Who payed the critics

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

It is almost hard to rate this movie as it is so close to the mark in many ways. You have here your basic story of Romeo and Juliet, cept done in the ninja version. Star crossed lovers (yes they actually use this analogy several times in the movie which was a tad cliché but w/e maybe it was just the best translation they could find) from the 2 most powerful ninja clans, which also happen to be fierce enemies, end up having to lead their clans in battle against each other as part of the emperors plan to ensure peace in the realm. The good: fantastic shot settings. The backdrops are very pretty. Some of the views such as Gennosuke killing the 3 ninja framed by the moon are pretty cool, while there are a number like the last shot of Oboru drinking from the wintry stream which are very beautiful. The action - Some of it was quite good, most specifically the fight between the 2 shinobi that showcased their skill in the beginning to the emperor. The bad: could have done so much more with the action. The film is called shinobi... You are already taking the story from Basilisk? (I read that it was Basilisk in someone else's review which I watched sometime back, assuming they are correct), so you already know what type of scenes that anime had. Granted it is tough to squeeze even a short series anime into a movie, I just feel there could have been so much more done, or even more with what they already had sequenced. Also, seems to be that everyone seems so enraptured with this as a romantic movie. Emotionally this movie could have been done even better as well. The only strong out of the ordinary part was when she took her eyes to take her own power out. I remember the anime being much more poignant than this film due to being more connected to the characters. Each death was such a huge loss that you basically just got sadder as the series progressed. Overall, I think this was a good stab at this genre. I just think a little more action, a little better pacing (dragged a little), and some work on the storyline to evoke more dramatic emotions from the audience, would have helped this movie drastically.

Lord Ieyasu, the first Shogun of Japan, while employing ninja himself to spy on other clans, were afraid of their powerful skills. in order to remove this threat, his adviser, monk Tenkai comes up with a scheme that ninjas cannot refuse. It was a battle for supremacy between the Koga, and Iga ninja clans that will give the victor the right to name the next Shogun. Each clan will elect five ninja for an elimination match to the end. Last man (woman) standing will return to Sunpu to name the successor to Ieyasu.The tragedy is that the leader of the two clans Oboro (Yukie Nakama), and Gannosuke (Jo Odagiri) had prior meeting without knowing each other's identity and fell in love. But the die is cast, and a full blown ninjutsu match ensues between the ninjas.The story and the battle between the ninjas are one of the best ever made. This alone makes this movie worth watching. The movie is shot in the mountains of Japan, and is beautiful.See the surprise ending, and the beautiful story. One of the best ninja movies to come from Japan that shows authentic ninja action. The movie is recommended for viewing.

I gave this movie a 5 out of pure pity. My intention is not to burst anyone's bubble, because I've seen, as I've skimmed through other comments, that this movie is quite appreciated by many. Well, it is not worth any praises, and I say this because I've seen the original anime, Basilisk, and this movie shames it deeply. Perhaps if you see Shinobi alone, you could like it. It is enjoyable due to the well-choreographed battles, based on fantasy more than on martial arts, and I agree that their beauty is deeply enhanced. But the story is nothing like the original one. Now, I understand that when one transforms an anime/manga into a movie, one must make certain changes. I was not expecting to see the freakish characters from the anime, although they have a well-established role, and some are truly profound and well-designed. But I certainly did not expect to see immense and wrongly-placed changes, that basically ruin the entire story. Characters who are dramatically and unethically mutilated, transformed in something the public might love more, perhaps. For instance, Oboro, who, in the anime is a sweet, innocent girl, completely and utterly in love with Gennosuke, becomes a vengeful clan leader in the movie. I liked the fact that the woman becomes strong and evades the limitations imposed on her by the era (we are talking about Japan, 17th century), but her mood changes are unbelievable and badly written. Hotarubi, which is one of my favourite characters in the film, but who is not known for her childish and sensitive nature, becomes a pathetic little girl who is not only not madly in love like in the anime, but is more or less worthless in the plot. I could go on and on, like how they made Tenzen, the worst and most dangerous character in the anime, exceptionally weak and unattractive, or how Gennosuke, the leading character seems completely misplaced and confused, not to mention, again WEAK. The music is beautiful and the image is astounding, which was expected of a Japanese movie, and I appreciate it for that. But do not watch this if you've seen and enjoyed Basilisk, because it is just hopeless. Basilisk, although based on fantasy, with elements of horror and largely exaggerated is splendid and has so much more depth in its characters, storyline, historical value and it is, may I say, heartbreaking. Shinobi was a waste of time and I could not believe it kept on going after what was supposed to be the climax. Alas, it pains me deeply to judge a movie so harshly, but I advise you against it. Please, watch the anime, or at least watch the movie first and then repair your image of what Basilisk really is by watching the anime. Otherwise you will have a seizure when you realize how they've massacred it.

After more than four hundred years of war between the Shinobi warriors of the Manjidani Koga and Tsubagakure Iga clans, the Lord Hattori Hanzou decrees that they must live in peace. Both clans live hidden in the woods and mountain without confrontation and without training ninjas in the shadow art of Shinobi. In 1614, the Lord of the Lords is convinced that the clans are dangerous threats for keeping peace in his lands, and his adviser plots a Machiavellian plan to destroy their best warriors in a contest. Meanwhile, the young Iga Oboro (Yukie Nakama) and Koga Gennesuke (Joe Odagiri) fall in love for each other. When Oboro's grandmother and leader of Iga clan Ogen (Riri) and Gennesuke's father and leader of the Koga clan Danjo (Minoru Terada) kill each other, Oboro and Gannesuke must lead their warriors in the ultimate battle of the Shinobi clans."Shonobi" is a wonderful and tragic romance, with drama, action and fantasy. The story slightly recalls Romeo and Juliet, with the impossible love of Oboro and Gennesuke that belong to enemy clans, and X-men, with the dark powers of the Shinobi warriors. The cinematography, the choreography of the fights and the state-of-art special effects are awesome, and the story is engaging and shows an adequate pace. The beauties of Yukie Nakama, Tomoka Kurotani and Erika Sawajiri are amazing, but the romance of Oboro and Gannesuke should have been better explored to increase the intensity of their final act. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Shinobi – A Batalha" ("Shinobi – The Battle")