Tsubaki Sanjuro - This exciting re-make of the 1962 Akira Kurosawa Classic is a tribute to the Master that is not to be missed.

Based on a novel by Shugoro Yamamoto, the story begins with nine young samurai, deep in a discussion about graft and corruption in their clan. They suspect that Chamberlain Mutsuta is the guilty party, a suspicion the Clan Superintendent, Kikui, is investigating — and is coming to question them about.

They are, in fact in danger of their lives, since a gang of swordsman under Kikui's employ are coming to wipe them out — thus erasing potential opposition to the plans of Kikui and his henchmen. The ronin saves them through quick thinking, while fending off the swordsmen with such deadly panache that their leader, Muroto, offers him a job.

The ronin, who could walk off at this point, decides to help the hapless nine in freeing the Chamberlain, who has been imprisoned by the Superintendent. "You guys are such a danger to yourselves that I can't stand to watch it," he explains. A more likely reason is that he is bored and sees a chance for an interesting game of wits — and clash of swords.

Stars: ODA YUJI, TOYOKAWA ETSUSHI, MATSUYAMA KENICHI

2007 - JAPANESE with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES - COLOR - 16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN - 119 MINUTES



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