Shura Yukihime (2001)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Shinsuke Sato

Writers:

Kazuo Kamimura (comic)
Kazuo Koike (comic)

Release Date:

15 December 2001 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the near future, Japan is ruled once more by a monarchy. But, rebels opposed to this rule seek to overthrow the government...

Plot Keywords:

Rebel | Assassin | Gas Station | Female Warrior | Wound

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Hideaki Ito	...	Takashi
Yumiko Shaku	...	Yuki
Shirô Sano	...	Kidokoro
Yoichi Numata	...	Kuka
Kyusaku Shimada	...	Byakurai
Yôko Chôsokabe	...	Soma
Yoko Maki	...	Aya
Naomasa Musaka	...	Kiri
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Anka
Shintarou Sonooka	...	Chain Wielder
Takashi Tsukamoto	...	Takashi's Friend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
L.B. Bartholomee	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version) (as Lowell Bartholomee)
Russell Bartholomee	...	Takashi's Friend (voice: English version)
Kimberly Dilts	...	Yuki (voice: English version)
Dom Elsnor	...	Chain Wielder (voice: English version)
Lyle Faubert	...	Anka (voice: English version)
Robert Fisher	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version) (as Robert S. Fisher)
Samuel Harlow	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Sammy Harte	...	Additional voices
Jessica Hedrick	...	Aya (voice: English version)
Joey Hood	...	Kiri (voice: English version)
Grant James	...	Kuka (voice: English version)
Judson L. Jones	...	Kidokoro (voice: English version)
Jason Martoni	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Ellie McBride	...	Soma (voice: English version)
Michael T. Mergen	...	Renkyo (voice: English version) (as Michael Mergen)
Russ Roten	...	Byakurai (voice: English version) (as Russ Rotan)
Adam Sultan	...	Takashi (voice: English version)
Chan Yeuw	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

The Princess Blade (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence.

Runtime:

92 min | Germany:92 min (Berlin Film Festival) | USA:93 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS | DTS-Stereo

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:PG-12 | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

GAGA Communications

Trivia:

The statue in the industrial district of the town actually resembles the producer of the movie, not Stalin.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During many of Yuki's fight scenes, it is painfully obvious that a male stunt double is used for all the violent hits, slams, falls, and drops.

Movie Connections:

References The Princess Bride (1987)

Full of bloody and stylish sword-fights.

Not knowing too much about the film before viewing, I popped Princess Blade into the DVD player expecting a lighthearted disposable babes-with-swords action movie and boy was I surprised; instead of a throwaway plot and an emphasis on 'cool' visuals, I got a rather bleak and bloody tale of retribution and the futility of life.

Yuki is a member of the Takemikazuchi clan—killers for hire who work for the reigning monarchy, disposing of any opposition. When she learns that Byakurai, head honcho of the clan, was responsible for the death of her mother, she seeks revenge. After failing to kill Byakurai, she flees the group, hotly pursued by her fellow assassins who see her as a traitor.

Narrowly escaping death by climbing into the back of a passing truck, Yuki is befriended by the driver, a rebel who is part of a terrorist organisation secretly fighting the establishment. The two outcasts grow fond of each other and plan to run away together, but it is not long before both of their pasts catch up with them with tragic results.

With stunning swordplay choreographed by top Hong Kong star Donnie Yen, a decent story and a strong visual style, Princess Blade is an admirable debut from director Shinsuke Sato. Despite a rather slow middle section in which time is taken to try and develop characters and flesh out the sometimes confusing plot, the film never bores, and when Yuki finally gets to exact revenge, she does so in spectacular fashion, chopping, hacking and slicing all those who dare to draw swords against her.

Bloody and brutal, this is definitely worth a watch for fans of the genre.