First, the title is a complete miss. This is perhaps due to cultural misunderstanding. In Japan, this title may seem normal, but in English and the western audience, this title almost implies slap-stick comedy or parody. Remember "Hollywood Ninja?"
Though based on a Japanese novel, the screenplay is written by 3 writers, one of which is Bernard Rose, the director. I haven't read the novel, so I don't know what parts were specifically from it or not, but a lot of this film actually didn't feel right, in terms of context. A lot of it were more western cultural view points. I don't think it is intentional, but people write from their backgrounds.
The first is the race itself, as it is portrayed as everyone is running for a different reason. While this itself is not purely a western concept, but when the samurai Lord commends such a race, we should be expecting most people to run it for one reason and one reason alone, honor. So everyone's little different reason were more of a western mindset and with Christianity subtly implied. One of the young runner asked his wife, "Should I run to win the race or run to lose and become rich?" This is a direct reference to bible passages on running the good race.
Another interesting Christian reference is the race course, it is difficult and narrow and on it you could get killed by spies who you thought were your friends and colleagues. This is direct reference to the narrow road of salvation with wolves in sheep clothing.
And lastly, the duel of the two ninjas, both with identical backgrounds, worked as accountant, like brothers. Brother will turn against brother for the truth.
All these elements above of course can be in any other culture as well, but it is pretty obvious the combination of them implies a western writer's cultural influence. They work well in the film and I liked it, however the two below removed the suspension of disbelief.
The first one is obvious, the egalitarian take on Edo period women. No, you're not going to find women arming themselves as warriors in that time. The last of the Onna-Bugeisha was wiped out by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1615. But more so, the princess was completely unbelievable. Cutting off her hair is the greatest of dishonor for a samurai family, male or female. Even if she was more "progressive," but her father and other people in the village could never accept it. The end scene when she rode to Edo looking like that? That would be completely rejected by Edo and everyone else outside the clan.
The hari kari was completely off the mark. Westerners see Jinnai "repenting" for his sin and the Lord forgave him. This is again a western Christian concept. In reality, Jinnai was committing seppuku in order to retain what was left of his honor. So by denying him, it is actually a great shame on him, his family, his son. Yes, even samurais are afraid to die and hari kari is a scary thing. However, it is a matter of honor, even his family would urge him to do it rather than live with disgrace. So this part was completely unbelievable.
I mean, are there other movie scenes which hari kari was forgiven? I don't know, I've never seen it. But it wouldn't be impossible. However at the very least, if it was, it doesn't restore his honor. A middle ranked samurai of ... 100 koku would at least be reduced in rank to a 15 koku samurai.
Anyhow, overall it is around a 7 or 8 for me. Historical and cultural inaccuracies always bother me. But I did enjoy this film, I thought it as well done. The ninja fight scene was awesome, if a bit too short. So I'll give it a solid 8.
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