Radiance Films UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Three more spectacular tales of ninja action in this continuation of the hugely influential series. This time, Raizo Ichikawa (Shinobi 1-3) stars as Mist Saizo, a ninja with a grudge who won’t rest until he has assassinated the supreme leader, the Tokugawa shogun. Directed by three of the Daiei Studio’s top period action specialists, these films feature epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling ninja fights. In Siege, Raizo Ichikawa is Mist Saizo, the legendary folk hero and Iga ninja. Working in the service of warlord Yukimura Sanada (Tomisaburo Wakayama), he plots to assassinate Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, but finds himself facing the might of the nation’s supreme ruler. In Return of Mist Saizo, our black-clad hero continues his mission to avenge his master, even after Ieyasu has abdicated from the throne. Told as one continuous story, these two films weave their ninja action in and out of Japanese martial history, featuring epic battles, ingenious spy-craft and thrilling fight scenes. In The Last Iga Spy, Mist Saizo’s son Saisuke takes over his father’s name and mission. He is recruited by a rebellious warlord to assist a plot to overthrow the government, but the Shogun hires a rival ninja clan to thwart the uprising. Meanwhile, other forces are also at play. Directed by Kazuo Mori (Shinobi 3: Resurrection, Zatoichi at Large), this film pits ninja against ninja, including a breathtaking rooftop battle scene that is one of the highlights of the entire Shinobi series. (87/91/89 Mins)

 

Views: The second volume of the classic Japanese film series, Shinobi (no mono) has finally arrived from Radiance Films, and what a great release to follow-up with. Offering up more stunning visuals, great performances, and exciting ninja action, the next three movies of the series are surprisingly unconnected to the first. Many of the same cast members are back including leading man Raizo Ichikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Saburo Date and Yutaka Nakamura for example, but they all play different roles than before – and even with these three chapters, sometimes more than one!

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This time, cherished actor Raizo Ichikawa stars as a new folk hero known as Mist Saizo; a fearless Iga ninja and bodyguard of warlord Yukimura Sanada – here played by Tomisaburo Wakayama. In the first film, Siege, evil warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu is out to take control of Japan, threatening to overthrow the Japanese government and take down anyone that stands in his way. In order to complete this, he must eliminate Yukimura Sanada and his clan of Toyotomi ninja who live in Osaka Castle. But when Ieyasu lays siege on them and sends his forces to attack, Saizo does what he can to save his master and escape the attack! I thoroughly enjoyed this first story of Mist Saizo and the film overall. We get glimpses of an older Osaka Castle – one very different to what stands today. Interestingly, the original castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to mirror that of Oda Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle, with plans to surpass it in every way – a plan of which was very much achieved. It's also worth noting that in the first two Shinobi movies, Wakayama starred as Nobunaga respectively. This particular siege was very much true to Japanese history, lasting about a year from 1614 to 1615 having been divided into two seasonal stages as seen at both the start and end of the movie. Of course, this confirms that the Osaka Castle we visit today, is very much not the original that was first built in the late 1500s. When I was last there with my husband, I do remember fantasizing about ninjas scaling the walls and the epic battles that went on in it's vast grounds. In that respect, it was great to see it come to life in this fantastic movie...

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Part five, The Return Of Mist Saizo, the story continues as Saizo helps Sanada escape the fall of Osaka Castle and flee to an island where allied forces await. Once there, they make plans to avenge the loss of the Toyotomi clan and learn that the only way forward is to access the use of guns and ammunition that Ieyasu's men have at hand. While those guns were done in trades with the Portuguese, the blueprints were left in the hands of the Tanegashima merchants. Sanada and Saizo strategise how to gain their secrets, but on his mission, Saizo must put all his ninja skills to use when he comes face-to-face with the ronin of Tanegashima island, their Chinese allies, and some vengeful daughters of an enemy he once brought down! Perhaps the most exciting chapter of this set, The Return Of Mist Saizo is a fast-paced and action-packed continuation of Siege that offers ninja fans plenty of exciting scenes featuring the silent assassins – with the nighttime spotlight attack being a particular highlight. Once again, the film is beautifully captured and the change of scenery that brings in Japanese island life, is somewhat refreshing. The last film of this set, set between 1637 and 1651, takes an interesting turn – opening with the death of Mist Saizo. Having been forced to the edge of a cliff after fighting with a small army during the Battle of Shimabara, Mist Saizo takes his own life as we hear a young boy scream out for his dad. Years later, his son – Kirigakure Saisuke – has grown up to be an expert ninja. But before he passed, Saizo revealed that both his son and daughter are not actually related, with the latter being the only child of the late Lord Sanada. Sworn to protect her from the Shogun's men, Saisuke's skills are put to the test as he battles every enemy with an array of ninja tactics and vengeance, making The Last Iga Spy a great finish to the story of Mist Saizo.

