Review: SHOGUN'S SAMURAI can seem a bit overwhelming at first. As the rousing opening theme and credits come to a close, the narrator sets up the plot and whizzes through an exhaustive list of characters involved in backing one of the two heirs to the Shogunate. Though it looks like a Dramatis Personae from hell, once the narration ends Fukasaku's handling of the story and introductions to key characters flows perfectly and there are no problems in following the exciting blend of fiction and fact.

As Patrick Macias mentions in the DVD's liner notes (a document you'll find to be much richer in the historical aspect of this film's creation than what little is touched upon in this review), SHOGUN'S SAMURAI was Kinji Fukasaku's first attempt at making a period film, only preceded by his 1972 TV series SURE DEATH!. The movie itself doesn't try to disguise its mixed history lesson. Strung together with could-have-beens and maybes, the narration proclaims in the end that what truly happened is not entirely known. This "What If?" script penned by Fukasaku along with Hiro Matsuda and Tatsuo Nogami puts interesting spins on what is known about this bit of history that has been told time and time again.

One big example of uncertainty is the tale of Yagyu Jubei (another character we have all doubtlessly seen before, whether it be in the anime NINJA SCROLL or films like SAMURAI REINCARNATION and the REBORN FROM HELL series) and the true fate of heirs Iemitsu and Tadanaga. Regardless of what may or may not have truly happened, the taste of what's brewing in Fukasaku's pipe is a sweet one.

Kinji Fukasaku's skill at drama and conspiracy shines in SHOGUN'S SAMURAI. Throw suits, guns, and a different dialect over everything else and you would have one of his finest yakuza movies, a genre that this Jidai Geki isn't far separated from. There's betrayal around every corner and an ever-developing sense that "something bigger" is really going on behind all of the disputing over the Shogun's heir. Aside from that correlation, which is a major result of all the in-house brewings and secrecy, this Fukasaku "joint" is just ridiculously epic. It's really important to watch the whole movie in one sitting, despite a few parts that some may find slow and consider taking a break on, the impact of the ending is inevitably dulled by consuming the film in smaller portions.

Action is crucial and the violence is never gratuitous. While it's not completely full of amazing swordplay, the battles in SHOGUN'S SAMURAI are spread out evenly and used to the maximum effect at focal points of particular moments of political conflict in the story. The intensity of the fights grows along with the scale as the movie progresses, and the final battles are brutal and heavily aided by some sporadic handheld camera action, really driving this home as a Fukasaku flick.

To say that the cast in this movie is astounding is an understatement. It's like a huge Japanese film nerd was given the ability to pick his dream cast and put them all in a rousing period epic. Sonny Chiba's first appearance in this film is just as you would expect it, revealing himself as the legendary Yagyu Jubei moments after cleanly lobbing a ninja's head off. It's a shame that Sonny Chiba is now more well-known in the US for his brief role in KILL BILL than anything else. For fans that have been living off of the cheapo sets like any of the hundred variations of STREET FIGHTER multi-packs or the more recent "Kill Chiba" movie collection, SHOGUN'S SAMURAI should be essential viewing. Add the fact that Tetsuro Tamba, Toshiro Mifune, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Kinnosuke Yorozuya front the star marquis and you have a deadly combination of legendary Japanese film figureheads.

Just watching the movie, you can imagine the Japanese trailer with endless strings of boastful slogans and enthusiastic selling points splattered across the screen. "A tough drama about strong people" is one set of characters actually strewn over the film during the trailer, and that sums up the movie, however general it might be. This plays into the fact that you can watch the movie without a "good guy" predetermined for you. While Iemitsu might seem the likely candidate for "evil", the true villains in the war for the Shogunate are those manipulating every facet of the struggle. The web of deceit is long, sticky, and strung in and out of characters to the point that you'll wonder what is or isn't a trap waiting to happen. Nobles, farmers, Samurai, Ronin, and more all play an equal part in deception and battle. There is a lot going on in the movie and it is all pretty damn fantastic.

SHOGUN'S SAMURAI is a long and rewarding watch. Period conspiracies make for a beefy viewing experience that everyone should enjoy to the fullest. There's no need to insert any "if you're a fan of…" lines to this recommendation. If you haven't seen it yet, watch it, period.