Review: Shinobi - Heart Under Blade

Summary
Alternative Titles: Shinobi
Genre: Romance, Action
Release Date: Sept. 17, 05 (Japan)
Starring: Odagiri Jo as Gennosuke, Nakama Yukie as Oboro
Related: Basilisk anime review

Shinobi is a movie adaptation of the novel, The Kouga Ninja Scrolls by Yamada Futaro. Shinobi is about two ninja clans named Kouga and Iga. Both ninja clans practice superhuman techniques that are unknown to the rest of Japan. Both clans have been waging war against each other for hundreds of years but a truce brought peace to both clans. However, the current ruler of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu, sees the threat posed by the two ninja clans. Tokugawa comes up with a plan. He lifts the truce and tells both clans to choose five of their best ninjas to battle to their deaths.

Review
Shinobi is all about ninjas and awesome fighting scenes. It has a very easy-to-understand plot. Shinobi also contains a nice subplot about the romance between the leader of Iga and the leader of Kouga, but there aren't many scenes that focus on it. Shinobi is more about ninjas fighting each other. It's filled with well-choreographed fight scenes that shows each ninja's unique abilities.


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Pros

• Interesting characters with unique abilities
• Well-choreographed fighting scenes
• Nice scenery in many parts
• Simple story and plenty of action

Cons

• Some characters die way too early on and you'll wish that you got to see more of their abilities
• Some people might not like the simple story

Recommendation
Shinobi was obviously made for the male audience so you'll enjoy it if your a male. I recommend watching the anime adaptation, Basilisk, if you enjoyed Shinobi.

Rating: 8/10

Here's a 3 minute clip I made. It shows the first fighting scene in the movie.