Rating: 
Summary: Shocking Adult Manga Entertainment
Review: Four words that come to mind when watching the first half hour of this film. I had to watch it twice to really appreciate the storyline. After watching it the second time around with English voices, I decided to go with Japanese voices with English subtitles. Not only do the Japanese have far better voice acting, but there's a drastic change in the dialouge as well, that at times just "makes more sense". I don't understand why the translation to American voices changed the script so much, but at the same time it was interesting to see the dialouge at a different perspective.Bottom line: Very solid action movie with alot of style, alot of blood, and that amazing atmosphere that you only get from "good" Manga. If you're not familiar with this kind of movie, be prepared to taste a little gem that makes most American folk say out loud, "Can they... do that in a cartoon?".
Rating:
Summary: The finest in Japanese phantasmagoria
Review: Amazing...I won't try to defend this for anything other than an incredibly gruesome, hallucinatory hour-and-a-half animated massacre, but what it does, it does so well. No film will desensitize you to the violent death of your fellow man more effectively than Ninja Scroll. It's 'about' a wandering killer named Jubei, who in the mood-setting first scene tosses a rice ball into the air, puts an end to the lives of two highway robbers, then catches the ball and continues eating it. What it's really about, though, is the cast of villains, the Seven Devils, who seem like some sort of Jungain archetype of everything a good villian could concievably be. I'd be ruining some of the movie's best moments by listing all of their powers here; there are certain scenes where one of them reveals him or herself in a moment of unmatched grandueur; some of the best, though, include a sadistic bisexual lord whose body generates electricity and who runs nearly invisible metal wires across the countryside to zap his enemies, and a ninja who can sink into the shadows as into pools of water, and control the bodies of women in an absolutley disgusting way. This is giving the stereotypical anime fan just what he wants, and there's a fair helping of sexuality as well. The movie stops just short of being crass, though, and has that uniquely Japanese way of making even the most hideous things somehow beautiful. Hardcore anime fans will not have lived fully until they've seen this; others, though, could probably benefit from it as well, if only by understanding a good deal of what anime ultraviolence is all about.
Rating:
Summary: A story of epic proportions
Review: First, regarding its name: a more accurate translation from the original Japanese would be "The Chronicles of Ninja Jubei." Second, regarding the "misogynism" in the film: While I understand how it might be interpreted that way, that's not quite true. Kagero is a fascinating character due to the tragedy of her curse. She plays a pivotal role in the story, but most importantly, the ultimate point of the love subplot is that Jubei's sense of honor is so strong and his heart is so pure that he will not use her as just a weapon or an object of lust, the way everyone else has used her. Even at the cost of his life (you will understand when you see it). That's what makes it such a powerful story. This movie isn't for everyone, but it's an incredible film. It's extremely intense, so sensitive viewers should beware. The animation is beautiful; the action is intense and intelligently choreographed, not mindless and brutal; the plot is highly intricate and very well written. The best anime that I've ever seen, period.
Rating: 
Summary: I give in, it's OK
Review: For years I was telling people that Ninja Scroll was one of the worst Anime Features I had ever seen. the lack of plot was instead replaced with numerouse violence and sex scenes with an unclear villian. Finally I rented this again and watched it and after the third and final viewing of this, I have come to realize that this is Ok at best for those reasons. It is not the worse anime feature I have ever seen but it is by far not the best. the story revolves around a wandering swordsman who teams up fith a female ninja who can poison anyone just by having sex with them and a dirty old man to stop seven demons from conquering the world. Throughout the battles with the demons range in style as each has their own techniques. In the end they of course win but not without casulties. This is an OK entry and is highly respected because it was one of the first Anime titles to get mainstream attention (Next to Speed Racer and Akira). This is OK, but for Hardcore Anime fans only
Rating: 
Summary: Hey,it's a classic.
Review: Ninja Scroll...Hmmm...It's hard to review this one.
First,let's deal with the violence and sex to get that outta the way.Yes.this is an incredibly violent movie,and lots of needless nudity/rape/sex.It's a shame,really,it almost ruined the movie for me,and left me with a baaaad taste in my mouth.Okay.Now I will speak as if you are aware of what I just said,which is a valid assumption.
Now.to get something else out of the way,everyone who badmouths this movie says it's stereotypical.Well,at this movie's age,maybe it's a sound assumption that this movie started some of those stereotypes?Therefore that statement has been proven INVALID.Wahaha.Perhaps a better argument is that the story is showing its age,which I can attest to.
The characters are very memorable,espeially Dakuan,the crazy old man with a lazy eye.He rocks.But,I'm afraid the story feels rushed at the end,with the main 'bad guys' dying left and right before they even really put up a fight.The Japanese voice acting is superb,and I think Wendy Lee does Kagero's dub voice.She isn't nearly as good ad the original,but she passes,unlike Jubei's cocky American voice.uggggghhhhhhhh...The animation is AWESOME.(for its time)But,this is a movie we're talking about.
Bleh..I gotta go,so I'll wrap it up.
it's pretty good.Buy it if you can stomach the senseless sexual content.By the way,if you're gonna bash it,PLEAAAASE stop calling it 'just another samurai anime'.There is a VAST difference between ninja and samurai.
Rating:
Summary: Help, I'm addicted to Anime!
Review: It all started with "Vampire Hunter D", then "Ghost in the Machine", and now "Ninja Scroll", which at least equals the other Anime DVDs I have seen thus far. I even picture certain cyberpunk books that I've read, "Snow Crash", "Cryptonomicon", "Darkeye: Cyber Hunter", as being good candidates for the Anime transition. Each would prove extremely entertaining. So, come on, Anime writers and artists out there...turn at least one of these books (or all of them) into Anime presentations.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Anime
Review: Correction the 10th Anniversary Edition does have the Theatrical trailer in it. Its like a cookie. Its not labeled but if u click on the manga symbol, u can see the trailer!
Rating: 
Summary: Ninja Scroll - Sucks!
Review: This is one of the worst anime's I have ever seen. The characters and plot are terrible. The main 'samurai' seems to have no past besides that a while ago he killed a guy. Now he must go on this quest to finish him off again, for an asinine reason. He meets some small old guy, who poisons him. And he later counter-acts this poison with poison? WTF? The plot is asinine, the action is ridiculously stupid, and its ridden with unnecesary sex scences. I would reccomend to stay away from this, and if you already have bought it, burn it. If you've already seen it, cut your eyes out and destroy them. I would prefer many other anime's, like Ruroni Kenshin. Its just better.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: In my opinion this is not a great anime. People say it has a great plot. But in my opinion thats what this movie rushes the most. The action and the characters are good. But the main character fights every bad guy in such a short amount of time. The plot barely existed, it was just killing most of the time. How people consider this a good anime, let alone one of the best is completely beyond me. The sex and violence doesn't offend me it's just the lack of creativity and depth that turns me off to this. If you want a great anime involving samurai or ninja I reccomend Samurai X. Much better plot, action, and just about everything.
Rating:
Summary: Rock n Scroll
Review: Tightly constructed, grimly effective, exquisitely executed. Violent, sometimes ugly, but professional and imaginative from start to finish. Impressive but probably not all that fun.
|
