Hitokiri (1969) [aka Tenchu!]
WOW what a good movie. This is like the Godfather of samurai movies. As in, it kinda looks and feels like it and from the same year. Basically a gangster film, about a loveable idealistic far-right fascist killing machine. Despite his own brutality, once he is in the inner circle of an ambitious crew he is too idealistic to go along with all the treachery.
Beautifully filmed, amazing soundtrack. Most realistic swordplay I think I've ever seen in a film, which actually goes FAST and is depicted grittily and honestly instead of the idealized kame-hame style where one fights many but the many kinda stand by the sides waiting to 1v1. All choreographed incredibly. Lead actor is great. His creepy boss is the star from Sword of Doom. He also has an awesome GF stuck in indentured sex slavery, with a scene so good we had to pause and screw. Movie benefits from knowing a bit of the history of the beginning of the meiji era.
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