Samurai Reincarnation – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1981
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Writers: Kinji Fukasaku, Tatsuo Nogami, Fûtarô Yamada
Cast: Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Kenji Sawada, Akiko Kana, Ken Ogata, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tetsurô Tanba, Tomisaburô Wakayama

Release Date: June 19th, 2023
Approximate running time: 121 Minutes 44 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £18.99 (UK)

"In the aftermath of a failed rebellion, Amakusa Shiro (Kenji Sawada) is crucified, but returns as a vengeance-filled demon with the power to resurrect the dead. Shiro uses his power to assemble a team of undead warriors—including legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (Ken Ogata)—and the only one who can stop them is the wandering samurai, Yagyu Jubei (Sonny Chiba)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "a 2K restoration of the original film elements."

Samurai Reincarnation comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.6 GB

Feature: 36 GB

This release from Eureka Video gives the main feature 12.7 more GB than Shout Factory! did for their Blu-ray release. Also, Shout! Factory’s release does not mention what the source was for their transfer, while Eureka Video’s transfer is sourced from a 2K restoration of the original film elements. 

Though there are many similarities between these two releases, it is clear that Eureka’s transfer is the stronger of the two. Besides a substantially larger GB dedicated to the main feature, it is a noticeably superior encode. Another area where Eureka is superior is compression.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Japanese), 4/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese and a LPCM mono mix in English. Quality-wise, these two tracks are similar; the main difference is that the Japanese-language track sounds fuller. Dialogue comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced, and fight scenes sound robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Japanese language track, and there is a second English subtitle track when watching with the English language track that automatically translates Japanese text and a two-minute scene that is in Japanese because it was never dubbed in English.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 59 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with filmmaker Kenta Fukasaku titled Samurai Fictions (27 minutes 51 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Tom Mes, a slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 20-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Samurai Showdown written by Jonathan Clements, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

In 1961, Toei would pair up two up-and-coming talents, Kinji Fukasaku and Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba, who for the next two decades would play a large role in their success as a company. Their collaboration would span eighteen films, starting with Wandering Detective: Tragedy in Red Valley and ending with Battle Royale II.

The most popular adaptation of Futaro Yamada's novel Samurai Reincarnation is Kinji Fukasaku's 1981. From its opening moments, Kinji Fukasaku’s exceptional direction gives the narrative a brisk pace that makes Samurai Reincarnation feel shorter than its 122-minute length.

Another strength are the visuals, which are filled with striking imagery and take full advantage of the vivid color palette. That said, Samurai Reincarnation looks and feels like a live-action manga. The most memorable moment is a scene in the Shogun’s castle where Jubei Yagyu, whose body is covered in Buddhist writing, fights a samurai named Shiro Amakusa as the castle is engulfed in an inferno of flames.

Samurai Reincarnation features an outstanding cast who deliver amazing performances, especially Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba in the role of Jubei Yagyu and Tomisaburô Wakayama (Lone Wolf and Cub) in the role of Lord Tajima no Kami Munenori Yagyu. Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba delivers one of the best performances of his career, which is not a surprise since Jubei Yagyu is one of his most iconic characters. He would portray Jubei Yagyu at two other times: in Shogun's Samurai, The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy, and the Yagyu Clan Conspiracy TV series.

From a production standpoint, Samurai Reincarnation is a film where everything falls perfectly into place. The fight scenes are exceptional, the set design is phenomenal, and the special effects, though dated by today's standards, unlike so many films that used digital effects from that era, are not an eyesore. Ultimately, Samurai Reincarnation is a very satisfying mix of action, fantasy, and melodrama.

Eureka Video gives Samurai Reincarnation its best home video release to date, Highly recommended.

 Written by Michael Den Boer