Owl's Castle (aka: Fukuro No Shiro) (2 Disc Set: Region-2)

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 16 Mar 2005, 17:26

Owl's Castle (aka: Fukuro No Shiro) (2 Disc Set: Region-2)

Review Written By Nadeem Rasool
Film Director(s): Masahiro Shinoda
Starring: Kiichi Naki, Nayu Tsuruta, Riona Hazuki
Released: 1999
Distributor: Pony Canyon, Inc

Synopsis:
OWLS' CASTLE is director Masahiro Shinoda's 34th motion picture. It is based on a story of medieval Japan by Ryotaro Shiba that explores the solitary mission and lonely struggle of a Ninja assassin.
Shinoda gained widespread acclaim with works such as DOUBLE SUICIDE (1969), SILENCE (1971), MacARTHUR'S CHILDREN (1984), GONZA THE SPEARMAN (winner of the Silver Bear at the 36th Berlin International Film Festival, 1985), and SHARAKU (1995).
Director of photography is Tatsuo Suzuki who is well known for work with Shuji Terayama. Art director is Yoshinobu Nishioka, whose triumphs include the l953 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winning film GATE OF HELL.
The star-studded cast includes Kiichi Nakai as Juzo, Mayu Tsuruta as Kohagi, Riona Hazuki as Kisaru, Takaya Kamikawa as Gohei, and Mako as Shogun Hideyoshi.

First i got to say, i love Ninja's. I was in love with them on when Sho Kosugi had the classic black cloth ninja in Enter the Ninja. I’ve watched a lot of ninja movies, and have to say that this movie is one of the most serious movies here are, dealing with ninjas.
They explore honour within the ninja clan, the movie centres itself around 1 man, and in the beginning he sees his family killed in Iga. (Iga is most famous for producing Ninjas). Ten years later he takes a mission for revenge.
The movie mentions on when Japan went to Korea for war, and other sub plots. This was the most interesting film i have seen so far
The movie has an epic feel to it, which has blown me away. I really loved what they had done. They researched the ninja history very well, so in my opinion, apart from Shinobi No Mono, this is THE ninja movie.
There is not much ninja battle, but this fits within the movie. The ninjas are not a bunch of people who dress up in black; instead they are assassins who disguise themselves. The whole movie is character driven and is quite slow in the middle, but if you keep with it, then it is rewarding.

*** Please Note:
Yep the Korean version is cut by 2-3 mins only for excessive violence.
I think the scene in question, is right at the beginning you see a head flying across the screen with blood coming out in slow motion

[DVD REVIEW]
Image:
The Japanese really know how to make a dvd, is anamorphic 1.85, the picture is beautiful, no color bleed or anything

Sound:
I listen to the 5.1 Surround sound and boy is it good in the opening part of the movie. The film is mainly dialogue based throughout the whole movie.

Extra:
Disk 1 has the movie
Disk 2 has a whole history on Ninjas, but no english subs. This is a shame, but what can you get when you buy a japanese dvd. Production Notes, Character Links, Interview, SFX Image, Making Films, 30 minutes's Location and Map, Costume Design, Set Design, Trailer/TV Spot Collections, NHK TV Documentary, Music DVD.

Special Mention has to go to the menu, even thou they are in japanese, i had no problem in finding out what's each section is, and it beautifully done in tone with the movie.

Subtitle:
English . This is the best subtitle, they fully translate what the writing on the screen is, what the narrator is saying, and what the house signs say. There is no mistake in the subtitle.

Summary:
In essence, if you are a fan of the ninja, then apart from Shinobi No Mono, this is one of the best film to watch on the references of Ninja. Highly recommended.

Equipment:
Toshiba 32 Inch WideScreen Tv,
Dolby Surround 5.1 Speakers
Whalfdale multiregion dvd player

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 26 Apr 2005, 14:06

You're not this guy are you? :mrgreen:

Nah I kid, top review - cheers. 8)

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 03 May 2005, 17:27

hehehe no fraid not, Brucey showed me that (where is he anyway

)

Also a question to you... errr... who is the model??? She is mighty fine

Thanks for the kind message

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 May 2005, 22:04

Her name's Miri Hanai. Time to check out google huh?

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 04 May 2005, 10:06

Cheers for the name, yep bless the guy who invented search engines