Watari, Ninja Boy (Toei, 1966)

[Xenorama ™]

Directed by
Sadao Nakajima

Writing credits
Masaru Igami

Credited cast:
Chiyoko Honma
Yoshinobu Kaneko
Fuyukichi Maki
Kunio Murai
Minoru Ohki
Ryutaro Otomo
Asao Uchida

got this subtitled from Hawai'i where it was shown on NGN channel. i know this since it scrolls across the top of the screen twice!
anyway, this is the story of the secret of the Iga Ninja Code and how it is broken by Watari (along with some friends).
Yoshinobu Kaneko plays Watari, he's a good actor- never playing to the camera and the adults don't have to act scared of him or down to him- he comes across as a natural ninja.
he also was Blue Shadow in the teleseries Red Shadow, and due to the success of this movie a few of those episodes were cobbled together. it helps that the actor playing Joko was also in Red Shadow as the villain occasionally.
lots of action, ninja fights and great music! some of the shots are really well done, and there is some wirework which makes me think a lot of Chinese directors saw Japanese shows first!
check it out if you can. it's very enjoyable!

[Xenorama ™]

just got an upgrade of this fine fun film, with removable subs. it also isn't missing the first ten minutes of subs either.

what a movie!

David

[August]

Love this movie -- saw it twice at the now defunct Kokusai Theater in SF's Japantown, back in the day. It's a cult movie in Japan, and is held in quite a regard. Megs... can I get a copy of the NGN version? I really want to see what their subs are like... does the update you have, with removable subs, have the same subtitle script as the NGN version? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Xenorama ™]

i didn't know you wanted THAT copy, just one in general. i gave the other disc away already. i didn't notice any differences in the subs though, but only have watched each one once.

sorry man!

[August]

No problem... Can I git a copy of that thar subbed version youse got now? ;P I can't trade ya in DVDs, but I can make VHS and S-VHS copies. What a copy of the GODZILLAFEST stage presentations?