WRATH OF THE NINJA: THE YOTODEN MOVIE (1987/2003)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *metaphysical*

This medieval ninja-movie has a complicated history. It's not a bad little story, but I did rather wish it had been better, to justify reading up on its twists and turns.

Under the name YOTODEN, this narrative originally appeared in Japan between 1987 and 1988 in the form of three separate OVAs, each about forty minutes long. In 1989 the story was cut down to 90 minutes for an English dub, WRATH OF THE NINJA, which saw general release. The dubbed version I watched online was from 2003 and its subtitle indicates that this edition worked in four extra scenes not present in the 1989 version. Not having seen the other versions, I can't draw any comparisons.

WRATH takes place in the historical Sengoku period of Japan, and includes a famous historical personage, Oda Nobunaga, but makes him into a sort of demon-lord. Nobunaga and his allies bring a ninja clan, the Oboro, under their command, and they wipe out three other historical ninja clans. Three individuals from each clan survive and pledge themselves to destroy Nobunaga and his demon hordes.

Roughly the first half hour deals with the three survivors making common cause, though of the three, Ryoma never seems to develop well, though that may be the result of cuts. The other male hero, Sakon, is the first hero seen on screen, just before he engages in battle with the third survivor, female Ayame, though their short fight is broken up when the Oboro attack both of them. Eventually the three gather their forces and meet with other warriors allied against Nobunaga. 

Though there's some decent action and characterization here-- with the latter focused mostly on Ayame-- the edited version I saw often seemed to be marking time until the climactic conflict. One stratagem used-- probably the same as in the OVA format-- was to run down the list of seven badass Oboro villains, all with different forms and powers. Frankly, I was more invested in a subplot in which Sakon showed some romantic interest in Ayame, even though I suspected there would be no happy ending for any of the principals. And indeed, Ayame alone survives the climax. And since the video's advertising spotlights Ayame rather than all three ninja warriors, it could be argued-- for anyone who cares-- that she's the central character here.