The Princess Blade (2001)
"Shura Yukihime" (original title)

In the near future, Japan is ruled once more by a monarchy. But, rebels opposed to this rule seek to overthrow the government. The House of Takemikazuchi, a band of assassins is hired by ... See full summary »

Director:

Shinsuke Sato

Writers:

Kazuo Kamimura (comic), Kazuo Koike (comic),

Stars:

Hideaki Itô, Yumiko Shaku, Shirô Sano

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Hideaki Itô	...	Takashi
Yumiko Shaku	...	Yuki
Shirô Sano	...	Kidokoro
Yôichi Numata	...	Kuka
Kyûsaku Shimada	...	Byakurai
Yôko Chôsokabe	...	Soma
Yôko Maki	...	Aya
Naomasa Musaka	...	Kiri
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Anka
Shintarou Sonooka	...	Chain Wielder
Takashi Tsukamoto	...	Takashi's Friend
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lowell Bartholomee	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Russell Bartholomee	...	Takashi's Friend (voice)
Kimberly Dilts	...	Yuki (voice)
Dom Elsnor	...	Chain Wielder (voice)

Storyline

In the near future, Japan is ruled once more by a monarchy. But, rebels opposed to this rule seek to overthrow the government. The House of Takemikazuchi, a band of assassins is hired by the government to suppress the rebels. As a conspiracy from within signals the shadowy organization's impending demise, Yuki, the last of the Takemikazuchi bloodline befriends one of the rebels and seeks revenge against the group's leader.

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Plot Keywords:

rebel | assassin | running | female warrior | impalement | 

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence

Details

Official Sites:

ADV Films Character &Anime.com Corp [jp] (Japanese)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

15 December 2001 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The Princess Blade

Company Credits

Production Co:

GAGA, Oz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

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.

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Connections

Remake of Lady Snowblood (1973)

User Reviews

Vague convoluted plot, slick action

Yet another offering from Japanese cinema in which we are treated to briefly exhilarating action sequences punctuating a vague and convoluted plot. Yet even the action never quite delivers. It opens with an impressive assassination, combining clever camera-work with well choreographed well edited moves. Unfortunately, with the exception of a couple of beautiful individual shots, it is a steady decline in quality from this point. The fights become briefer, duller and increasingly difficult to work out what exactly is going on. The plot is generic and the characters utterly two dimensional, while the subplot of the rebel organisation is half hearted. If you want a mindlessly fun, violent flick with big swords, bigger guns, gallons of blood and an absurd plot, rent 'Versus.'