Shogun's Ninja

Funky soundtrack, that seems to be lifted directly from 70's porn flick in a period action film? Why not. Shogun's Ninja is very cheesy flick with samurai and spider ninja fighting. Hiroyuki Sanada plays Mowgli-like hero who seeks revenge on black-eyebrowed Sonny Chiba. There are lots of fun scenes, but the story is very unoriginal, and the pacing is off.

Highly rewatchable; just as improbable. Long-white-haired kung-fu sensei? Check. Decapitations? Times five. Characters with superhuman fighting skills? Deflecting arrows by spinning; burrowing like moles in the ground; tree-hopping: triple check. Extra points for the outrageous 5-min Billy Elliot kung-fu angry dance. Less points for featuring Etsuko Shihomi at any length.

Practically defines "cheesy '70s samurai action flick." The terrible music, though--ouch!

Martial arts training montages, 70's sax music, spider ninjas, dramatic bonfire dance, deadly concubines, and random crazyness. When it works, it really entertains. Too bad that the non-action parts drag the movie down.

Sonny Chiba, Etsuko Shihomi and Hiroyuki Sanada bust out the mad ninja skills.