Samurai Reincarnation questions

I'm looking for info on 3 films that are based on the same story / subject as Samurai Shodown. Please give me more info on these films if you have it.

Samurai Reincarnation (1981) Sonny Chiba film
notes - supposedly good, oldschool?, a little cheesy?

Reborn from Hell: Samurai Armageddon (1995)
notes - supposedly cheesy as hell, so bad it's good?

Samurai Reincarnation (2003)
notes - I know nothing about this release, need info here more than anywhere

neojedi said:

I'm looking for info on 3 films that are based on the same story / subject as Samurai Shodown. Please give me more info on these films if you have it.

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All 3 of these films are based on the Makai Tenshou novel, by Yamada Fuutarou -- a samurai-era occult-horror/katana-action story pitting Yagyuu Juubee against the reincarnated Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.

neojedi said:

Samurai Reincarnation (1981) Sonny Chiba film
notes - supposedly good, oldschool?, a little cheesy?

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I believe you're referring to this film, Makai Tenshoh. It looks like that page at Toei Video's website indicates it was originally released (theatrically) in June, 1983. I bought the Japanese double-LD set of this film about 7 or 8 years ago, IIRC. The R-2 DVD was released in July, 2002 -- I bought it late last year, along with the R-2 DVD of the 2003 Makai Tensho film. A decent film, but I enjoyed the next one on your list alot more. Here's Sonny Chiba's official website, btw.

neojedi said:

Reborn from Hell: Samurai Armageddon (1995)
notes - supposedly cheesy as hell, so bad it's good?

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Rented a raw Japanese VHS of this one from a Japanese grocery here in Las Vegas about 6 or 7 years ago (the Japanese title was Makai Tensho II: Armageddon, IIRC). This one kicked much ass. Blue-clad Yagyuu-loyalist samurai killing black-clad ninja by the feckin' dozen -- and when a samurai takes a mortal wound from a ninja, he tends to take out the ninja and 5 more of his ninja buddies before he finally goes down. Highly recommended. I'm still trying to find info on an R-2 DVD or LD of this one.

neojedi said:

Samurai Reincarnation (2003)
notes - I know nothing about this release, need info here more than anywhere

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I think you're referring to the 2003 Makai Tensho movie. I bought this one on R-2 DVD last year. Both the regular edition and the boxed limited edition went on sale in Japan on 10/21/2003 -- I bought the ltd ed. Sadly, I haven't even watched it yet -- managed to watch the trailer collection and a couple of promo spots on the bonus materials disc, but I haven't had time to watch the film itself. I'll see if I can't find the time to do so this week and get back to you.

--Chris

Excellent info, thanks!

If you're looking to just toss money into the furnace there's the Samurai Shodown DVD (found link to VHS copy.) Here.

I actually have the DVD. Liberties were difinately taken (Amakusa a woman?) and presentation is kinda' lack-luster. Think wandering around and talking of "great power," then teaming up at the end as a kind-of "Pokemon Complex." "Together we can defeat the enemy!"---Ick.

If your favorite character is Ukyo, you'll have to wait untill the japanese version credits roll before you even see the guy.

So, to summerize:
Pros: Based on Samurai Shodown
Cons: Voice Acting and regional mal-dubbing.

LOL... the SS anime is a well-known crime against humanity. I have no plans to pick up that anime, or cancer, any time soon.

Wow, is the SS anime that poorly done?

Forgot to mention Makai Tenshoh Jigokuhen, an anime adaptation/interpretation of Makai Tenshou. Here's a link to an auction for vols. 1-2 on Japanese VHS. From the staff behind the Giant Robo The Animation OAV series, MTJigokuhen was originally intended to be a 4-episode OAV series, but only the first 2 eps were ever made. This has been available in the U.S. for some time now, under the title "Ninja Resurrection," IIRC (the company that got the U.S. license was not the same company that had the Ninja Scroll anime film, but they wanted Americans to buy MTJigokuhen thinking it was a Ninja Scroll sequel so they gave it an intentionally similar English title).

Regarding MTArmageddon, I've found two VHS versions on Yahoo! Auctions Japan:
Makai Tenshou THE ARMAGEDDON
Makai Tenshou THE ARMAGEDDON Madouhen
Both of these star Hiroyuki Watanabe as Yagyuu Juubee. I think these are the same film, with Madouhen being a slightly different edit. Can't say for certain as I haven't seen both of them. And for the life of me, I could've sworn that the tape I rented had a roman numeral II in the title...

I'll do a little more digging and see what I can turn up.

--Chris

Wow, is the SS anime that poorly done?

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Yes, LastBlade. Yes it is.

Here's an auction for the DVD release of a 1982 Japanese film based on another of Yamada Fuutarou's novels, "Iga Ninpouchou" -- according to the movie's page at Internet Movie Database, it has 3 alternate English titles: Black Magic Wars, Iga Magic Story, and Ninja Wars (perhaps there's already an English-language release?).

The lead character is played by Sanada Hiroyuki. Sanada was also in the earlier version of Makai Tenshoh, appears to have been the voice of the lead character in the anime Dagger of Kamui, played the role of Takayama Ryuji in Ringu, Rasen, and Ringu 2, and played Ujio in 2003's The Last Samurai. I was trying to figure out where I'd seen this guy before: he was in Space Ninja, a badly hacked-together movie-length digest film of the 1979 Japanese live-action scifi TV series, "Uchuu kara no Message: Ginga Taisen" -- which had an English dub so awfully bad it was awfully entertaining: In the name of justice, we kill you!

