The Hidden Blade (2004/Tartan)
Picture:
C Sound: B- Extras: B- Film: B-
There has
been talk about Yoji Yamada’s The Hidden
Blade (2004) being a sort of epic throwback to the Samurai Cinema of
Kurosawa and the like, but it can only achieve that so much since that era is
decades gone. Even Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films could only reach back
to some of that spirit, but like The
Last Samurai with Tom Cruise, this film deals with the transition from
Samurai culture to Japanese Imperialism. However, more personally as it deals more
directly with the military coups, the battles and Japanese was of life
personally.
Running
132 minutes, it has a surprisingly smooth fell to it throughout, never really
dragging, though it can be a bit talkier that you might expect from a
self-proclaimed epic, not unlike the TV mini-series Shogun. However, it is
trying to make the big statement about the change and the embodiment of this
comes from the subplot where Samurai Munezo has to clear his name to hunt down
a former friend and protégé in his station of life or be found guilty of being
part of a failed Samurai coup.
The title
refers to a special death move, but its implication and ramifications go beyond
that and lead to the sad, ironic conclusion that is at the root of why people
are talking about this film. If you do
see it, don’t give away the ending.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image was shot by Mutsuo Naganuma, J.S.C., and
features surprisingly muted colors. The
transfer is surprisingly soft, which is not from the film print, but possibly a
downtrade from another video source. The
result is watchable, but disappointing.
The sound is here in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and Dolby 5.1 mixes, but
the DTS 5.1 is just a little better, though this lacks sonics for a recent
production. Yes, this has more dialogue
than expected in its attempt to be an epic, but the action sequences just do
not kick in as one would hope. Extras
include footage from the Berlin Film Festival premiere, U.S. theatrical trailer, Japanese
theatrical trailer, director’s press conference and a behind-the-scenes
featurette. Tartan again comes up with
the goods, even if the film is a bit uneven.
- Nicholas Sheffo
