Does revenge have a place in any modern civilization? The concept of vengeance incarnated via a young woman becomes a force expanding from individuals to community and finally ignites on a national scale in two surprisingly bloody and yet contemplative "Lady Snowblood" movies, recently remastered and released on Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection. Directed by Toshiya Fujita, a filmmaker whose two “Stray Cat Rock” films have just been issued on Blu-ray by Arrow Video and whose other credits are not well known outside Japan, ”Lady Snowblood" (1973) and the unlikely but fitting sequel "Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance" (1974) star Meiko Kaji as the title character, the single-minded swordswoman Yuki Kashima. The first film follows Yuki as she tracks two men and a woman who are the surviving members of a gang which raped Yuki's mother and killed the woman's husband and son. In the sequel, Yuki’s vengeful motivation is co-opted by a shady.
- 2/4/2016
- by Russ Fischer
- The Playlist
Lady Snowblood/Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
Written by Norio Osada
Directed by Toshiya Fujita
Japan, 1973/1974
Even the Criterion Collection’s own synopsis can’t help but mention that Lady Snowblood was a major influence on Kill Bill. Chances are, many who have seen this 1973 Japanese film within the past ten year or so, including myself, have done so only after having heard of its connection to Quentin Tarantino’s 2003-04 dual-volume feature. Make no mistake, though, released by Criterion along with its 1974 sequel, Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance, a lesser film in many regards, this is an exceptional movie in its own right, and a pleasant surprise from the estimable distribution company.
Beginning in a Tokyo prison circa 1874, a baby girl, Yuki, is born. Against the dazzling backdrop of a pelting snowstorm, she is delivered into a life of violence and unpleasantness, and is urged by her mother,...
Written by Norio Osada
Directed by Toshiya Fujita
Japan, 1973/1974
Even the Criterion Collection’s own synopsis can’t help but mention that Lady Snowblood was a major influence on Kill Bill. Chances are, many who have seen this 1973 Japanese film within the past ten year or so, including myself, have done so only after having heard of its connection to Quentin Tarantino’s 2003-04 dual-volume feature. Make no mistake, though, released by Criterion along with its 1974 sequel, Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance, a lesser film in many regards, this is an exceptional movie in its own right, and a pleasant surprise from the estimable distribution company.
Beginning in a Tokyo prison circa 1874, a baby girl, Yuki, is born. Against the dazzling backdrop of a pelting snowstorm, she is delivered into a life of violence and unpleasantness, and is urged by her mother,...
- 1/11/2016
- by Jeremy Carr
- SoundOnSight
(The following review pertains to the UK release of the film on Region B/2 formats)
By Howard Hughes
The Girls with the Dragon Tattoo
Following on from its release of ‘Lady Snowblood’ and ‘Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance’ in 2012, UK company Arrow Films has released another Japanese cult classic in ‘Blind Woman’s Curse’, a film which mixes swordplay, horror and the supernatural into a bloody vengeance scenario.
Also known as ‘Kaidan nobori ryû’, ‘The Tattooed Swordswoman’ and ‘Black Cat’s Revenge’, this is unusual action fare from director Teruo Ishii. Meiko Kaji, who went on to star as Lady Snowblood, cuts her teeth – and several villains’ major arteries – as Akemi, the head of the Tachibana Clan. In the opening rain swept swordfight, she accidentally blind’s Aiko (Hoki Tokuda), the younger sister of Yakuza clan leader Boss Goda. After a three-year stretch in prison, Akemi returns to her role as Tachibana leader,...
By Howard Hughes
The Girls with the Dragon Tattoo
Following on from its release of ‘Lady Snowblood’ and ‘Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance’ in 2012, UK company Arrow Films has released another Japanese cult classic in ‘Blind Woman’s Curse’, a film which mixes swordplay, horror and the supernatural into a bloody vengeance scenario.
Also known as ‘Kaidan nobori ryû’, ‘The Tattooed Swordswoman’ and ‘Black Cat’s Revenge’, this is unusual action fare from director Teruo Ishii. Meiko Kaji, who went on to star as Lady Snowblood, cuts her teeth – and several villains’ major arteries – as Akemi, the head of the Tachibana Clan. In the opening rain swept swordfight, she accidentally blind’s Aiko (Hoki Tokuda), the younger sister of Yakuza clan leader Boss Goda. After a three-year stretch in prison, Akemi returns to her role as Tachibana leader,...
