Assassin

Starring:Assassin
Studio: Westlake Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

In Jamaican patois, a gangster is a "shotta" or "shot-caller." Like The Harder They Come and Third World Cop, Cess Silvera choreographs his crime drama to a reggae beat. Bob Marley's son Stephen provides the music, while Wyclef Jean drops by as a dealer. The saga begins in late-1970s Kingston. Teenagers Biggs (J.R. Silvera) and Wayne (Carlton Grant Jr.) have had their fill of poverty, so they get a gun and start looting and shooting like the shottas they idolize. Flash forward 20 years and Biggs (Stephen's actor/musician brother, Kymani Marley) has just been deported from the States. He picks up where he left off, joining Wayne (DJ Spragga Benz) and the psychopathic Mad Max (Paul Campbell, Dancehall Queen) in the thug life. As with Pacino's Tony Montana, Miami is their ultimate port of call. Silvera acknowledges the debt to Brian De Palma's Scarface, but there isn't as much drama here--just a lot of violence (spurting blood is a running motif). Cinematographer Cliff Charles uses all manner of visual trickery to lively up the joint, like grainy black and white, slow motion, and jump cuts. The soundtrack also helps to keep things moving, but it's hard to feel sympathy for those who feel no sympathy for anyone but themselves. Vicious as he was, Montana still had a smidgen of sensitivity. As with The Harder They Come, this English-language production is subtitled due to strong accents and pervasive slang. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Amazon.com

In the tradition of Scarface and The Harder They Come, Shottas is an unapologetic raw urban drama about two friends raised on the dangerous streets of Kingston, Jamaica. Biggs (Kymani Marley) and Wayne (Spragga Benz) take on the "shotta" (Jamaican term for gangster) way of life to survive. As young boys, they begin a life of crime, eventually moving to the U.S., where they begin a ruthless climb from the bottom to the glittering top of a criminal enterprise in a Miami filled with fast cars and gorgeous women. The two men remain fiercely bound by their shottas loyalty as they aggressively take control of the Jamaican underworld.

Beyond Shottas at Amazon.com

Another Film from Jamica
More from Wyclef Jean
Other Gangster films

Stills from Shottas (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

You have to come better than this! Really disapointed despite the hype.......2007-05-20

Shottas was passed around more times in swap meets,flea markets,and your local corner store so much it became an underground ghetto classic. For all the hype its a big disapointment,and I am glad I did not waste my $19.99 or even $10.00 for the bootleg. I often wonder if everybody endorses this movie primarily because everybody else likes it.

Certain tibits might be gleaned about street life and even the dope game, but its riddled with cliches to the point it becomes too over-the-top. How about making a realistic movie about Shotta culture without comprimising the quality?

Even The Harder They Come,which I didn't particulary like, was done better with a smaller budget for the era.

the saving graces of Shottas was both Louie Rankin and Paul Campbell. Paul Campbell who played Mad Max deserves more screen time and could should play chracters in better movies. Louie Rankin,although a punk in this movie, provided the few moments of comic relief and entertainment in the movie. The next Guy Ritchie produced film entitled RudeBwoy would benefit from the pressence of both actots,and especially Rankin.[just a suggestion if you reading this Mr. Ritchie which I doubt you are but whatever]

I wish the director Cess Silvera much luck in the future but if you expect me to support your film projects please come better than this. We already have The Harder They Come,and there can only be one Scarface,so please make an original film. Otherwise, I will keep my hard earned $19.99 for much better movie choices.

SHOTTAS "Definately a classical film".......2007-05-12

The authenticity of this film is outstanding and gives you a perfect look of a Shotta's life in Jamica. Shottas keeps the full attention of the viewer with intense scenes that will certainly leave you talking to your friends about for months.

This film is recommended for any 'Gangsta' or 'Shotta' movie lover. Even people who would like an inside look of life in the ghetto and what is necessary to elevate from the slums to the american dream. This movie is similar to scarface.

de greatest.......2007-05-12

This is de truest shotta business. One to watch! Better than any movie mi ever see bout shotta business. This a jamaican affair about top shottas and if there is a second part mi will buy it any day. It's intense,tough and hotta than fire. Kymani Marley,Spragga Benz(de real thuggie),Louie Rankin and the real mad,tough&wickedest actor Paul Campbell should be awarded for best actors fi di year. The plot was remarkable and one to remember!!!

Loved It.......2007-04-30

Loved it, Great movie..it shows the grimy hard life in Jamaica, not the white sand and pretty beaches.When they went to Miami it got much better too,I wish there was a soundtrack for it because I liked the music. Can't wait to see the sequeal!!

Pointless Jamaican shootup.......2007-04-21

Two poor Jamaican youths decide to rob a vendor to get some money. The rest of the movie is a mindless repetition of Jamaicans stealing and killing each other, both in Jamaica and America. It never rises above a third-rate in plot, acting, characterizations, or special effects.

Average customer rating:

Assasin
Very cool!
For once, the American version is better
Probably the greatest samurai flick ever made.
best 15 bucks ive ever spent that i can remember

Shogun Assassin
Starring: Shogun Assassin , and Masahiro Tomikawa
Manufacturer: Animeigo
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Shogun Assassin Part 2: Lightning Swords
Shogun Assassin 2 - Lightning Swords of Death
Five Deadly Venoms
Shaolin Wu Tang
7 Grand Masters

ASIN: B000FDECGA
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Description

In a time of evil and tyranny, a stone-faced ronin wanders the countryside with his young son (and a weapon-filled baby cart), hunted by the merciless minions of an evil Shogun.

Once a noble samurai, he is now the most feared assassin in Japan, known only as Lone Wolf.

Starring the legendary Tomisaburo Wakayama, Shogun Assassin is perhaps the most famous samurai film in the Western world. Created by editing together the first two Kozure Ookami (Lone Wolf & Cub) films, Shogun Assassin has sliced through pop culture much like the Lone Wolf slices through evildoers, influencing everything from GZA's 1995 Liquid Swords album to Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 2. A quarter-century after its initial release, it remains one of the most deliriously violent and action-packed films of all time!