Iga Ninpouchou also stars Sonny Chiba (this time, as Yagyuu Shinzaemon, instead of Yagyuu Juubee), and apparently Jackie Chan, too.

Here's an auction for a movie programme for the film Ninpouchou (includes some screenshots).

--Chris

After re-thinking....Samurai X, Rorouni Kenshin (sp?), and Ninja Scroll are pretty similar to Samurai Shodown. Ninja Scroll is heavy on the nudity though. Definately better options than the SS anime.

--KagerouSama

Theres also an Animated Series called MaaKai Tenshoh. I have the 1st 2 episodes in the original Japanese. I believe the same company that did Ninja Scroll brought them out in america as a Sequel to Ninja Scroll. The original Japanese anime is suppose to be an ongoing series but its being done by the same studio that did Giant Robo so it'll take 1-2 years for them to complete a single episode(*ugh*). Of course im assuming there still actually werkin on it, and haven't put it on the backburner.

Sundance said:

Theres also an Animated Series called MaaKai Tenshoh. I have the 1st 2 episodes in the original Japanese. I believe the same company that did Ninja Scroll brought them out in america as a Sequel to Ninja Scroll. The original Japanese anime is suppose to be an ongoing series but its being done by the same studio that did Giant Robo so it'll take 1-2 years for them to complete a single episode(*ugh*). Of course im assuming there still actually werkin on it, and haven't put it on the backburner.

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As mentioned in my second post. The Ninja Scroll anime film is licensed by Manga Entertainment, but Makai Tenshoh Jigokuhen was released as Ninja Resurrection by A.D.Vision/ADV Films. They intentionally misrepresented it as a sequel to Ninja Scroll in order to capitalize on that film's popularity in America. To the best of my knowledge, Makai Tenshou Jigokuhen is a dead project, and no further episodes will be forthcoming (it was originally slated for a 4-episode run).

Makai Tenshoh THE ARMAGEDDON and Makai Tenshoh THE ARMAGEDDON Madouhen (2 separate films, btw -- Madouhen is the sequel) starred Watanabe Hiroyuki as Yagyuu Juubee. Here is his official website -- I believe members such as Mercenary X99 may recognize him from the Jingi film series. Click here for a list of his Movies (1st table) and Video Movies (2nd table). In that 2nd table, click the 3rd text-link to see a brief scene from Makai Tenshoh THE ARMAGEDDON Madouhen. BTW, ARMAGEDDON also stars Moriyama Yuuko -- probably best-known as Iria, the female protagonist of the Zeiram films.

Japanese Title: Makai Tenshoh
Released: 1981
Starring: Sonny Chiba (as Yagyuu Juubee) -- credited as Chiba Shin'ichi
English Title: Samurai Reincarnation
English release by: Arena
English ver. apparently only on dubbed VHS.
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Japanese Title: Makai Tenshoh THE ARMAGEDDON
Released: 1996
Starring: Watanabe Hiroyuki (as Yagyuu Juubee)
English Title: Reborn from Hell: Samurai Armageddon
English release by: Media Blasters

Japanese Title: Makai Tenshoh THE ARMAGEDDON Madouhen
Released: 1996
Starring: Watanabe Hiroyuki (as Yagyuu Juubee)
English Title: Reborn from Hell II: Jubei's Revenge
English release by: Media Blasters

Media Blasters has released both of the Makai Tenshoh THE ARMAGEDDON films on a single 2-disc R-1 DVD packaged, entitled Reborn from Hell: The Complete Legend

English ver. released on dubbed or subbed VHS, and on dubbed/subbed DVD.
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Japanese Title: Makai Tenshoh Jigokuhen Vol. 1
Released: 1998
Starring: Genda Tesshou (as the voice of Yagyuu Juubee)
English Title: Ninja Resurrection: The Revenge of Jubei
English release by: A.D.Vision
Ninja Resurrection: The Revenge of Jubei

Japanese Title: Makai Tenshoh Jigokuhen Vol. 2
Released: 1998
Starring: Genda Tesshou (as the voice of Yagyuu Juubee)
English Title: Ninja Resurrection: Hell's Spawn
English release by: A.D.Vision

English ver. released on dubbed or subbed VHS, and on dubbed/subbed DVD. A.D.Vision just re-released the 2-episode R-1 DVD on 3/16/2004, remastered to 5.1ch sound (as part of their "essential anime collection").
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Japanese Title: Makai Tenshoh
Released: 2003
Starring: Satou Kouichi (as Yagyuu Juubee)

imdb.com lists an English title of "Samurai Resurrection" for this film, but I have yet to see evidence of the existence of an English-language version.

--Chris

Well, Dash....I now proceed to eat a supper of crow and humble pie.

However....there's still yet to be mentioned (That I know of) The Seven Samurai....or any Spaghetti Western of your choice.

Dash no Chris said:

As mentioned in my second post.....

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My bad ..i was speed readin and your section was so informative i didn't have time to read all of it. Too bad that Makkai Tenshoh is a dead project...i think it had real potential. Course when you release it as a Sequel to sompin completely different (at least over here) you gotta question its future.