Review of Ninja Scroll (1993) by Michael F — 04 Aug 2010

One of (if not THE) best films Anime has to offer. A well-written and visually impressive look into a single day in the the life of a travelling ninja-for-hire, who just happens to get embroiled in an evil shogun's insideous plot to take down the Tokugawan Shogunate government.

The lovable protaganist finds himself pressed up against impossible odds from the very start and you'll find yourself cheering him on as you watch him stumble more than march through enemy after enemy on his way to defeat his greatest enemy.

...a man he had decapitated years before. This film has a great cast of memorable characters, from his loveable yet perverse alcoholic spy sidekick and his poison-vagina-bearing (no....seriously) ninja love interest, to the colorful and insideous fleet of "devils" who each want to be the one to slay the hated Jubei Kibagami.

A great, uber-quotable story and highly enjoyable (allbeit bloody) journey from opening title to ending credits, I highly recommend this one to everyone from the diehard-puprle-headed-anime-lovers to japanamation neophytes.

It's a ride you'll DEFINITELY remember.