Princess Blade Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
?PRINCESS BLADE? GARNERS CRITICAL PRAISE ON FALL FESTIVAL CIRCUIT
A LIVE-ACTION MARTIAL ARTS SPECTACULAR WITH COMBAT STAGED BY LEGENDARY FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER DONNIE YEN
HOUSTON October 11 2002 -The long-awaited martial arts spectacular feature film ?Princess Blade? (aka ?Shurayukihime?) slated by ADV Films for U.S. theatrical release early in 2003 has been enthusiastically received by audiences and critics in festival screenings on three continents.
Production Credits ?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.
?Princess Blade:? The Story 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?
Festival Screenings (to date) ?Princess Blade? has screened at the Berlin Film Festival the Hong Kong Film Festival the Cannes Film Festival the Philly Fest of World Cinema (Philadelphia) Hamburg Germany Festival; the Hawaii International Spring Festival the San Francisco International Film Fest Brooklyn International Film Festival the Cannes Film Festival the Seattle International Film Festival Portland Japanese Currents the Melbourne (Australia) International Film Festival the Big Apple Anime Festival the Helsinki Film Festival the Denver International Film Festival and others.
Selected Critical Response Critics have praised ?Princess Blade?s? combination of beautifully choreographed fight scenes with engaging characterization and a gripping romantic subplot and buzz around the title is growing as its theatrical release impends.
?I am not missing this screening.? -Moriarty Ain?t it Cool News
?High-tech special effects and the action artistry of Donnie Yen unite with jawdropping results in this futuristic swordplay thriller?? -San Francisco International Film Festival
?A high-octane sword-wielding action thriller that is quietly effective but has a solemn power that sets it apart from the pack? Sato has shaped an emotionally engrossing and admirably sincere revenge-tragedy deserving of comparison with the 60s-70s Japanese genre landmarks.? -Travis Crawford (Philadelphia World Cinema).
?Pure unadulterated fun?? Hong Kong International Film Festival.
?This female revenge drama beefed up with terrific action choreographed by Hong Kong specialist Donnie Yen looks set to become a cult item.? -Variety
?A raw and powerful stroke of style and conviction?? -J.D. Nguyen Kung Fu Cinema
Posted on Saturday, October 12, 2002 (Archive on Tuesday, November 12, 2002)