Now available for the first time in North America, Academy Award-winnning director Robert Houston's legendary epic has been reconstructed for this official release from new digital transfers of the original Lone Wolf & Cub films.

DVD Features:
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen
Dubbed in English

Bonus Material Includes:
Original Theatrical Trailers
Daigoro's History Lesson
Restoration Gallery
Program Notes

Customer Reviews:

Assasin.......2007-05-18

Another example of a good Japanese samuri film. This film quietly rolls along picking up speed and delivers the goods. Makes you laugh and smile at times.

Very cool!.......2007-05-14

In the 19th century in Japan, a lone ronin warrior named LoneWolf and his son travel across the countryside to fight off deadly ninja assassins so he can avenge the death of his beloved wife. A powerful shogun sends out minions to kill Lonewolf but can the one-man army deal with all of them himself?

One of the most violent and goriest movies of all time! This Japanese-American production is actually three films from the Japanese series "LoneWolf and Cub" into one movie and dubbed into English. A definite favorite of Quentin Tarantino as he used this movie as an inspiration to his "Kill Bill" movies, it's an entertaining and gory-as-hell is a visual action feast with some laughable English dubbing but the action is non-stop with heads being split open, slicing and dicing etc. I can see why this has got a cult following, you gotta see it to believe it.

This DVD has excellent picture and sound with the movie shown in it's widescreen presentation for the first time in the U.S.! the extras are decent like the theatrical trailer, restoration gallery, program notes and Daigo's history lesson.

Also recommended: "Ninja Scroll", "The Toxic Avenger", "Kill Bill Vols 1 & 2", "Fist of the North Star (Anime)", "Battle Royale", "Versus", "The Last Samurai", "Seven Samurai", "Ran", "Princess Mononoke", "Big Trouble in Little China", "Running Scared", "Cannibal Ferox", "Sin City", "300", "Braveheart", "The Patriot (2000)", "Street Trash", "Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky", "Ichi The Killer", "Conan The Barbarian", "Hot Fuzz", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Bad Boys 2", "Vampire Hunter D", "Commando", "The Punisher (1989 and 2004)", "Rashomon", "Crank", "Samurai Fiction" and "Troma's War".

For once, the American version is better.......2007-03-22

Yes, it's recut, rewritten, rescored, dubbed, and chopped down from two separate films. Yet even my Japanese friends agree: this version of "Lone Wolf and Cub" is better than the original Japanese films. Here's why:

1)That fantastic score by Marc Lindsay (of Paul Revere & the Raiders fame), which absolutely blows away the original.

2) The brilliantly-written and witty script ("Those swine will butcher anyone who walks in their way! It's just bad taste!"). The highlight is the narration of Daigoro, which is not found in the original.

3) A really first-rate dub. (Even Daigoro's pronunciation of "harakiri" is accurate.)

4) Wall to wall action! This is truly the "good parts" version of "Sword of Vengeance" and "Baby Cart on the River Styx."

5) Lone Wolf is actually a MUCH cooler customer in this version. The American editors have gone through and carefully removed all of actor Tomisaburo Wakayama's over-the-top emotional reactions, creating virtually a new performance in the editing room. This version of Lone Wolf is more self-possessed and calmly lethal than the original Japanese version.

That much said, there are two problems with Animeigo's presentation. The lesser is the idiotic unremovable "unrestored" notice plastered over the opening shot of Himeji Castle, which could have been handled much less intrusively by a title card before the start of the film.

Far worse, though, is the image quality. This version was constructed from Animeigo's transfers of the original films (also available on DVD), yet the picture quality is not nearly as sharp as the originals'. It actually appears to be a generation down in quality. After years of neglect and bootlegging, poor "Shogun Assassin" still can't get a break!

Probably the greatest samurai flick ever made........2007-03-13

See other reviews for plot(i don't write plots if they have been summed up well.Just buy this movie you need it for any collection,martial arts,foreign,etc...Themes for movie is that of retribution,distrust and corruption of government.Great action and cool story with minimal effects...flawless film!

best 15 bucks ive ever spent that i can remember.......2007-02-22

the reviewers above say it all.

Average customer rating:

If you want to laugh, skip this
Do not believe the haters
What the hell...
Mildly Entertaining...
Margaret Cho - Assassin

Margaret Cho - Assassin
Starring: Bruce Daniels , and Margaret Cho
Director: Kerry Asmussen , and Konda Mason
Manufacturer: KOCH VISION
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Margaret Cho Collection (I'm the One That I Want / Notorious C.H.O. / Revolution)
Margaret Cho - Revolution
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Margaret Cho - I'm the One That I Want

ASIN: B000A2UBPM
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Product Description

Cutting-edge comedienne Margaret Cho fashioned an entirely new act for her Assassin tour in 2005. This film is from the Washington, DC, stop on the tour, with Cho working through her usual brand of hard-hitting political comment and amusing routines about religion, the media, and anything else that has swerved dangerously close to her radar. In an hour and a half Cho manages to get the crowd laughing in the aisles as her finely honed routine nears its climax, with the talented comic managing to perfectly mix politics and comedy in one big laugh-fest.

System Requirements:

Running Time 85 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Margaret Cho gives new meaning to the phrase "blue states" with this typically profane and provocative concert performance that takes dead aim at all things right-wing. Recorded in May 2005, in enemy territory (Washington, D.C.), Assassin is a timely state of the dis-union, as Cho weighs in on gay marriage, the pope, Terry Schiavo, Abu Ghraib, sexual politics, and other hot-button topics. Cho may see herself as a comic assassin, but she is no sniper taking potshots from the cover of the grassy knoll. She puts herself out there. She tells a mostly unprintable story about how she was unwittingly tapped to perform for a group of Republican hotel owners. ("They didn't know who they were getting," she recalls. "It was the worst blind date ever."). The nation is so polarized between left and right, Cho laments, but she doesn't exactly help matters much with statements such as "These Christian groups have lost their minds" and "If you're not a feminist you should kill yourself," or her comment on the red states/blue states map: "That's convenient. Now we have a color-coded map to where all the stupid people are." While not as accessible as I'm the One That I Want, Assassin is less preachy than Cho's more recent concert films. But it is no less impassioned, and she is more than willing to answer the rallying cry of her fiercely devoted fans who, she riffs at one point, seem to look to her like some Asian superhero: "Margaret--do something!" --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

If you want to laugh, skip this.......2007-04-21

Me and my girlfriend are both big fan's of Margret Cho, so we were thrilled to get the chance to see this routine live. Three or four drinks later and this was still an abomination to humor that does none of her earlier work justice. If you want a political sermon, watch this DvD. You will learn such interesting tidbits like Bush is a stupid jerk... for an hour.

