This is the first of the Sleepy Eyes of Death series and the first of the series that I have seen. Because I haven't seen the rest of the films, it's not possible for me to compare and contrast it--which I'll try to do after I see others in the series.
The reason I chose to watch this film is that I love Japanese films and had seen all of the Zatoichi films. I was looking for some other series and in many ways, this seemed like a natural. Unlike the similar Zatoichi films, Nemuri Kyoshiro (Raizô Ichikawa) plays a guy who just seems really bored with life--underplaying EVERYTHING in the film and under-emoting throughout--plus this swordsman can actually see (a minor plus, I must add). Like Zatoichi, he's a good guy, absolutely amazing with the sword and is tired of needless killing.
Because Nemuri is so good with the sword, two rival sides want to bring them into their fight to help their side win. However, even though Nemuri is a ronin (i.e., a samurai who has no master and as a result, no money), he is slow to get in the middle of things. Eventually, he learns that both sides really do suck--so he chooses a middle path. This brings him to a woman who falls in love with him--and you know that it's destined to fail--just like Zatoichi.
The action is pretty good and the story not bad, though the film really suffers for two reasons. First, with Nemuri so emotionally constricted in the film, his personality really is lacking and cold. Second, the plot is way too talky. Again and again, the major characters seem to sit and talk and talk and talk. By the time the big "boss battle" comes at the end of the film, it's about time!! Speeding the film up a bit would have really helped.
Perhaps the next installment will be better. However, I don't think the film was nearly as poor as the other reviews seem to indicate--it is quite watchable for fans of samurai films. It just could stand improvement--a little punching up, so to speak.
The reason I chose to watch this film is that I love Japanese films and had seen all of the Zatoichi films. I was looking for some other series and in many ways, this seemed like a natural. Unlike the similar Zatoichi films, Nemuri Kyoshiro (Raizô Ichikawa) plays a guy who just seems really bored with life--underplaying EVERYTHING in the film and under-emoting throughout--plus this swordsman can actually see (a minor plus, I must add). Like Zatoichi, he's a good guy, absolutely amazing with the sword and is tired of needless killing.
Because Nemuri is so good with the sword, two rival sides want to bring them into their fight to help their side win. However, even though Nemuri is a ronin (i.e., a samurai who has no master and as a result, no money), he is slow to get in the middle of things. Eventually, he learns that both sides really do suck--so he chooses a middle path. This brings him to a woman who falls in love with him--and you know that it's destined to fail--just like Zatoichi.
The action is pretty good and the story not bad, though the film really suffers for two reasons. First, with Nemuri so emotionally constricted in the film, his personality really is lacking and cold. Second, the plot is way too talky. Again and again, the major characters seem to sit and talk and talk and talk. By the time the big "boss battle" comes at the end of the film, it's about time!! Speeding the film up a bit would have really helped.
Perhaps the next installment will be better. However, I don't think the film was nearly as poor as the other reviews seem to indicate--it is quite watchable for fans of samurai films. It just could stand improvement--a little punching up, so to speak.