Wow... what was this I just watched? Reading about it, sounded very normal: "In search of employment and a permanent position and having committed murder the ronin Kake Junoshin tells the Kurokaze ('black wave') Han clan that a religious cult is aiming for their destruction..."

All I can tell you is that it was far from anything normal! Crazy, exciting, perfectly paced fantasy adventure with romance and revenge, full of action and social analysis! If we are talking about building characters, watch this, and we can talk again!

Surprisingly, refreshingly unusual, from the choice of music, story, acting, directing, even the photography and editing! It will be a cult movie if it isn't already.

The director Gakuryû Ishii is a master of his trade, and this outstanding film just confirms it! Kankurô Kudô wrote wonderful screenplay following Kou Machida's novel which was disturbingly good by itself. I do not want to forget the two gems of acting Gô Ayano as Junoshin Kake and Keiko Kitagawa as Ron - performances delivered so easily that I wondered if this was their second nature.

Watch it!