CHANBARA ~ WAY OF THE NINJA: SHINOBI NO MONO

I love old Samurai films. Chanbara is the term used to refer to that genre (Chanbara is Japanese for "swordplay") I love ninjas even more than I love Samurai (and boy do I love Samurai) so when I discovered a series of chanbara films focusing on ninjas I had to do a double take, "Excuse me, what? Oh hell yeah!" Back during the golden age of Japanese cinema, the 1950's and 60's, there were a number of films titled SHINOBI NO MONO (roughly translated NINJA, A BAND OF ASSASSINS).

If you think films today are more geared towards franchises and trilogies, the Japanese filmmakers of the 60's were way ahead of the curve. They were all about franchising the hell out of characters and actors. Shinobi No Mono is the first of 8 films starring actor Raizo Ichikawa. The first three films are literally set up as one solid epic following Iga ninja Goemon Ishikawa as he battles through the Sengoku Period of Japan.

Goemon is a skilled shinobi (male ninja), perhaps the best in his clan. One of the ideologies of the Ninja is that they are forbidden to love. Unknowingly Goemon is put to the test by his master to see whether or not he can actually live up to this standard. The master's very own mistress sets her sights on Goemon and he falls victim to her charms. The master discovers this, kills the woman, and offers Goemon a choice: Kill Oda Nobunaga (the most powerful warlord in Japan) or die alongside his lover.

Without the support of his fellow ninja, alone and emotionally a wreck, Goemon sets out to kill the most dangerous man in all of Japan. The country is in civil strife. War has erupted with the various city states and principalities of Japan. Lords battle lords for control of the country. Nobunaga is turning the tide and conquering more and more of Japan everyday, ruthless in his tactics and with the largest army. An attempt on his life has already been tried by ninja from other clans. Tried and failed.

Nobunaga is now on guard against the ninja and while making strides to unite the country under his banner he is also waging his own private war on the ninja. It makes no difference to him which clan or either sect. The only good ninja is a dead ninja in his eyes. Goemon must move with stealth, subterfuge, and guile if he is to accomplish his mission and be allowed to return. He must use every secret skill and all his physical strength if he is to survive.

There are a ton of cool things about this movie. One: the real life ninja skills that the film demonstrates and the realistic approach it takes on the ninja. These aren't the white guy ninjas from American films nor are they the super powered super hero ninjas often romanticized in video games and film. These are real ninjas, bloody brutal assassins in a cruel world. Never before and seldom since have the ninja been portrayed so realistically. Infiltration. Espionage. And assassination.

Two: the setting of the plot is placed in an actual historic period using real life historical characters. Nobunaga, Toyotomi, and Tokugawa were are real men in Japanese history, men who controlled the fate of the country. The Iga Ninja sect was (is still?) real. The events happening in the film were actually happening during that time period (1592 - 1610). The film is a political thriller in essence. More Espionage than anything else.

Three: the actors, cinematography, and direction. The film is gorgeous to look at. One of the great aspects of Japanese cinema from the 1950's and 60's is that nearly every movie was taken seriously and given the utmost care and attention is every regard. This film is no exception. Star Raizo Ichikwa plays a very three dimensional character and delivers a stellar performance. All the actors in the film bring amazing performances too.

Four: Freakin' Ninjas, baby! This film is the sole reason why ninjas are here in pop culture today. The ninja boom occurred after this film was released, because of it. Before this in Japan very little about the ninja was divulged. They really were incredibly secretive. This film was the first to truly show real ninja techniques and ideologies for the first time to the masses. Everything you know about ninjas you owe to this film and what came about because of it.

Spoiler alert, the movie ends on a cliffhanger. The first three films are really one film just like the Lord of the Rings is one film broken up into three movies, so too are the first three Shinobi No Mono's. The ninjas in these movies are incredible and authentic. The story is intricate and filled with intrigue. If you want a new respect for ninjas and a peak at what they really were like then you owe it to yourself to see these movies.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out 10