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SUMMARY

In the year 525 A.D., a meteor crashes in northern Japan. A master swordmaker takes the iron left from the impact to make weapons that can cut through anything. He begins to train an army with weapons made from this new metal.

Many years later, the latest recruits of the "Kage Ninja", are preparing for one of many tests. The group of 12 young boys and girls head out in groups of three.

One group consists of Aki-Kage(Red Shadow), Ao-kage(Blue Shadow), and Asuka. The three of them act very much like brothers and sisters, which continues 10 years later.

Now, as full fledged members of the Kage Ninja, the three of them begin their service for Lord Togo, their master.

However, things are not what they seem, and Togo's missions may have dire concenqences for the three friends. It is up to Aki-Kage and his partners to figure out the truth about their enemy, before they all wind up dead.

DVD VISION TEST

VIDEO: The DVD quality is excellent. Having seen this series on video, the DVD is a vast improvement. It's colors are sharp, and the motion is fluid.

AUDIO: There are some interesting surround sound elements, but for the most part, it doesn't really envelop you. The dialogue is center speaker based with the music coming from the sides and the back.

EDITS: Since this is a Japanese release there are no edits.

EXTRAS: The second disc contains pictures of the main cast, interviews, and a video diary with the director. The movie also has subtitles in English!

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: Based off of a series of novels and a 60's television series, Red Shadow has been updated for the modern age. While not an original story, it is a fresh and funky way of presenting a tired genre, the Samurai-Eiga. Many people will find themselves comparing this movie to the old Xenia TV series.

ACTING: It is funny that a majority of the cast are comedians and rock stars. While in the US, that is the kiss of death for any movie, all of the cast does a great job. Credit goes to Kumiko Aso as Aska and Megumi Okina as Hime. The two women infuse a strong female presence in what could have wound up as a testosterone action flick.

FAN SERVICE: Well, there is Aska, dressed in tight leather and fishnet stockings, and the "Pretty Massage" lady in her wrap around spandex (odd since this is Tokugawa era). No nudity.

CONCLUSION

Red Shadow is not a brilliant movie. It is however, a very entertaining movie.

This movie has the makings of a cult film. It has plenty of action, strange characters, and a funky blending of "Samurai Eiga" and Jackie Chan.

One of the things I liked about this film is that it doesn’t overly rely on CG for its action elements. It uses CG the way it was intended, to enhance the scene, not be the scene.

Second was the costumes. With a blend of ancient Japan style and modern accents, some of the outfits would work great in the clubbing districts in Tokyo.

The cast truly is what makes this film enjoyable. The actors all work well with each other. The provide believable interaction, and all have great comic timing. Not surprising since most of the cast are seasoned comedic actors. However, when drama is called for (and there is plenty), they convey their emotions much better than the overly flat "Party 7".

The music is also interesting. Like the costumes, the music is a funky blend of traditional Japanese music and techno. I would not be surprised if a "Red Shadow Re-mix" is not out soon.

Finally, I have to say that Kumiko Aso is my favorite. Smart, sexy, playful, and strong, she is right up there with the women from "Heroic Trio"

All in all, this is a good film to see if you want a cool and hip ninja movie.

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