Explosive
Summary
Overlong at 136 minutes, but pretty rollicking once it gets going, Legend of the Eight Samurai is Japan’s answer to a lot of the sword and sorcery fantasy adventures that came during the boom of the early 1980’s with fun optical effects, a synth rock score, English language love and rock songs, and even a dose of sexiness that is not exactly expected, but welcome for a movie of this type. If The Seven Samurai had a quest formula with witches, warlocks, demons, magic weapons, and huge monsters, then it might resemble this adventuresome film. It’s wacky, but effective, and fans of ’80s fantasies should seek it out, particularly if you’ve got a craving for something beyond the familiar tropes of what westernized films offer.
Plot: A princess is being hunted by a clan of undead witches and warlocks, and only a disbanded group of samurai can save her.
Review: The entire Satomi Clan is decimated by an evil group of undead witches and warlocks that command a powerful army and reside in a fortress, but their leader Tamazusa (Mari Natsuki) is dissatisfied because of all the heads that were brought for her as prizes, the one she wanted most is not amongst them: That of the young princess Shizu (Hiroko Yakushimaru) who could potentially keep the Satomi Clan’s bloodline evergreen. A hunting party is assembled to hunt Shizu, but she manages to fall into the clutches of a rapscallion farmer turned bounty hunter-type named Shinbei (played by Hiroyuki Sanada) who sees the princess as his chance to make a buck by turning her over to those who’re hunting her. But fate has much more in store for her – and him – when several “dog warrior” wandering ronin samurai (one of whom is played by Sonny Chiba) who’ve been waiting for their chance to band together to ensure that the Satomi clan doesn’t die out forever. Shizu and Shinbei lead the quest to unite the disbanded eight samurai who each possess a magic crystal talisman that can be used just a single time, and once they’re all united they must rescue the princess (who is taken captive by Tamazusa at one point) from the impenetrable fortress.
Overlong at 136 minutes, but pretty rollicking once it gets going, Legend of the Eight Samurai is Japan’s answer to a lot of the sword and sorcery fantasy adventures that came during the boom of the early 1980’s with fun optical effects, a synth rock score, English language love and rock songs, and even a dose of sexiness that is not exactly expected, but welcome for a movie of this type. If The Seven Samurai had a quest formula with witches, warlocks, demons, magic weapons, and huge monsters, then it might resemble this adventuresome film. It’s wacky, but effective, and fans of ’80s fantasies should seek it out, particularly if you’ve got a craving for something beyond the familiar tropes of what westernized films offer. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku.
Eureka! has just released a premium Blu-ray edition of Legend of the Eight Samurai, and it looks great in a new 4K restoration, providing a viewing experience that is totally satisfactory in every way. I wasn’t familiar with this film before, so it was like watching a brand new movie with clear and perfect image and sound quality.
Bonus Materials
- Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Chris Malbon
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 4K restoration
- Uncompressed original Japanese audio and alternate English dub track
- Optional English subtitles
- New audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Joe Hickinbottom
- New Interview with Kinji Fukasaku’s son, filmmaker Kenta Fukasaku
- New video essay by film historian and critic Stuart Galbraith IV
- Theatrical trailer
- PLUS: A collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by Tom Mes, co-founder of Midnight Eye