- 8/5/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Lady Snowblood 1 & 2
Stars: Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon, Miyoko Akaza, Shinichi Uchida, Takeo Chii, Noboru Nakaya | Written by Norio Osada | Directed by Toshiya Fujita
There is a certain style to vengeance films and it’s arguable that Hollywood is losing the ability to make a truly good one. Kill Bill of course is a good example of a good vengeance story, but the truth is it’s more of homage to films that Tarantino is inspired by, and a damn good one. Lady Snowblood is the obvious inspiration for Kill Bill and of course Tarantino would never hide this, it’s his type of movie and quite honestly, what a movie it is.
Lady Snowblood also known as Yuki Kashima is described as a child of the netherworld, she was born for vengeance then educated in the ways to enact it. Her life has had one aim, even the way she was conceived.
Stars: Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon, Miyoko Akaza, Shinichi Uchida, Takeo Chii, Noboru Nakaya | Written by Norio Osada | Directed by Toshiya Fujita
There is a certain style to vengeance films and it’s arguable that Hollywood is losing the ability to make a truly good one. Kill Bill of course is a good example of a good vengeance story, but the truth is it’s more of homage to films that Tarantino is inspired by, and a damn good one. Lady Snowblood is the obvious inspiration for Kill Bill and of course Tarantino would never hide this, it’s his type of movie and quite honestly, what a movie it is.
Lady Snowblood also known as Yuki Kashima is described as a child of the netherworld, she was born for vengeance then educated in the ways to enact it. Her life has had one aim, even the way she was conceived.
- 9/30/2012
- by Pzomb
- Nerdly
The 1973 blood-soaked cult classic Lady Snowblood arrives on Blu-ray, looking every bit as gleefully demented and violent as the generation of films which have been inspired by it.
Quentin Tarantino has always been open in citing the film as a huge influence on the first Kill Bill, but witnessing the copious amount of limb slicing, identical visual cues and chapter structuring here, director Toshiya Fujita should have received a creative consultant credit at the very least. Like Kill Bill, revenge is also overriding theme here but there’s a purer and altogether more outlandish attempt at addressing the ideas of retribution and justice.
In 17th century Japan a young family are accosted by a vicious gang of criminals. The father and son are slain, while the wife is subjected to a gang rape by the males of the group. Tracking down and murdering one of her attackers, she’s promptly caught and thrown into prison.
Quentin Tarantino has always been open in citing the film as a huge influence on the first Kill Bill, but witnessing the copious amount of limb slicing, identical visual cues and chapter structuring here, director Toshiya Fujita should have received a creative consultant credit at the very least. Like Kill Bill, revenge is also overriding theme here but there’s a purer and altogether more outlandish attempt at addressing the ideas of retribution and justice.
In 17th century Japan a young family are accosted by a vicious gang of criminals. The father and son are slain, while the wife is subjected to a gang rape by the males of the group. Tracking down and murdering one of her attackers, she’s promptly caught and thrown into prison.
- 9/28/2012
- by Adam Lowes
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Last week saw the release of The Avengers here in the UK, the year’s biggest film to date, and the third-highest-grossing film of all time. Naturally, it was a pretty good week – somewhat marred, however, by the fact that the UK edition has a violent scene edited and Joss Whedon’s commentary track omitted.
Needless to say, I’ll be importing my copy from the Us sometime in the future, after its release there tomorrow. (It also means I’ll have the proper title – ‘The Avengers’ – on the cover, and not just ‘Avengers Assemble’, a name which I refuse to use, because ‘The Avengers’ is just way cooler.)
This week is just as big a week all round, with Whedon returning to the home entertainment market in the form of The Cabin in the Woods, along with the equally-praised Indonesian action film, The Raid, and many more excellent films.
Needless to say, I’ll be importing my copy from the Us sometime in the future, after its release there tomorrow. (It also means I’ll have the proper title – ‘The Avengers’ – on the cover, and not just ‘Avengers Assemble’, a name which I refuse to use, because ‘The Avengers’ is just way cooler.)
This week is just as big a week all round, with Whedon returning to the home entertainment market in the form of The Cabin in the Woods, along with the equally-praised Indonesian action film, The Raid, and many more excellent films.
- 9/24/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
★★★☆☆ It's been some forty years since Meiko Kaji first sprayed gore across the snowy ground as she was introduced to the world in Shito Fukijawa's cult hit Lady Snowblood (1973). The film, based on a manga comic of the same name, went on to spawn one sequel, Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1975) and to inspire Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked Kill Bill films. Now, Fukijawa's films are being released in high definition courtesy of Arrow Films.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 9/24/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.