Shout! Factory
Presents
Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles
Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto
Starring: Mitsuki Koga
Action Director: Kensuke Sonomura
Japan, 2013, 88 minutes
A delicious blend of martial arts action and oriental cuisine, Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles becomes available today on Blu-ray and DVD from Shout! Factory.
Although the film begins looking like a period piece, it's actually set in the present. Toramaru (Mitsuki Koga) returns to his sensei, Master Gensai (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, sporting a hilarious false mustache), after a year spent roaming the land in aesthetic training. He has fought seven battles with opponents skilled in different martial arts and weapons, such as kung fu, stick fighting, nunchuks, sword, etc.
In accordance with Gensai's philosophy that one should "Know your opponent by what he eats." the battles are preceded by Toramaru having a meal featuring the next opponent's favorite dish. With almost every victory, Toramaru obtains a scroll for that discipline. These he has brought to present to his sensei.
The only extra, on both the Blu-ray and DVD versions, is "Making Bushido Man: From the Fantasia Film Festival." In this just over eleven minute long featurette, the filmmakers describe it as a "low budget, no budget" film that they made with their own money. Regardless of its financial limitations, Bushido Man succeeds gloriously in both its exciting action sequences and its comic moments. Be prepared for an especially hilarious moment just after the end credits begin to roll. You'llprobably enjoy what happens as much as the crowd at the Fantasia Film Festival did.
AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; a most enjoyable, highly recommended entertainment.