Look, it isn't that I disagree with the political message. I too think that Bush is an idiot, that gay marriage should be legal, and pretty much everything else that she advocates for. The issue is that I don't watch Margret Cho to have someone parrot back my beliefs. It isn't like she is some great left wing philosopher who will provide new deep insight into liberal ideology. Margret Cho is a comedian that I watch to laugh... and laughing is the last thing you are going to do while watching this. Occasionally you might chuckle, but how many bad Bush is dumb jokes can you take before you get bored?

If you want to laugh, buy Margret Cho's old DvD, "I'm the one that I want". You will laugh until you cry, and then laugh some more as she tells side splitting stories about sex, traveling, her family and her friends. If you want a political sermon and a few dozen Bush is dumb jokes that will be lucky to get you to chuckle once or twice, order this DvD.

Do not believe the haters.......2006-12-19

I do not understand how any fan of Margaret would say that she was being too crass in this movie. It doesn't make sense. Margaret Cho has always been crass.
Granted she is political in this stand up. But considering that since W has been in office, it has been nothing but political talk from ALL comedians; she is not alone. She has always expressed her opinions, which went against the mainstream. (And considering that she has a mostly gay audience, her views kind of makes sense.)
If you are a true Margaret fan, do not believe those who give the one star. Crank the mother up and laugh your --- off.

What the hell..........2006-09-09

Since when is Margaret Cho not political?!?!?! She is one person who hasn't run the to the right now that this country is getting scary conservative. Everyone says that comedy comes from pain, and with the recent assault on gays, lesbians, women, people of color, religions that don't fit into the right's idea of christianity, feminists, anti-war activists, and everyone else who bothers to use the space between their ears to think, there is a whole lotta pain going on for many of us. Margaret just puts a humorous face on it.

She is amazing to see in person but this is the next best thing. My mom found much of this funny and there is a world of difference in our political value system.

PS-- Making fun of the Shrub (bush) never gets old, just for the record.

Mildly Entertaining..........2006-08-03

I wouldn't say this was Margaret Cho at her best. I enjoyed "I'm the One That I Want" and "Notorious C.H.O." more. This DVD focuses a lot more on issues in the media and with the government. There was less involving herself.

Margaret Cho - Assassin .......2006-07-18

She justs get better and better kinda like a fine wine or old car taken care of.

Shogun Assassin 2 - Lightning Swords of Death

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Lone Wolf And Cub Installment Number Three: A Definite Must Watch!
I have the "red sun" version of this which is basiaclly a replica of the animeego one
This blade for hire
an exotic, lush, exaggerated world of Japanese and Samurai absolutes

Shogun Assassin 2 - Lightning Swords of Death
Starring: Kayo Matsuo , Tomisaburo Wakayama , Go Kato , and Yuko Hama
Manufacturer: Animeigo
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Lone Wolf and Cub - Baby Cart in Peril
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
Lone Wolf and Cub-Baby in the Land of Demons
Shogun Assassin
Lone Wolf and Cub - White Heaven in Hell

ASIN: B000LC3IQ0
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Description

Wandering the countryside with death never far behind, Ogami rescues a prostitute and offers to be punished in her place (which means being beaten to within an inch of his life). Impressed by his fortitude, a Chamberlain hires Ogami to assassinate a ruthless Governor, only to find out that the same Governor wants Ogami for a mission of his own.

When Ogami refuses the Governor's offer, he must face a series of assassins, including a dangerous gunslinger, a master swordsman and an army of soldiers. And to make matters worse, a former samurai keeps politely asking if they can have a duel!

To ensure that not a single drop of blood was omitted, this special collector's edition was created using a new digital transfer of the original Japanese film.

DVD Features:
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen
Dubbed in English

Bonus Material Includes:
Original Theatrical Trailers
Image Gallery
Program Notes

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-05-07

Classic feudal japan and samurai flick blended with modern weapons of the time. Well made.

Lone Wolf And Cub Installment Number Three: A Definite Must Watch!.......2007-01-03

Yes, they do get more violent. In fact, they are all violent. Yet their fun as hell to watch. If you are not one of those who likes violence in a film, and think that these films will be your usual fare of samurai action films, then you will be in for quite a surprise. Tomisaburo Wakayama continues where he left off: A one man army of destruction. As the third episode opens up, we find Ogami (Tomisaburo Wakayama) and his son Diagoro headed for their usual mayhem: embroiled in a power struggle with a landlord and governor during the feudal era of Japan. And although Ogami is an assassin in the true sense of the word, remorseless in his killing, he is also a man driven by a warrior code which compels him to seek out a sense of justice: Albeit his sense of justice.

This is one of the better ones of the 6 episode series. And although I have not veiwed the final two episodes in the series recently [somewhere in my vast storage] when I viewed this episode a few nights ago, I couldn't help enjoying this particular film, and would have to say it was the best of the four episodes that I have viewed recently. I would highly recommend this film to all viewers, as I have always found the Lone Wolf and Cub series to be a truly fascinating look at Japanese cinema during the early 1970s. Also, I think this episode is probably one of the better ones, however, don't stop there. View them all, starting with the first to the last. They are all interesting and fun. [as long as you don't mind the violence]. But hey, that is the nature of the characters in the film. Highly recommended.

