Shogun Assassin

While it virtually introduced Japanese martial arts films to America in 1980 (in much the same way that Hercules did Italian strongman epics back in 1959), the cult film Shogun Assassin is actually a composite created from the first two Lone Wolf & Cub (or Kozure Ookami) movies adapted by Toho studio from a popular manga, re-edited and dubbed into English for U.S. release. The hero is a beefy, fearsome samurai—once an executioner for a powerful shogun—whose home is attacked by his former master's minions, leaving his wife dead. Wandering the countryside with his young son in a cart, the samurai stops only to dispatch the stream of fighters the shogun sends out to destroy him, leading to a succession of bloody confrontations featuring decapitations, dismemberments, and virtual geysers of blood. The gruesome, cheesy effects often have a decidedly comic feel—as when the boy's baby-carriage sprouts knives from its axles to cut down a line of opponents—but a quarter-century after its original release, Shogun Assassin feels more like a curio than a classic. Boasting a nice anamorphic transfer from a newly-restored print, DVD extras include a selection of theatrical trailers, extensive text notes on the film, and a stills gallery. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review— Aug. 3, 2010—AnimEigo, 85 min., R, $24.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1980's Shogun Assassin (30th Anniversary Collector's Edition) features a great transfer with extras including two audio commentaries (the first with producer David Weisman, graphic designer Jim Evans and voice actor Gibran Evans; the second with film scholar Ric Meyers and martial arts expert Steve Watson), an interview with fan Samuel L. Jackson (13 min.), a restoration gallery (4 min.), text program notes, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray debut for a minor cult hit.]