IVL is releasing Never Give Up (1978) and Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983) on dvd in HK next week. However I recommed to get the R1 releases by Addness instead as the IVL dvds are poorly compressed dvd-5’s with badly timed subs. The source material should be the same but Addness may also have done some minor further remastering. Adness’s UK releases should be avoided as well as they are NTSC to PAL conversions.
Never Give Up I haven’t seen but it was Hiroko’s first film and it stars the legendary Ken Takakura (veteran of numerous Toei yakuza pics including the Abashiri Prison series). I’ll post some comments when see the film.
Synopsis: “Following a mass murder in rural Japan, ex-special forces solider Ajisawa (Ken Takakura) adopts the only remaining survivor of the massacre, an amnesiac young girl named Yoriko (Hiroko Yakushimaru). Seeking to put the secrets of the past behind them, the pair instead finds themselves in conflict with the corrupt and powerful leaders of a small town. As Yoriko’s memories begin to reemerge; Ajisawa must call upon his killer instincts to survive against the odds.”
Legend of the Eight Samurai (Satomi hakken-den) is a film you shouldn’t miss. A great 80’s fantasy adventure directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starring Shinichi Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada, Etsuko Shihomi and of course Hiroko Yakushimaru. Give the film a chance even if you don’t like Fukasaku’s yakuza stuff as he’s also a master of light entertainment films. The film is a bit like a combination of A Chinese Ghost Story (which was of course made after this film) and fast paced samurai adventure. Somebody also described it as “Star Wars of samurai films” which isn’t too far from the truth. Also worth mentioning is the kick ass pop soundtrack.
Synopsis: “In Japan’s mythical past, Princess Shizu (Hiroko Yakushimaru), whose clan is cursed by evil, is hunted by demons and the samurai armies they command, leaving a trail of death behind them. With two warriors destined to aid her, she begins a search for six more so that together they may destroy the curse and free the land of evil.”
8 Samurai was actually the first Hiroko film I saw. Back then, years ago, I didn’t even know who she was, I just recall wondering “who’s that cute girl playing princess Shizu”?.
Images from asiandvdguide