I have the "red sun" version of this which is basiaclly a replica of the animeego one.......2006-08-06

The picture quality is as good as it gets and is anamorphically widescreened. It also has liner notes like the others in the series and lets you in on semi-important things like the Blackened Teeth. Time to upgrade your video tape and get this in the new and used section for $5.99 like I did.

I have to say that this is by far the most graphic in violence of these movies I have seen. And while one scene I didn't think was needed, it was worth it to see the aftermath.

This movie I would say is overall the best of the 3 I have seen. When Ogami is being tortured, I think it is my favorite scene of Lone Wolf and Cub. How many dudes do you know of on screen that can be beaten down until unconscious and you still think they are tougher becuase of it? But then when he starts slicing people up again, you know why you felt that way about him. And when Ogami has to face an entire army, will he stand a chance?

I have to say that I wasn't expecting this to be a shoot-em-up, it still hasd plenty of action and holds the spot for my favorite of the series so far.

This blade for hire.......2006-06-19

Ogami Itto is an expert swordsman, a ronin, an outcast mercenary who once served as the official executioner of the shogunate. Then something happened - I believe his wife was murdered, although the movie doesn't give details - and Itto, the Lone Wolf, now travels the countryside with son Daigoro, the Cub, in a niftily tricked out baby cart, selling his services to the highest bidder.

LONE WOLF AND CUB: BABY CART TO HADES is the second Lone Wolf & Cub movies I've seen and I've enjoyed both of them tremendously. Even the confusing stuff doesn't really get in the way of appreciating this great action movie. Not only aren't we told why Ogami (Tomisaburo Wakayama) is an outcast, the film also throws a lot of feudal Japanese history at you, not a whole lot of which sticks. Japan, as I gather from the story, is a political hodge-podge, with a distant shogun and a number of local feudal lords, one of whom Lone Wolf is engaged to assassinate - for his standard fee of 500 pieces of gold. There are other bad guys who carry repeating pistols, so I guess this takes places sometime during the mid-19th century. Ogami is a samurai, though, and the Code as developed through him in this movie disdains guns. The True Warrior doesn't use them. My favorite mystery, though, concerns the different techniques used by samurai. Ogami uses the Suiouryu Style, or the Horse-Slaying Technique. The identification of it is used by his enemies to tell when he was the one who made one of the numerous corpses that populate this film.

The plot is functionally unexceptional. Ogami travels with Daigoro. While at an inn Ogami defends a young woman who murdered a man who was going to sell her into prostitution. To save her, Ogami undergoes a ritual torture in her stead. His torturers want a local governor murdered. This blade for hire. The governor has resources of his own to call to his defense - sleek and silent ninjas, samurai, gunners, archers, and hordes of sword wielding foot soldiers. Can our baby-toting hero match an army sent to stop him?

LONE WOLF AND CUB: BABY CART TO HADES is pretty nonstop, exotic and engaging, with a charismatic star and son. In many ways it's similar to the proficient gunslinger coming into and cleaning up Dodge City, with the advantage of the expanded cinematic possibilities offered by sword fights. I can't wait to watch the rest of this series. Highest recommendation.

an exotic, lush, exaggerated world of Japanese and Samurai absolutes.......2005-07-06

In many ways, this is my favorite of the Lone Wolf & Cub movies. It was the first I ever saw, wherein I was trying to figure out the whole premise as it went along.

This one starts on a river trip, scenic, but I had no idea where it was going. I could not BELIEVE it when the hero cut down the first 3 assassins in the first 5 minutes... in an otherwise quiet forest, where he and his son were taking a "bathroom break". I replayed the scene twice, including slow-mo on the flourish with which he clears the blood from his sword and sheaths it.

I LOVE these movies and have watched them again and again. The photography is bright and lush when our heroes are traveling in the country. The spoken Japanese is abrupt and guttural (men) and pitched and inflected (women), and subtitles are placed well for non-distracting readability. I find myself grunting monosyllables (ooshh! yyoot!) in empathy. The costumes and side characters are bright, colorful, and medieval-Japanese folkloric (i.e., like watching "authentic" costume in a Shakespeare play).

It's an exotic, lush, exaggerated world of Japanese and Samurai absolutes that never really existed was but whose principles still appeal to some part of us. Lone Wolf & Cub are unique among Samurai movies for their exaggeration AND their not taking themselves TOO seriously.

I particularly like two things in this movie. The first is the touching interactions between father and son in simple settings like eating or washing. The second is the woman leader of the entertainment band which recruits the hero's help. She has got the best accent and attitude I have ever seen in a Japanese woman character! For that matter, NONE of the women leads in Lone Wolf & Cub movies are exactly shy, retiring types.

Be warned all the Lone Wolf & Cub movies have graphic gore (spraying blood, death throes, severed heads) and sex (rape scenes, bare bosoms).

I agree that internal and night scenes are darkly lit, but I found only a few hard to follow.

Average customer rating:

Two words ... Gong Li
Confusing for Westerners
The Emperor & the Assassin
When war films go bad, very bad!
Moving-Making On A Vast Scale; History In The Raw; The Timelessness Of Emotion

The Emperor and the Assassin
Starring: Haifeng Ding , Li Gong , Yongfei Gu , Xuejian Li , and Xiaohe Lu
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00004STDA
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Customer Reviews:

Two words ... Gong Li.......2007-06-06

If you're a fan of Gong Li, you have to watch this movie. Forget about Chinese history, this movie is about Gong Li. I have watched all her other movies, but she's absolutely gorgeous in this movie as are her acting and the costumes. Like one of the reviewers (Vu H. Vo) wrote, "As for Gong Li,who plays the Lady Zhou, what can you say? Just that her smile alone makes my heart ache as I realize I can never again be content with a woman any less than she."

Confusing for Westerners.......2007-02-02

The ups and downs of a fuedal Chinese king, it isn't King Lear, and it's sort of predictable with a dash of Kung Fu, Grasshopper. There's plenty of extras in 2nd Century battle gear though not much battle as in Kubicks's Spartacus. The motives of the main characters are assumed for Eastern audiences, but Westerners may be scratching their heads.