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The handsome and late Raizo Ichikawa - one of the biggest stars of his time – returns once again as the lead, starring as Mist Raizo in all three but also his son, Saisuke, in Shinobi 6: The Last Iga Spy. Throughout his short-lived career, this Kyoto born actor impressed in many films including The Loyal 47 Ronin (1958), Ambush At Iga Pass (1958), Kazuo Mori's Samurai Vendetta (1959), Satan's Sword (1960) and it's sequels, and hugely popular film series such as this and Sleepy Eyes Of Death (1963). Of course, I can't forget about his fantastic roles in Kon Ichikawa's 1963 classic An Actor's Revenge and The Sword just a year later. Unfortunately, in his mid-thirties, Raizo was diagnosed with rectal cancer which caused his physical strength to fade. Towards the end of his career and life, he would star in two more films for Kazuo Mori with the brilliant spy thrillers, A Certain Killer and A Killer's Key, in 1967 although would go onto appear in at least 7 more features until his passing in 1969. A fighter and professional until the end, this illustrious performer starred in over 150 titles throughout his career as well as countless theatre productions where he first made his name. Joining him once again in the fourth and fifth Shinobi movies is the legendary Tomisaburo Wakayama, the Shogun assassin himself who is widely known as the lead in the popular Lone Wolf & Cub (1972) film series – that was later re-edited and released in the West as Shogun Assassin (1980) – as well as for his appearance in Ridley Scott's Black Rain (1989) opposite Michael Douglas, and in The Bounty Hunter collection, which was also released on Blu-ray by Radiance Films This time though, as previously mentioned, Wakayama plays Lord Yukimura Sanada of the Toyotomi clan. It's also worth noting that, in fact, Wakayama starred in almost 270 film and television productions throughout his career, right up to his death in 1992.

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For each of these three chapters, a different director was called upon for each by Daiei Studios. With Shinobi 4: Siege, Tokuzo Tanaka was at the helm – the same man behind Scars of Honor (1960), Bad Reputation (1961) and it's sequels, New Tale of Zatoichi (1963), Zatoichi The Fugitive (1963), Zatoichi's Vengeance (1966), and directed Raizo Ichikawa in Sleepy Eyes of Death: The Chinese Jade (1963) and it's many sequels. With Siege, Tanaka does another fantastic job in setting up the basis for this historical piece and hands the reigns over to Kazuo Ikehiro to continue the story in Shinobi 5: Return of Mist Saizo. Throughout his career, Kazuo has delivered some genuine classics such as The Phantom Samurai (1961), Young Boss (1965) and it's many sequels, Naked Ambition (1970), and like Tanaka before him worked on many of the Sleepy Eyes Of Death and Zatoichi sequels over the years. He would also return to direct the final part of this series with Shinobi 8: A New Beginning (1966). For this, Ikehiro does a superb job in keeping the pace steady and continuing the journey of Mist Saizo. And finally, for Shinobi 6: The Last Iga Spy, director Kazuo Mori returns – having delivered Shinobi 3: Resurrection just a year before. Of course, this was also the very same man behind classics such as Samurai Vendetta (1959), Bad Reputation Marketplace (1963), Wrath of Daimajin (1966), Raizo Ichikawa's A Certain Killer and A Killer's Key (1967), and a number of the Zatoichi movies as well as it's popular TV series that ran between 1974 and 1979. Clearly delivering another fantastic entry to the series, Kazuo Mori would stick around to deliver the seventh film in 1966...

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Once again, Radiance Films delivers another beautiful collection of movies and I really hope they finish things up with the final two films. Although these films are 60 years old, watching them today via these gorgeous restorations is somewhat refreshing after years of watching fast paced, quick cut and FX filled ninja movies such as Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (2005), Azumi (2003), Red Shadow (2001) and even Alexander Lo Rei classics such as Mafia Vs Ninja (1985), Ninja USA (1985), Wu Tang Vs Ninja/Ninja Hunter (1987) etc, etc. And as much as I love each of those films for many different reasons, the Shinobi No Mono series has felt much more genuine and authentic in terms of ninja tactics, weapons work, fight scenes, and historical drama. If you've already got Radiance Films' first volume or just spent time enjoying parts one to three, then this next set of films is definitely worth the investment. As before, the release features a limited edition booklet, six postcards and a host of extra features such as an interview with Japanese period-film historian Tachi Kasuga, another with ninja film scholar Mance Thompson, select-scene audio commentary on Siege with Tom Mes, a visual essay by Hayley Scanlon, a second one by Tom Mes, and trailers!

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Overall: A fantastic follow up with more stunning visuals and exciting ninja action, Shinobi Vol. 2 is worth picking up and a must for all fans of Raizo Ichikawa!

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Radiance Films Blu-ray Extras: Interview with Japanese period-film historian Taichi Kasuga, Interview with ninja film scholar Mance Thompson, Select-scene audio commentary on Siege with Tom Mes, Visual Essay by Hayley Scanlon, Visual Essay by Tom Mes, Trailers

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Watch my unboxing of this Radiance Films release HERE