Jeri Jacquin
On Digital and coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and DVD from writer/director Irie Yu and Well Go USA is a story of fighting for those who cannot find for themselves with SAMURAI FURY.
It is the fifteenth century in Japan and there is a devastating famine and plague running rampant in the country during the Muromachi dynasty. Ronin Hasuda Hyoe (Oizumi Yo) wanders the countryside seeing the pain and suffering by the people who are dealing with the emperor and Honekawa Doken (Shin’ichi Tsutsumi), a longtime friend but now believe different things. Hyoe understands that there is only one way to stop the shogun who puts people in indentured servitude, is by gathering the people to fight.
Hyoe meets Saizo (Kento Nagao), a young man who has a mind of his own and isn’t about to bow to anyone. Seeing something in Saizo, Hyoe believes he can set the young man on a path for serving others but Saizo needs to be trained up. Proving that so, Hyoe tries to take on a government passage that taxes anyone trying to get through which puts people in danger. The fight shows the young man why he needs training.
Doken knows that Hyoe is working against the grain of things while he constantly remembers their younger days together. The problem is Doken became corrupted by money and power but Hyoe stayed true to service to people. Now, with Saizo joining Hyoe once again, that can take all those willing to fight oppression and change the face of their world.
Yo as Hyoe is a man who moves through his world gracefully and without attracting attention. He tries to touch as many lives for the good as possible and shows the look of a man who hides the disgust he feels. This is where Yo shines in this role and there were moments that just touched me. Also, his moments of comedy are giggle worthy if not totally charming. The action sequences are spot on and what one would expect from a film with the word “samuri” in the title.
Nagao as Saizo is unrecognizable in the beginning and is totally out of control almost in a way that probably kept his character alive. No one wants to mess with crazy. Once he calms down, Saizo gives us the story of a young man who begins to experience what Hyoe is all about and wants that for himself. He may have fought the training but, as with meeting Hyoe, he does begin to see where it can lead him for his life and for others. I really enjoyed Nagao and his humorous moments were spot on.
Tsutsumi as Doken is clearly a conflicted character. Enjoying the richess he steals from others and all the glory that comes with it, he also tries to find a middle ground in his friendship with Hyoe. Letting this slip and that slip by, Tsutsumi’s portrayal also gives way to the fact that there has to be a point in time where a choice has to be made – and he makes it. The fight scenes give Doken a chance to show clearly what his leadership is made of and not even those above him stand a chance to take what he feels is his.
Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.
The battles in this tale are fast paced and the visual are along the lines of most Japanese epic films like this one. It is almost like a film from three different perspectives. Hyoe as a wandering ronin who looks to do good where he can, Saizo who has been put through the hardship of his country but refuses to back down and Doken, a man who is conflicted by friendship and greed. That kept the movie interesting as if to see which road each of these characters takes to their goal.
Director Irie takes a bit of unknown history as Hyoe is in Japanese history but only as a small footnote believing him to be a Masterless Samuri or Ronin who led a rebellion. Ryosuke Kanine wrote the 2016 novel entitled Muromachi Burai that talks about an uprising of the common people of Japan. I am a huge fan of historical novels and even more thrilled when they are turned into action films. Irie turns that bit of history into a 135-minute action adventure that offers up perspectives that add a richness to the story itself.
In the end – he fights for those who cannot!
No comments:
Post a Comment