The Emperor & the Assassin.......2007-01-10

An excelle.nt though graphic depiction of early courtly life during the Qin Dynasty. Beautiful cinematography and accurate historical setting. All in all, a pleasure to watch.

When war films go bad, very bad!.......2007-01-08

As far as sweeping spectacles go, this isn't one I'd recommend. It moves far too slow to be anything gripping and intense. Although Gong Li illuminates the screen every second she's on it's not enough to raise the bar for everyone around her. Fact remains; she's the only actress/actor that can hold her own in this film. As it chronicles the rise of Ying Zheng in 221 BC, `The Emperor and the Assassin' fails to really establish a worthwhile cinematic experience. In fact, this reminds me a bit of 2004's `Alexander' in that it had so much potential but truly failed to capitalize on it. As Lady Zhao, Zheng's lover, Gong Li is fantastic, but as Zheng, Li Xuejian is somewhat annoying, and don't even get me started on Zhiwen Wang who plays Marquis Chanxin, the Queen Mothers lover. The battle sequences are few and far in between, and even they don't truly stack up. I just wasn't impressed with this film, not in the least. The acting was comical (all except Gong) and the overall direction the film took was a major disappointment.

Moving-Making On A Vast Scale; History In The Raw; The Timelessness Of Emotion.......2006-10-17

For the spectacle of its scale---extras numbering into the tens of thousands in some scenes; sets the size of small cities; its period details intricate to the most minute degree---and for the engrossing story it tells, The Emperor And The Assassin is a truly amazing motion picture. Available in a subtitled edition, this Mandarin-language motion picture from China's Beijing Studios is slow-moving, huge in every meaning of the word, and challenging to take in. It is also an epic unlike any made in the United States in several generations.

The background information is this: 2300 years ago when China was fragmented into a number of warring petty states, the leader of the militant Kingdom of Qin felt it was his destiny to conquer all of China and bring it under the rule of a single dynasty---naturally his own. This violent, fearless warrior-king, played by with haughty charisma by the actor Li Xuejian, was not content to merely absorb rival territories, he, with his legions of chariots and miles-long lines of armored foot soldiers, sought to obliterate them past any possibility of future revolt. His cruelty, which he justified to himself by proclaiming coming glories that would possible only in a nation united under a single banner, is at times truly horrid to behold.

This visionary king, Ying Zheng, knew also that mighty though his armies were, not all of his foes could be made to topple except via pressure applied from within. To this end Ying Zheng enlists the aid of his one-time lover, the radiantly beautiful Lady Zhao. The king details to her a plot by which she is to pretend to have fallen from his favor, and out of her hatred convince others at a rival court that she harbors a wish for revenge upon him. He sends her to a powerful enemy kingdom, Yan, her face branded, her reputation tarnished, disgraced, fallen, and there she is to use all her wiles to convince an assassin to fall in love with her and avenge her name by murdering the king who had so abused her. A pretext for war with Yan thereby achieved, Ying Zheng will then invade his foe with allies outraged at this would-be regicide (a dark crime under Confucian Chinese morality).

Ever loyal, Lady Zhao obeys her king and travels to Yan and earns the trust of an assassin, a formidable but somewhat pitiful figure, tortured by and in his own past, unable to find peace, pathetic in his love for the conniving Lady Zhou, whom he loves, unaware of her impending betrayal of him. Lady Zhou primes the assassin's hatred of the King, and fills his head with notions of the justice that will be served by the revenge he'll obtain for both of them. All seems to be transpiring according to Ying Zheng's plans, until his own widescale cruelty toward any and all foreign kingdoms in his path begins to disgust even Lady Zhou. (In one haunting scene we see masses of children dying as they are driven from the height of a fortified wall, and the question of whether any earthly prize, even a unified China, could be justified by such evil is raised and answered with the same resounding NO that Zhou feels.)

Turning at last against her king and lover, Lady Zhou sends the assassin off, now hoping he will succeed in his quest and rid China of a megalomaniacal monster of a man.

Welding together ancient Chinese history and cinematic storytelling of god-like proportions, The Emperor And The Assassin finds a perfect medium in DVD format, and brings to the west the tale of one minor incident within one of the bloodiest and most destructive periods in the entire history of the world.

Average customer rating:

great samurai film, bad DVD transfer
A Very Good Samurai Political Thriller!
Other reviewers are correct....
Fantastic Samurai Film
Classic Mifune

Samurai Assassin
Starring: Toshirô Mifune , Keiju Kobayashi , Michiyo Aratama , Yûnosuke Itô , and Eijirô Tono
Director: Kihachi Okamoto
Manufacturer: ANIMEIGO
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

Incident at Blood Pass
The Sword of Doom - Criterion Collection
Ronin Gai
Samurai Banners
Harakiri - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B0006N0E4S
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Product Description

Based on the Sakurada Gate Incident of 1860, an assassination of a Shogunate official, that effectively marked the end of the Edo Period in Japan, SAMURAI ASSASSIN has long been considered one of the finest samurai films to come out of Japan. The film stars Toshiro Mifune as Niiro, a frustrated ronin who has agreed to take part in the coup against the Shogunate official in the hopes that it will secure him enough fame to earn him a position in a great Samurai house. A bastard child who has fallen into abject poverty despite his considerable skills, Niiro is willing to do anything in order to become a successful samurai, unaware that fate will never allow it.

System Requirements:

Running Time 122 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

great samurai film, bad DVD transfer.......2007-02-27

I was quite happy with this film once I got into it. Having seen others in this genre, like Yojimbo, Sanjuro, the Hidden Fortress, Incident at Blood Pass, this one holds up reasonably well. Mifune is quite good here, and he's given an extremely complex character to portray. While the other reviewers have a point that the film has only one real fight scene, there are smaller ones as well, and they're done with an incredible sense of suspense. Furthermore, there's so much intrigue to the plot, even beyond the main twists. Also, the fact that it's an important part of the end of the Tokugawa period should interest Japanese history buffs. The film does an excellent job portraying clan rivalries, politics, class structure, and most importantly, the psychological and sociological nature of small groups of people intent on causing political change in that society.

