Plot: What’s it about?
Yuki (Kaji Meiko) has one impulse that drives her life, an impulse that is dark and comes from brutality and hatred. That impulse is vengeance, as she seeks to extract revenge on those who have demolished her life. Yuki has never known the love of her mother or the warmth of her father, only cold and dark emotions. Her father was murder in a horrific fashion, while a far worse fate awaited her mother. The woman was beaten, tortured, and raped, then forced into prostitution, before she was placed in a harsh prison. She remained alive, through all of the pain and humiliation, but only for one reason, to ensure vengeance would be handed down. She was pregnant, but as she gave birth, the woman died of complications. But she made sure her daughter, Yuki would be trained in the most lethal combat arts for one purpose. Now Yuki has developed her skills to incredible levels and seeks to settle the score with those responsible, no matter what the cost. She was trained by a priest, the same man who adopted her and raised her, just like he would his own child. As she begins to carry out her destined plan, a dark secret is revealed from an unexpected place, a weakness that could mean Yuki’s demise. Even with her cold heart and skilled sword, can Lady Snowblood extract the vengeance she has always dreamed of?
This is what we can all agree is a kick ass movie, one of the most brutal, sadistic, and well crafted swordplay movies in town. Lady Snowblood is a movie that genre fans all know and love, as evidenced by its inspiration to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, which lifts numerous elements from this wicked motion picture. But accept no substitutes, as the original Lady Snowblood is an experience that no film fan should miss. This is the kind of revenge tale seen a thousand times in samurai cinema, but this is no simple rehash. No, this is a calculated and poetic movie that pulls no punches, so all of the violence and visual spark is potent. The blood drips from almost every frame of this picture, in scenes of battle and assorted other violence that are well executed, though perhaps too graphic for queasy viewers. But this is not senseless violence, as the storyline demands such content, given the story’s intense scope. So don’t expect a basic exploitation or revenge picture here, Lady Snowblood is much more than that. The direction is excellent, with superb use of colors and framing, giving the movie beautiful visual presence. So we have this brutal violence unfolding on a pristine, gorgeous backdrop. I simply cannot recommend Lady Snowblood enough, so even if you’re only a casual film buff, don’t miss this release.
Video: How does it look?
Lady Snowblood is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The print looks pristine in most scenes, with no grain and minimal debris to be seen. This allows for such a clean, sharp visual presence, you won’t be able to believe your eyes in some instances. I found the colors to be bright and bold, but within a natural scope, while flesh tones are normal throughout. The black levels are superb here also, as even the darkest of scenes looks smooth and refined. This is simply a top notch visual treatment in all respects, so kudos to AnimEigo.
Audio: How does it sound?
A solid, though unremarkable soundtrack is used here and on the whole, it handles the material in fine fashion. You’ll hear some hiss, pops, and other signs of wear are evident, but not as many as you might assume. In addition, these errors never become a distraction and as such, I doubt anyone will complain too much. The original Japanese language is preserved, with clean and sharp vocals that never become harsh or muddled. The limits of the material prevent any kind of real dynamic presence, but the music and sound effects come through well enough, all things considered. This disc also includes optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some production notes.
