Review: Directed by director Hiroyuki Nakano who was the mastermind behind the classic “Samurai Fiction,” Nakano gives his camera lens another go and tries to bring us something new in the form of his second feature film “Red Shadow.” Going for something new in the ninja genre, we are treated to hip-hop ninjas. Yeah, that’s right, hip-hop ninjas! Sounds crazy, and I’m not saying it’s not, but I thought it worked out perfectly fine in the end. Red Shadow is basically a ninja movie revamped for the new millennia, and like most movies remade for a new audience, this is follows suit as well. Incorporating nifty new gadgets, CG enhanced scenes and a rockin’ hip-hoppish/techno soundtrack, Nakano takes the age old Ninja movie to new heights.

Red Shadow follows the tale of three ninjas brought up from a young age to carry out missions in the name of the empire. The movie takes place in the year 1545 during the Warring States Period. The Kageichi clan who these three are brought up in are known for the Heavenly Steel that they found in a meteor now are under the rule of Lord Togo who give them orders to carry out. Ranging from smaller missions like stopping a general from sending out his troops to much grander missions, the Akakage, Aokage, and Asuka bravely take on formidable forces under the cover of the night. There place in life is to live and die in the shadows. However when Asuka is fatally injured in a mission, Aokage contemplates his life as a ninja and disbands the childhood group. Going on with their lives, they split and go their separate ways. However as the master of the Kyogoku clan passes away in a web of conspiracy, Akakage is caught up in the life of the heir to the throne, Princess Koto. Now working as Princess Koto’s personal bodyguard, he is brought further into the web of lies and treachery of the Kyogoku and the puppet masters controlling it all. It is on one fateful night that Akakage and Aokage are destined to meet each other once again, and lead the fight to save Princess Koto and the kingdom of Kyogoku.

How does this new rendition of the ninja genre fare? On paper and storyboards, I think it probably looked and sounded much better than the final outcome we have here in Red Shadow. Typically, ninja films stick to the stigma of being dark and gritty with buckets of blood. With this movie, we’re treated to colorful and bloodless fights. With all the visual panache, it really doesn’t work out that great as Nakano had hoped. Maybe for him, but it didn’t do much for me. Effects such as ninja stars, sparks, flips, and a couple of other things looked a little too noticeable and don’t help in bringing all the content together for one cohesive visual experience. Had the effects team worked on this a little more, the movie could stand a chance of being much more than what we’re given in the final product. Some nice camera angles here and there serve to give a look of originality, and that helps this one stay afloat a bit. Another gripe I had with is the overall flow of the movie. In the beginning, the film is very lighthearted and there’s a bunch of jokes that made me laugh out loud. The characters were constantly engaged in silly situations, one after another. If, and only if this same feeling had been kept for the duration of the entire movie, the movie would have been stronger. However, Red Shadow changes the mood and feels at almost a blink of an eye’s timespan. One minute it’s a comedy flick, and the next it’s a drama with some action scenes mixed in to break up the monotony and serves to push the story forward.

Overall, I suppose this was an entertaining flick. It’s purely meant for entertainment purposes only and to just take everything as is with a grain of salt. It’s a fun movie, and that’s all there is to it. I only wished the movie could have been more solid effect-wise and made up its mind what kind of movie it wanted to be.