Blu-ray Review

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Blu-ray: Goemon
Rating: Unrated
Starring: Yosuke Eguchi
Written By: Kazuaki Kiriya and Tetsurô Takita
Directed By: Kazuaki Kiriya
Distributor: Funimation Home Entertainment
Original Year of Release: 2009
Extras: See Below
Series:

Goemon Blu-Ray Review

Dazzling Historical Action film

By Tim Janson May 01, 2011

Yosuke Eguchi Stars as the Ninja Goemon
© Funimation Home Entertainment

Goemon is a dazzling historical fantasy film set against the backdrop of the Japanese Civil War, specifically during the late 1500’s. The film is directed by Kazuaki Kiriya who also directed Casshern and draws upon many actual historical events and personalities while splicing in its many fantastic elements. Oda Nobunaga was a powerful feudal lord who sought to unite all of Japan before he became the victim of assassination by two of his own generals Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide. Hideyoshi kills Mitsuhide to become Japan’s tyrannical ruler.

Ishikawa Goemon's (Y�suke Eguchi) was adopted by Nobunaga as a boy and was trained to become a Ninja and was charged with guarding Nobinaga’s niece, Princess Chacha. Another boy naimed Saizo also trained with Goemon to become a Ninja, When Nobunaga was assassinated, Goemon left his service and turned his talents to becoming Japan’s greatest thief, while Saizo remained in service to a powerful Samurai who was loyal to Hideyoshi. As a Robin Hood-styled criminal, Goemon becomes a favorite of the oppressed people, stealing from the wealthy lords and giving the money to the peasants. Goemon steals a seemingly valueless box, which turns out to be anything but…The box contained a hidden map that led to an incredible treasure…not gold or riches, but a scroll which contains the signed agreement between the two assassination conspirators Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide. Goemon sets out to get revenge on Hideyoshi leading to a climatic battle with Goemon and a team of Ninja taking on Hideyoshi’s entire army.

Goemon is laden with incredible, if completely over-the-top special effects which almost makes this live action film appear to be a near Anime. Superman has nothing on Goemon as the thief literally leaps tall buildings in a single bound thanks to the CGI effects which don’t look very realistic but are remarkably entertaining. Goemon plows through waves of soldiers like a farmer chopping down the wheat in the fields.

But Goemon is not just all action…quite the contrary. While it may have its Robin Hood influences, Goemon is as much a Shakespearian drama as an action film. The many-layered plot is complex and there are a lot of characters and plot twists. Saizo and Goemon are like brothers and yet find themselves on opposite sides of the war although both maintain their sense of duty and honor and neither is truly right or wrong. There’s also a liberal amount of influence from “300” in the battle sequences.

Goemon simply dazzles with a feudal-era Japan that makes Las Vegas look like a sleepy small town. Colors virtually explode off the screen during the film’s opening street celebrations as fireworks and lights assault your senses. But then there are more serene moments that are just as stunning such as Goemon’s reunion with Princess Chacha at a waterfall where fireflies flitter about. While Goemon may stretch the boundaries of plausible reality with its abundant special effects, it offers elements of action, fantasy, drama, and romance, which are sure to delight most fans of Asian cinema. The film comes with Japanese or English language versions and also with English subtitles.

Blu-Ray Extras

The Making of Goemon (36:12) – Standard making of documentary but quite fascinating. It seems like 90% of the film was shot using a green screen, or so it appears when you watch this featurette. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews

Making of Goemon Kiriya World (18:16) – Similar to the previous Featurette, this looks at the CG effects taking the standard scene and then adding in the layers of effects until you see the final product.

Original Teaser and theatrical trailers.

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