Review: Shurayuki-Hime (2001)

THE PRINCESS BLADE
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****):  ** 1/2

Shinsuke Sato's THE PRINCESS BLADE (SHURAYUKI-HIME) has many things going for
it, but coherence and pacing are not among them.  About a group of assassins in
what appears to be a post-modern apocalyptic fairytale, the confusing story is
often too slow and ponderous but is filled with gorgeous sword-fighting
sequences of elegance and grace.  Although it is a live-action film, it feels
like an anime.
   
Yuki (Yumiko Shaku) is a lovely young princess about to turn twenty.  The most
accomplished and vicious of the assassins, she has the skin of a cosmetics
model.  Although her perfectly coiffured hair is rarely messed up, she fights
gory battles that frequently leave swords stuck in her.  She always gives more
than she gets, and, more than once, she takes on ten warriors and wins.

In addition to some excellent fight choreography, the movie features stirring
music and striking images.  Now, if it just had a decent script and better
direction, ...

THE PRINCESS BLADE runs 1:32.  The film is in Japanese with English subtitles. 
It is rated R for "strong violence" and would be acceptable for most
teenagers.

My son Jeffrey, age 14, gave the movie just one star.  He thought that the
story was weird and the fights were too unbelievable.  

The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, August 15, 2003.  In
the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the Camera Cinemas.      

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X-RT-RatingText: 2.5/4