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

Director:

Shinsuke Sato

Writers:

Kazuo Kamimura (comic)
Kazuo Koike (comic)
(more)

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 | Running | Female Warrior | Impalement

Awards:

1 win

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:
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)
Jessica Hedrick	...	Aya (voice: English version)
Joey Hood	...	Kiri (voice: English version)
Samantha Inoue Harte	...	Additional voices
Grant James	...	Kuka (voice: English version)
Judson Jones	...	Kidokoro (voice: English version) (as Judson L. Jones)
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)

Directed by
Shinsuke Sato

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kazuo Kamimura		comic
Kazuo Koike		comic
Kei Kunii
Shinsuke Sato

Produced by
Takashige Ichise	....	producer (as Taka Ichise)
John Ledford	....	executive producer (english version)
Mark Williams	....	executive producer (english version)

Original Music by
Kenji Kawai

Cinematography by
Taro Kawazu

Film Editing by
Hirohide Abe

Art Direction by
Tomoyuki Maruo

Sound Department
Kiyoshi Kakizawa	....	sound

Special Effects by
Shinji Higuchi	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Shinji Higuchi	....	visual effects

Stunts
Mike Lambert	....	stunts
Gô Ohara	....	stunts
Yûji Shimomura	....	stunt double: Yumiko Shaku
Kenji Tanigaki	....	stunts
Jack Wong Wai Leung	....	stunts (as Jack Wong)
Donnie Yen	....	fight choreographer
Hiroyuki Yoshida	....	utility stunts

Production Companies

• GAGA
• Oz Productions

Distributors

• Tokyo Theaters Company (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• Xanadeux Company (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• ADV Films (2003) (USA) (subtitled)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Elephant Films (2003) (France) (all media)
• Highlight Video
• Intercontinental Film Distributors (HK) (2002) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. (Japan)
• Madman Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (all media)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• SBP (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Universe Laser & Video Co. Ltd. (2002) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• World Wide Cinema (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)

Special Effects

• Image Corporation (visual effects)
• Motor/lieZ (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Arquebuse  foley design
• Aube Studio  music recording studio
• Hoei Sangyo Co. Ltd.  film stock supplied by
• Sanwa Cine Equipment  camera equipment supplied by
• Sony PCL  camera equipment supplied by
• Sony PCL  post-production facilities
• Toei Labo Tech  film laboratory services

Also Known As:

"Shura Yukihime" - Japan (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence

Runtime:

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

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | DTS-Stereo | Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Company:

GAGA

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Continuity: When Yuki battles Byakurai in the forest, day in one shot changes to night in the next.

Movie Connections:

References The Princess Bride (1987)

Visually Satisfying, Storyline weak

If you are the sort that some action is enough to satisfy you this will be a seven for you. The lead female is very beautiful and athletic however the storyline is bordering on retarded. I would recommend watching this movie just to see the girl swordfight because she's really quite spectacular. However the story is pathetic and the movie can't quite get off the ground because of it. There are some crude heavy handed attempts at character development but they are awkward and sophomoric. The fight scenes are fun but it's obvious the camera tricks were used to cover up the lack of skill of some of the fighters. Yumiko Shaku is a rare gem of a human being, it's a pity her skills and beauty were wasted on this skimpy retarded plot.