Critics Respond to Princess Blade
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR ?THE PRINCESS BLADE? BUILDS AS THEATRICAL RELEASE BEGINS
STYLISH MARTIAL ARTS THRILLER HITS SELECT THEATERS STARTING TODAY; MORE OPENINGS IN COMING WEEKS
HOUSTON August 8 2003?The stunningly beautiful Japanese martial arts motion picture ?The Princess Blade? premiering today in select New York and Los Angeles-area theaters is receiving outstanding feedback from movie critics.
Selected Critical Response Critics have praised the film?s combination of beautifully choreographed fight scenes with engaging characterization and its gripping romantic subplot; buzz around the film is growing fast.
?With its stylized near-surreal comic-book look and roots 'The Princess Blade' has all the makings of a cult film.? ?Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times
?A sleek humane thriller?? -The Orange County Register
?? a strangely poetic visually stark adventure held together by [star Yumiko] Shaku?s intense performance and thrilling well-edited fight sequences.? -New York magazine
?? in its most vivid moments it?s like comic art come to ultrakinetic life.? -Time Out New York
?Yuki?s streamlined revenge story? has in its modest dimensions a surprising grace.? -Village Voice
?? an intriguing experience? Donnie Yen?s fight choreography is breathtaking.? -TV Guide
?a lean hard-driving story and solemn atmosphere make ?The Princess Blade?? stand way above the pack.? -Hollywood Reporter
Staff ?The Princess Blade? is directed by Shinsuke Sato; special effects are by the renowned Shinji Higuchi (well-known for his work on the modern ?Gamera? series). Hong Kong-native fight choreographer Donnie Yen (fresh from his acclaimed work on the Wesley Snipes blockbuster ?Blade II?) handles the balletic combat scenes.
About ?The Princess Blade? The film which combines elements of classic Japanese Samurai drama with a futuristic setting tells the story of Princess Yuki (Japanese superstar actress Yumiko Shaku) of the House of Takemikazuchi?once a force of noble guards for the Mikado elite but now an exiled and disgraced band of assassins willing to take on any task for the right price.
Yuki is a ruthlessly efficient member of the clan paid by the authoritarian government to eliminate members of a rebellious insurrectionist group. But when a mysterious stranger tells Yuki the truth about her mother?s death?that she was killed by a member of the House of Takemikazuchi?Yuki confronts the killer and after a fierce battle is forced to flee. A troubled young man named Takashi (Hideaki Ito one of Japan?s most popular film actors) comes to her aid. But Takashi is wary for he works with the rebels whom the Takemikazuchi have targeted for elimination.
Gradually Yuki and Takashi come to terms with one another. But the threat of the Takemikazuchi looms?they will not tolerate the departure of one of their own and they are closing in?
Theatrical Release ?The Princess Blade? opens today in New York City and Los Angeles with openings in other select markets across the country in the coming weeks. For dates and locations visit the official ?Princess Blade? website at
http://www.theprincessblade.com.
Posted on Friday, August 08, 2003 (Archive on Monday, September 08, 2003)