Unfortunately, the film really didn't look very good on my TV. Granted, it's an HDTV, using an up-converting DVD player, but the difference between black and white is too great, and it's hard to make out some of the detail in the scenes where there are a lot of characters and movement going on. It really didn't look good compared to Criterion's samurai films, which look great, despite the fact that they're ten years older than this film!

A Very Good Samurai Political Thriller!.......2007-01-01

"Samurai Assassin," released in 1965, is based on actual historical events in 1860. The film centers around a group of assassins who are attempting to assassinate the lord of the House of Ii Naosuke. Ii Naosuke is a very conservative and high ranking member of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The films narrative allows the viewer to witness the changes that are taking place in Japan, both internally and externally, as the film delves into the intrigue of the characters and the sudden changes that are taking place in Japan. For example, there is a power struggle between the factions siding with the Tokugawa Shogunate, who wishes to see Japan remain isolated, and those who side with the Emperor and favor modernization and ties to the west.

Moreover, the Tokugawa Shogunate is now in the last years of its long and nearly 300 year history: with the Meiji Restoration a mere eight years off. The assassins believe that one of them in their midst is a traitor. The main suspects are Tsuruchyo Niino (Toshiro Mifune) who is a ronin [a masterless samurai] and Kurihara Einosuke (Keiju Kobayashi). The film is a long dramatic narrative, and if you are looking for a lot of sword flashing and action, then you are looking for the wrong film. Although there are minor clashes dealing with the ronin Tsuruchyo Niino (Toshiro Mifune).

The film delves more into the character development of these plotters, with lots of intrigue and suspense, due to the changing nature of Japan. I found the film to be very good, and the character development to be top-notch. The cinematography is great, and the narration in the film is outstanding. One very small caveat, however, is that Criterion needs to do this film. They do a much better job with transfers, and this film could use their touch. Not that this is a horrible transfer, it's just that for a 1965 film, it could use that Criterion touch. Afterall, I don't think anyone could argue that they do a great job. This film is highly recommended, and is a worthy addition to your cinema collection: be it samurai genre, or great cinema period. Highly recommended. [Stars: 4.5]

Other reviewers are correct...........2005-10-13

It's a good film and everything, but would i ever watch this again? After many positive reviews, i decided to buy this and add it to my samurai film collection(which includes Seven Samurai, Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Ran, Kagemusha, Shogun's Samurai, Shogun Assassin, Sword of Doom, Shogun's Ninja, a Sword of Vengeance and Zatoichi film or two, etc). I liked the movie, was caught up in the story and characters enough, and the ending had a good pay-off with an extended fight that was well done(great to see so many characters involved in such a desperate battle to accomplish their mission).

But here's the problem, that was the ONLY major fight/action sequence in the entire (lengthy)film. Plus, once you get the 'twist' in the story line(which is pretty easy to figure out), and you find out what happens to everybody, and what it means to the future of the samurai in Japan; I'm not sure if I'll ever really need to watch it again, let alone over and over again(as opposed to me re-watching other samurai films ad nauseum). Don't get me wrong, I liked what i saw the first time around and never got bored. But with so much dialogue and so little action, repeated viewings is questionable(note: i don't need lots of action in my samurai films, but more than one big fight scene helps in the re-watch department). However, the dvd does have some brief bios of the many characters in the film and a nice in-depth background essay to help you understand the importance of the 'incident' for which this film is based upon as bonus features. Those features, and the thought of me maybe wanting to watch this again in the future has prevented me from selling this disc.

Overall, i'd recommend others to see the movie(rent or borrow). But if the only way you can see it is to buy it for 20-30 dollars, you might want to hold off a bit. Put it on the backburner while you buy other samurai films you've been dying to get. Then come back to this one at a later date. Btw, be sure to check out the upcoming 4-disc 'Rebel Samurai-60's Swordplay Classics' collection from Criterion, also available at amazon.com in 10-25-05. It's pricey, but it's 4 samurai films(supposedly: Samurai Rebellion, Samurai Spy, Sword of the Beast, and Kill!).

Fantastic Samurai Film.......2005-04-27

This B&W masterpiece chronicles the events of late Febraury and early March 1860, the beginning of the fall of the samurai. Toshiro Mifune stars as Niiro, a rumpled samurai looking for employment with a repsectable house, who ends up involved in a plot to assassinate the leader of the Ii clan. Beautifully filmed, the backstory unfolds slowly, emphasizing character over hack-and-slash action. Tension builds nicely throughout, leading to the climactic and bloody battle on a snowy field, where Niiro seeks to make his mark. He does indeed, but not how he had intended.

Anyone familiar with Mifune's collaborations with Akira Kurosawa will know what to expect here, as Mifune is completely gripping as the ultimately doomed hero. Fans of samurai action and classic Japanese filmmaking will love this.

Classic Mifune.......2005-02-16

If you love Toshiro Mifune samurai films as I do then you will not be disappointed with this one. I bought this film hoping because it stars Toshiro Mifune that it would be good.
Well I was right on. It is exceptional. I am sure you will enjoy this movie as much as Sanjuro and Seven Samurai.
Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Zero Woman 3
Don't be fooled by the cover
well-endowed hitwoman vs. drunkard killer

Zero Woman - Assassin Lovers
Starring: Kumiko Takeda , Keiji Matsuda , Tokuma Nishioka , Marie Jinno , and Charlie Yutani
Director: Masahide Kuwabara
Manufacturer: Asian Pulp Cinema
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Zero Woman: The Hunted
Zero Woman: The Accused
Beautiful Hunter
Zero Woman
Beautiful Killing Machine

ASIN: B00005LPZQ
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Description

Rei is a lethal undercover agent of the Zero Department, a shadow division of the police force. When her lover, a fellow assassin, is assigned to kill her, Rei must rely on her own skills as a beautiful, merciless killer for hire.

