SATOMI HAKKENDEN (1983)
aka Legend of the 8 Samurai, Legend of the 8 Ninjas
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
Starring Hiroko Yakushimaru, Sonny Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada, Etsuko "Sue" Shiomi
The saga of the Hakkenden, or Dog Warriors, is well known and frequently told. Most American anime fans have come across the outstanding series, available from Pioneer US... If you liked that then you are well advised to check this film out. Of course it won't just appeal to anime fans, this is an all star production coming from Toei and Kadokawa that is loaded with samurai action, mystic monsters and pools of blood! While not staying strictly in line with the original story, this is Japanese fantasy by way of the Tokusatsu shows from Toei and refiltered through the sensibility of powerhouse director Kinji Fukasaku. Think of a classic samurai film colliding headlong with an army of kamen riders and splattering against the wall of YOR... go from there.
Starting with the destruction of the Satomi Clan by the evil Hikata Clan, the film puts our princess heroine in danger. While the bad guys have collected almost all the heads of the clan they need to revive a powerful demon, they come up short simply by missing the princess. Of course, this doesn't please them at all, and having a ticked off wall that is supposedly holding a demon doesn't help the mood. Everyone is after the princess now, be it for bounty of demonic reward. But the legend of the Princess and the Puppy is in full effect. Just for those who don't know, the story goes that a beautiful princess is promised to the family dog by her father... if the dog can kill his enemies. Well, the dog does! So they are married now, and off doing..uh..whatever they would do for the rest of their lives. But who could leave the lady to her Labrador love? It all goes wrong, and the Princess is killed... but not before 8 gems of destiny could disperse. Luckily at this later date, our Princess Satomi is to be protected by the Dog Warriors.
Woof.
And this protection she will need! We have centipede monsters, evil hags, undead warriors and much more, all out to peel the flesh from the Princess and awake those nasty demons. Let's not forgot the evil undead Hikata wench, Tamazusa! She bathes in blood and screeches all kinds of nasty things. All in a days work for The dog warriors. As usual the Hakkenden are the bunch of monks, mystics and fighters you expect, but that is a good thing. The film benefits from the great cast, as many cool and familiar faces play the roles with great enthusiasm that a less skilled group could never have pulled off. Sonny Chiba is big bad Dosetsu, who not only gets to kick ass, but look fantastic doing it. The main characters of the Princess (Hiroko Yakushimaru) and her love/rogue Shinbei (the always great Hiroyuki Sanada) keep the dramatic focus of the film strong. Also you can look for Sister Street Fighter herself, Sue Shiomi as Keno, a beautiful and troubled swordswoman.
While it sounds foolproof, Satomi Hakkenden is perhaps not going to thrill all fans of jidai-geki cinema. Kinji Fukasaku had a mission with this film, and it was to both be pure pop entertainment and to go as far over the top as he could with these giant sets, silly monsters and bright red blood. While it's not a festival of goofy behavior, this is a pure soda and popcorn treatment of Japanese Fantasy. As he did with Message From Space, Fukasaku pitches straight at the entertainment cinema fan, never trying to cast an illusion of being anything greater than fun. And it succeeds brilliantly. Perhaps following the necessity of it's intended audience, Toei must have had to bash Fukasaku over the head and run while they inserted some of the ENGLISH LANGUAGE music! The soundtrack is great if you enjoy 80's synth (and I do), but there are a few songs that make Journey sound like Popul Vuh! You'll be afraid of the name John O'Banian for a long time after hearing him blubber that immortal line, "I don't want tooooNIIhiiiIIIght to end!"
Well, it's amusing enough for a few minutes, just let it slide, the blood and action will start flying shortly thereafter! While you may know and love Kinji Fukasaku for his Yakuza classics, his Battle Royale legacy or even the wonderful Green Slime, this is one that showed the man knew how to have fun, and run amok doing it!
The DVD from Cannibal King is a special edition that will make any fan happy. First we have the uncut Japanese version, now with professional subtitles that keep with the action of the movie (and the spirit of the dialog) very well. The transfer is anamorphic and the transfer boasts a loud Dolby Digital Soundtrack as well. A making of special is included, and though unsubbed it is a fun look at Kinji and Company at work. Also included on a second disc is the export version, dubbed in English... The Legend of the 8 Samurai. I remember seeing this on Starmaker video ages ago, and while it is full frame, the transfer looks surprisingly good of this version as well. Some wacky dubbing is a real highlight of this edition, and after you enjoy the main feature, you should check it out. They dubbed Chiba with a less than Viva Chiba voice though, I have to say.
Put the FUN in FUkasaku, and grab this one up! Don't let tonight end...baby.
FILM RATED: 3 DOG TREATS
PICTURE: 3 DOG TREATS
SOUND: 4 DOG TREATS
EXTRAS: 4 DOG TREATS
OVERALL RATING: 4 DOG TREATS