The Princess Blade is a straightforward Japanese action-revenge movie starring the deliciously adorable Yumiko Shaku. Assuming the role of Princess Yuki, she learns that her mother's true killer is the leader of her clan, the Takemikayuchi. She flees their ranks, vowing revenge. Finding safe harbor with the shaggy-haired Takashi, she develops strong feelings for him, even as she fights battle after bloody battle against her former comrades.

Utilizing stripped-down locales and minimal visual effects, the film pits its characters against each other in a striking post-apocalyptic setting. The performances are suitably understated for the most part, lending credibility to the serious tone of the film. The battle sequences are outstanding, blending martial arts, skillful swordplay, and a smattering of running through the woods. The oh-so-easy-on-the-eyes Shaku ties it all together with a steely demeanor and impressive athleticism. Her mid-air-twirling-bullet-deflector was particularly cool, as is the shoulder-to-hip slash she delivers to one unfortunate opponent.

The film is utterly humorless, which greatly benefits the tone and subject matter. There isn't a single solitary funny moment in the entire film, despite the inexplicable outbursts from the mentally unbalanced crowd. For instance, the antagonistic Takemikayuchi always show up without Yuki noticing. For some unknown reason, this qualifies as "funny" to a great many people. These people are fucking retarded, and they soiled what was an otherwise excellent cinematic experience. But aside from that unpleasantness, The Princess Blade is a great straight-action film that I highly enjoyed.

Thumbs Up, especially to Yumiko Shaku. Rrreowr!