL  and still have a viable plot.

The climax of this movie is the stuff of dreams for action film fanatics and martial artists.  The epic concluding battle is 45 minutes long.  The body count is astronomical.

I enjoyed BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL.  It is non-stop action sure to raise your blood pressure and make you want to head out to the dojo for some bag work and sparring.  Along the way, you’ll hear a story of legend.