Customer Reviews:

Zero Woman 3.......2006-07-09

I own two of the "Zero Woman" movies and plan to buy others. In my movies, Rei-Agent Zero-is played by sexy Natsuki Ozawa in #2 and by beautiful Kumiko Takeda in #3. The girls are both 5'2" tall and similar in waist and hips, but Natsuki's bust is 30.8" while Kumiko's is 34". Natsuki has bolder nude senes, while Kumiko is topless in several movies. I am an artist and a writer. In my "Sekai No Rekodo"(Japanese for "World Records"), I say the most beautiful living woman is Kumiko Takeda. I saw her doing a photo book in New York and a DVD profile in California. She said she has moved from Japan to San Diego. I bought the original version of "Zero Woman 3" without subtitles when it first appeared. I studied French, German, Japanese and Chinese and have movies in all of those languages. "Mangia Mai" and "Zero Woman 3" are my favorite movies starring Kumiko. In the former, she uses a katana, but in the latter, she carries a Beretta .380ACP pistol. She has a wide range of roles, so I find her to be versatile...unlike some reviewers who seem to imagine that it is obligatory to criticize everything unmercifully. Guys, don't buy it if you hate it! I love her and her movies, photo books, calendar and songs. Did you know that she lost her first chance at a modelling job at age four to her brother who was prettier then? She is a clown and full of fun. If some of her critics knew her, they might change their minds. Who can really say this movie is not entertaining? I may buy a DVD version if it has extras I want. I recommend it!!!!!

Don't be fooled by the cover.......2006-04-28

I did, and this movie really stinks. There's absolutely nothing cool about this, and you won't find anything that can satisfy your piqued interest. The storyline is lame, the acting laughable, and the video quality unacceptably bad. If you feel like collecting suggestive covers like this, buy it. Otherwise, you'll be sorely disappointed. BTW I rented this from Netflix so my loss was relatively small, not counting the hour and a half wasted viewing this POS.

well-endowed hitwoman vs. drunkard killer.......2002-11-12

This installment in the ZERO WOMAN series is a standard but enjoyable Japanese girl-with-gun direct-to-video movie. The story revolves around hitwoman Rei, who is assigned to kill the leading personel of a criminal company. This turns out to be not an easy task, since the bad guys hire professional killer Katsumura, an expert despite his problematic drinking habits. Rei and Katsu fall for one another (hence the title). Things turn bad when the gangsters kidnapp Katsu's girlfriend Tomomi to put pressure on the assassin to kill Rei. Will Katsu do as ordered? Or will they team up? Is Rei willing to fulfill her assignment by killing all the gangsters, including her lover?
Well, watch for yourself...

Busty Kumiko TAKEDA may not be much of an actress and neither is she my favorite ZERO WOMAN, but she is undeniably very good looking and the script provides her with many opportunities to show her naked ample assets. In this installment of the series her character suffers from flashbacks of a trauma ( her policeman father attempted suicide after shooting dead his unfaithful wife and her lover, and in the hospital young Rei pulled away the oxygen mask from his face resulting in his death), so the ZERO WOMAN is an unstable, insecure and angstridden killer unlike in the other entries. So Rei is not very convincing as professional killer. And her drunkard assassin lover is a total loser!
As far as I am concerned I didn't like this pseudo-psychological characterization too much.

On the up side there is plenty of violence, nudity and sex on display. The impact of the bullets is shown quite gory with lots of blood spraying around.(As far as Rei's boss is concerned, thank God there's Kevlar!) The sleazy gangster boss who is into S/M adds to the entertainment value.
Camerawork is also fine. And I really liked the score and the rather cynical ending...
The film is presented letterboxed (in Japan also direct-to-video films are presented this way in order to give it a more "cinematic" look). Subtitles are easy on the eyes. Extras include the film's trailer, additional trailers for several other ASIAN PULP releases, a "meet the characters" section and trivia. This last extra consists of a multiple choice quiz, where you are asked to answer questions about the film by highlighting the correct answer with your remote. If the answer is correct, you are awarded with a short scene from the movie and a caption like "You are a genius!". Silly, but fun!

Customer Reviews:

great samurai movie.........2007-01-11

this movie does not dissapoint...lone wolf and mute samurai come in one cheap price...pick this one up for some great samurai swordfighting action with ninjas and ronin....although keep in mind that the picture quality is not as good as the first shogun assasin film but it is acceptable.

WARNING: Multiple Versions.......2006-11-15

I bought this movie, as well as the rest of the series, at the mall. Unfortuneatly there is more than one name for this movie, and I was duped by the salesman to buy two of them. I own:

Shogan Assassin II: Lupine Wolf
Lone Wolf & Cub 3: Baby Cart to Hades

Since Shogan Assassin is actually Lone Wolf & Cub 1 and 2 edited together, i should have put things together in my head that Shogun Assassin II would then be Lone Wolf & Cub 3.

I'm just commenting this on all of the Lone Wolf & Cub 3 Sequal Variants so no one buys and extra DVD by accident I did.

I hope this was helpful. Oh and by the way, Shogan Assassin is fricken awesome (I recommend Battle Royale and Samurai Champloo [Anime, but still sweet] if you like this type of Japanese film)

Shogun Assasin Part 2: Lighting Swords.......2006-11-05

I thought the movie could have been better,I think that it didn't have enough action like part1.

a combination of the Lone Wolf and Cub Series.......2006-06-03

Ogami Itto, the Lone Wolf, is a former decapatator for the Shogun until the Shogun orders for the death of Ogami's wife. Ogami vows to avenge his wife killing as many of the Shogun's allies, and also becomes an assassin killing for clans that pay the right amount of money. Ogami brings along his son Daigoro, the cub.

Shogun Assassin is a movie based on the first two episodes of the six episode series Lone Wolf and Cub. The first episode is Sword of Vengeance and the second is Baby Cart at the River Styx. This movie, Shogun Assassin 2 Lightning Swords of Death, is a is a combination of episodes 3 and 4 of the series. The episodes are called Lone Wolf and Cub - Baby Cart to Hades and Lone Wolf and Cub Baby Cart in Peril.

