Funimation really seems to be pushing SHINOBI. A pity they couldn't have manged a real theatrical release, but they are pushing the dvd. I've just tripped over a third Asian/foreign movie news/blog site giving away multiple copies of SHINOBI. Being taken with the film (aw, being taken with Nakama Yukie) I've gone ahead and entered all three. One nogo so far, but still have the other two sites. If I don't get lucky I'll snag it when it's released.

I guess funi really wants to push word of mouth for SHINOBI. Hmm, they should consider giving copies to anime sites too probably, the movie would appeal to the anime fans that like 'Ninja Scroll, etc...

I'm sure most anime fans are well aware of SHINOBI since it's based on the manga BASILISK, which also spawned the animated series of the same name.

The live action movie is, unsurprisingly, a highly condensed version of the manga, eliminating half of the main characters from the manga storyline and making a rather big alteration in a couple of the main characters' powers.

The 24-episode anime series (currently being released on DVD in the U.S. by Funimation) obviously runs much longer than the movie and is far more faithful to the manga. Overall I found the anime series to have a much greater emotional punch than the live action movie, but it's worthwhile to see both.

While attempting to obtain the new Dragon Dynasty version of KING BOXER (no go) at my local Best Buy, I happened to pass by a copy of SHINOBI and decided to give it a shot. My first impression (without knowing the history of the material) was that this seemed to be a pretty brilliantly realized live-action anime. It's well-shot, particularly the action scenes which, though quite inclusive of CGI, make perfect sense, unlike the typically disorienting so-called action found in most Hollywood product. Highly recommended and superior to Tsui Hark's SEVEN SWORDS, also purchased that day. I'm more than a little interested in possibly picking up the anime that Matt says it's based on.

The anime series, "Basilisk," is seen on the IFC channel every Friday night at 11:30 PM (EST).
I'm not sure what episode they're up to.

Hmmm...I guess the plot comes from the anime, but the movie itself is visually and stylistically ripped from X-MEN, with a few LORD OF THE RINGS style landscape shots. I think it holds up well to other superhero movies, and is certainly better than, say, Fantastic Four. I especially liked the pickle-looking guy. I don't know if I could agree that it is better than SEVEN SWORDS, but certainly it's a more polished film. And being an admirer of Yukie Nakama thanks to TRICK, her starring turn in SHINOBI was extremely welcome.

That said, I don't see the movie doing great business, as it's all stuff any average movie-goer has seen plenty in the superhero films being cranked out stateside. I don't think it's original enough to build a strong following like, say, NINJA SCROLL did back in the day.

-- Peter