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Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (2006)--***
DVD Review
"It's Romeo and Juliet--with ninjas."
That's how I imagine Shinobi: Heart Under Blade being pitched
to an American studio. Something tells me the film would have
looked a lot better had it been produced with big money backing
it. It may have even been a film strong enough to compare to Ang
Lee's masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yet,
I'm glad it wasn't.
Instead of a sweeping romantic epic, Shinobi
settles on being an action drama with the sensibilities of a video
game. The characters have a big scoop of Tekken mixed with
a dash of Mortal Kombat. Even the romantic leads have enough
game to prevent the film from indulging in melodrama. When Shinobi
could have been pretentious, it wasn't, and that's why I enjoyed
it.
In Shinobi, the star-crossed lovers are Oboro
(Yukie Nakama) and Gennosuke (Jo Odagiri). These two ninjas from
enemy villages fall in love just as a lasting peace between their
groups comes to an end.
Fearing the growing strength of the mystical warriors
who have honed their skill in hiding, the ruling emperor calls
for a grand battle between the clans. The five strongest warriors
from each village will fight to the death, establishing dominance
once and for all.
Gennosuke, whose warrior ways have been weakened by love, can
see the devious motivations behind the emperor's contest. The
broken peace, however, results in an impromptu battle between
the two tribal heads. Both are killed and the lovers inherit the
leadership positions in their respective villages. Now the two
must counter centuries of animosity to keep their clans and their
love alive.
As the least colorful of the film's characters,
Gennosuke and Oboro are never given prominence over their cohorts.
Of course, the real fun happens when the other characters with
more stunning costumes and visually impressive powers take center
stage. There are obvious parallels between fighting game characters
and these fighters, which is actually why I never regret their
being put on the same level as the lovers.
Had most video game films had the fortitude to take
on a substantial narrative, I imagine they would turn out a lot
like Shinobi. Shinobi, however, lies outside that
genre, firmly placing itself in the fantasy martial arts realm.
It's not Yimou Zhang-level work. Not even close. But Shinobi
maintains itself as a solid genre film right to the end.
In spite of my apparent lack of concern for the
more serious parts, it's the climactic encounter between Oboro
and the emperor that made me respect the film. What George A.
Romero does with zombie films, Shinobi nearly does with
the martial arts genre during that scene. It is able to preach
a message of peace and not lose credibility as an action film.
The balance is rare, but from a film than can carry both lovers
and video game fighters, I can't say it's surprising.
Recommended extras:
> Shinobi Action - Sumpu Castle Fight
> Storyboard Collection
> Shinobi Art - Manjidani
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