The Princess Blade

Critics Consensus

The action is fast and tightly choreographed, but The Princess Blade never draws its disparate elements into a compelling movie.

53%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 8,129

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Movie Info

Based on a manga series, this science fiction-adventure is set in a near future in which Japan is governed by a monarchy who use a highly trained band of samurai-style assassins known as the House of Takemikazuchi to suppress a fierce band of rebels. Yuki (Yumiko Shaku), a lethal young female member of the group, discovers that her mother was betrayed and murdered by the their leader, and swears vengeance. After being wounded in battle, she takes refuge in a remote gas station run by Takashi (Hideaki Ito), a young man who is actually a member of the underground rebel army. Despite their mutual mistrust, he nurses her back to health and they form a bond as she seeks to continue her mission of vengeance and he tries to convince her otherwise.

Rating:

R (for strong violence)
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Anime & Manga, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By:

Shinsuke Sato
Written By:

Shinsuke Sato, Kei Kunii
In Theaters:

Oct 10, 2002 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Nov 18, 2003
Runtime:

92 minutes
Studio:

ADV Films

Cast

Yumiko Shaku
as Princess Yuki

Hideaki Ito
as Takashi

Shiro Sano
as Kidokoro

Yoichi Numata
as Kuka

Yoichi Namata
as Kuka

Kyusaku Shimada
as Byakurai

Kyusaka Shimada
as Byakurai

Yoko Maki
as Aya

View All

Critic Reviews for The Princess Blade

All Critics (28) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (12)

Delicately rendered, if full of pretty banal sentiments, the film's softer central section is a necessary counterweight to the other two acts, which are largely shot in an oppressive blue filter.

Mar 26, 2009 | Full Review…

Derek Elley
Variety
Top Critic
[Yumiko Shaku] doesn't project the confidence or menace that the role requires. Trying to pass her off as a stone-cold assassin is like casting Britney Spears as Marie Curie -- it just doesn't jibe.

Sep 20, 2003 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

Gary Dowell
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic
Its corny streak brings the movie too close to cut-rate Chinese Opera epics than should be allowed.

Aug 22, 2003 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
Top Critic
Great movie, mediocre script.

Aug 22, 2003

Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic
The cast, in its quiet, iconic way, is superb.

Aug 22, 2003

Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
Top Critic
The Princess Blade would have been better off forgetting the love story and concentrating on the kick-ass action.

Aug 8, 2003 | Rating: 2/4

V.A. Musetto
New York Post
Top Critic
A fine remake of "Lady Snowblood," with Donnie Yen fight choreograpy to boot

Oct 22, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Pete Vonder Haar
Film Threat
the film's opening action sequence is the first of several that are likely to have you thumbing the backscan button because they look so damn cool (and are so damn fast).

Feb 21, 2004 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
Action directors take note: This is how it's done.

Oct 5, 2003 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
Sato seems to be trying to make several different movies at once, and none of them comes through strongly enough to carry the film.

Sep 25, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5

Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly
A brooding atmosphere -- which is critic-speak for 'everybody wears black, and the whole thing was lighted with a single 40-watt bulb' -- permeates this dystopian thriller.

Sep 19, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4

Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune
It has stylish fighting, but the story doesn't live up to the talent of the fight choreographer.

Sep 19, 2003 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

View All Critic Reviews (28)

Audience Reviews for The Princess Blade

Jul 20, 2011

A cliched revenge story but enjoyable none the less. Pretty decent fight scenes and a good soundrack to boot. Enjoyable enough but not one I would strongly recommend. If you need to watch Japanese girls swinging swords watch 'Azumi' instead of this, after that watch 'Azumi 2' and if you're still not satisfied 'The Princess Blade' may help.

Cameron S Super Reviewer
Jan 09, 2011

Japanese slash-'em-up based on comic book material. Disappointingly lacking in action during the middle parts where it gets a little slow, but when the action gets going it's pretty cool and stylishly choreographed, all masterminded by action star Donnie Yen. Would have been nice to have a little more fight sequences and blood spurting to go with it too. Overall nothing memorable here unfortunately, but it's not a bad film.

Lee ? Super Reviewer
Jun 13, 2007

Pretty cool.. Azumi is better though.. but I did enjoy the quickness when swords were drawn ^_^

EightThirty . Super Reviewer
May 24, 2007

Shinsuke Sato struggles at creating a live action adaptation from the comic known as Shura Yukihime.The plot is weak and the pacing is pretty slow, which makes this 90 minute picture feel much longer. The first 15 minutes or so actually moves by fairly quickly, but the movie soon comes to a halt. There is a side story that is happening with Hideaki Ito's character, however it almost feels like a waste of time, since it hardly has any connection between the main character's plot.The setting takes place in an apocalyptic future, but other than the initial introduction and very very few shots of the city, there is nothing to see. Almost all of the film takes place in a rural setting with no other people, except for the characters themselves.Donnie Yen, while not in the movie, steps in to coordinate the action. Thank you Donnie. The swordplay is fantastic, however it is too few. Other than the first 15 minutes, there is nothing much until 10 minutes near the ending. It is a shame, since the action is the highlight of the film.There isn't much to the acting. It isn't necessarily bad, since EVERY character is bland and emotionless. It may be part of the story, but it makes for a real uneventful film.The Princess Blade is a disappointing live action adaptation. Yes, the action is great, but it isn't enough to make this a worthwhile watch.

JY S Super Reviewer