This Shogun Assassin 2 is not as bloody and gory as the first Shogun Assassin. I was expecting non-stop samurai sword fighting scenes. In this movie there is more dialogue, nudity(rape scene), and torture. However, the fight scenes that are in the movie are great. In this movie Ogami saves a prostitute that kills her pimp. Then he take a contract to kill a governor of the land. The governor sends many men to kill Ogami. In the end, the governor sends a whole army the Ogami must kill. Ogami also takes on a honorable samurai, so that they can find out what being a "true samurai" is.

I was disappointed in this movie because it had some edited scenes from the real series. They edit out less blood and detail in the fight scenes. I was also expecting more duels and battles since the Shogun Assassin movie was so action packed. Also, there are guns used in this movie, so it is not 100 percent swordfighting. Daigoro, the cub doesn't narrate this film like he did in the first Shogun Assassin. This movie is english dubbed with no subtitles. The only extra on this dvd is volume 1 of the "mute samarai." This movie is ok, I like it, but I was just expecting more. I suggest buying the separate dvd from the series.

Average customer rating:

Baian the Assassin, Vol. 1 - 4
Starring: Baian the Assassin
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
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Blind Woman's Curse
Zatoichi, Vol. 6: TV Series
Sansho the Bailiff - Criterion Collection
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs: Criterion Collection
The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky (Fando y Lis / El Topo / The Holy Mountain)

ASIN: B000MTFFHW
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Description

Volume 1 A TV series about a doctor during the Edo period who uses his Acupuncturist skills to both cure and kill. Dr. Baian is essentially a good man who accepts the money he receives for killing the bad so that he can heal the sick who can't afford it. Authentically details the street life during the Edo period these stories are street level and often take place in the bars and brothels of Edo. Volume2 From Tokyo Shock! His name is Baian, professional acupuncturist and assassin! A needle deftly inserted into the human body can bring relief and healing. For the defense of justice and honor - and for the right price - it can also bring instant death! Based on the stories by Shotaro Ikenami, Baian the Assassin features tales of murder and deceit, jealousy and revenge, all set in the backdrop of corrupt samurai lords, ruthless merchant princes, fawning geisha, and deadly ninja. Volume 3 Baian Fujieda is a very popular and trusted acupuncturist who always has a long line of patients. But there's another side to Dr. Baian. He's also a professional hit man who secretly assassinates evildoers. Volume 4 Baian is offered an assignment by his motojime, Otowa, for more money than he's ever gotten before. But he hesitates when he realizes that his target is Kikuemon, a motojime from Osaka, with whom he has a history. As the story unfolds and alliances become clear, Baian may have to assassinate someone in order to protect another.

Average customer rating:

THE COLOR BLUE
Confusion Abounds
Very Pleasant Surprise
Good 'Action' movie
torture

Soul Assassin
Starring: Skeet Ulrich , Kristy Swanson , Derek de Lint , Rena Owen , and Antonie Kamerling
Director: Laurence Malkin
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00006JDRI
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Customer Reviews:

THE COLOR BLUE.......2005-09-01

SOUL ASSASSIN could have been a fairly entertaining little thriller. It has a complex plot with lots of twists and false leads, and some skillful performances from supporting players Rena Owen and Derek De Lint. However, director Laurence Malkin decided to film 90 percent of it with a blue filter; erratic MTV-style choppy scenes and focused very little on the script or its performers. Hence, all we get is a muddled tale of corporate deception and murder. The use of the blue screen and its chaotic camerawork serves only to make the film more annoying than entertaining. Skeet Ulrich is lost in the miasmic mess and the original Buffy (Kristy Swanson) just floats around with a gun in her hand most of the movie. A potentially good movie murdered by its execution.

Confusion Abounds.......2005-05-24

On the surface, this movie had everything
it takes to score a hit (minus a Grade-A cast).
However it missed the marked by a longshot.
It's obvious that the writers invested much
effort into creating an original storyline.....
and they succeeded. However, their creative ideas
did not transfer well into the script. The result
is a collosal mess of confusion.

It is VERY difficult to follow. Everyone is implicated
in everything. The victims are the perpetraters. The
Good people are the Bad People. The past is the
future and the future is the present. More talented
writers could have parlayed these contradictions into
an ecxiting suspense thriller. Unfortunatly, it appears that
talent,in general, was in short supply across the board.

The action is slightly better, but not by much. The most
ridiculous thing about this movie is that the main character (kevin)
can't fight. He gets beaten up in every fight sequence and
even gets killed at the end. (And he's supposed to be the
star/hero?) His performance of the fight choreography is blooper-reel quality at best.
To save money, the producers could have
pulled any 5 year old off the playground
and gotten a more effective performance. The other actors are convincing,
but Kevin should have had PUNK tatooed across his forehead.

In spite of my negativity regarding this film, I still give
it a 3, based on a great story IDEA, and some really good
fight scenes with the elusive female agent at the end.

Very Pleasant Surprise.......2003-03-01

If you love action, Europe and fast paced stories, this one is for you. If not, then take a pass. Much like Nikita, Bourne Identity and other great Euro thrillers Soul Assassin is not as formulaic as most American action films and I really enjoyed the fresh new actors from Holland (I assume). Skeet and Kristy were good, but Kristy should have been in the movie more. A fault of an otherwise passable script. Nothing too special there, but the movie has a unique view. A very blue view. Personally I liked it. Along with the sound, which is loud and great. The story was confusing at times, then it all makes sense in the end. No spoilers here, but I was definitely surprised by the final events. I probably should give the film a 4/5 but because of the end I have to give it a 5/5.

Good 'Action' movie.......2003-01-12

The plot, while at times are to see, is there. I would say that the majority of the scenes that attempted emotional impact were fufilled as a result of pretty good acting. The DVD has some other cool stuff on it. I will admit though that the visuals, while interesting, were a bit nausiating. A lot of quick, extreme camera movement. The blue filter was very appropriate. There is a screen flashing technique that the director overused a bit.
Good action movie to see once or twice. Very fufulling ending, if you followed the plot...

torture.......2003-01-02

This entire film is done in Blue and White (no not black and white). Which is torture on the eyes. I got 3/4 of the way through and gave up in disgust cause my eyes were killing me from the dreary color scheme. Awful.

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