Shinobi: Heart Under Blade will satisfy viewers looking for supernatural ninja action. However, fans of the anime and novel might disapprove of the story changes.
Shinobi: Heart Under Blade Synopsis
The Sengoku Period is over and Japan is newly united under the rule of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. To consolidate his rule, Tokugawa decides to destroy the mercenary ninja clans of Iga and Kouga, by ordering them to pit their five best warriors against each other in death duels. Well aware of Tokugawa’s scheme, and having secretly met and fallen in love, the young leaders of the two clans do their utmost to prevent this conflict. However, as their comrades fall one after another in battle, they are forced to accept the impossibility of any solution. Both then decide to sacrifice themselves to save their clans.
Snappy Review
I watched Shinobi: Heart Under Blade while on a flight to Japan in 2005. As I was at that time, completely unfamiliar with the novel it was based on, and I was mentally looking to prep myself for my holiday, the movie left quite a positive impression on me.
Overall, I found it visually striking, with combat sequences slick and intense. It was also easy to empathise with the plight of the two leads, both of whom bore suffering with classic Japanese stoicism.
If any, the only complaint I had about the movie was that most of the supporting characters felt undeveloped; all died so quickly and unceremoniously. I later concluded this fault to be inevitable. I’m sure you’d agree this is the common flaw among all movies featuring a plethora of super-powered combat characters.
Jump forth a few months, I bought the DVD and re-watched the movie several times. I’m happy to say that with each viewing, my opinion remains largely unchanged.
Yes, there are significant deviations from the source material. The movie could have also elaborated the perplexing animosity between the two clans better. But as a fantasy action movie overall, I think Shinobi: Heart Under Blade works. It works doubly well if you’re into the forbidden romance at the heart of it.
In short, this is one ninja movie I would recommend to any Japanophile. Actually, any viewer in love with stylised Eastern fantasy would probably adore this periodic production.
Click here to view the trailer.
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