Derganz Baker- Demons, Ninjas, and Love Oh My!

The Ninja Scroll is a Robin Hood tale of sorts. There is a young wondering hero who helps disparate oppressed citizens and expects little in return. Our hero is a young leaderless samurai named Jubei.  For a samurai to have no shougne was rare. We learn later on, via flashback, why Jubei is alone.  He was pinned against his friends and ended up killing them and his shogune. Tokugawa Shogunate would not have liked that because samurai had to be loyal to their lord.

If this is going to be a good story it has to have a villain and a love interest. First, let us talk about the villain of the movie, demons. The demons are called The Eight Demons of Kimon and they are under the rule of the Shogune of the Dark. The characters of the movie never say who that is, but by their reactions throughout the movie the audience gets a sense of his power. The leader of the Demons of Kimon is a demon named Genma, who is coincidently Jubei’s mortal enemy. Genma’s second in command is a demon named Yurimaur; his “power” is an electric string which he uses to kill others and communicate with Genma.

The other demons shown are: Benisato, the women who controls snakes; Zakuro, who sets up explosive traps; Shijima, who controls the shadows; Utsutus Mujuro, the blind swordsman; Tessia, who kills the Kagero Clan and can turn his skin into rock; and Mushizo, who controls hornets.  Tessia is the first demon the audience encounters.  A group called the Kagero Clan is sent to investigate a town suspected of being killed by an epidemic. On their way to the town the clan meets the Tessia. Tessia kills all but two; Hanza who loses his arms; and Kagero, who Tessia tries to rape. Then enters Jubei, who saves Kagero and the love begins.

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Kagero goes off to tell her superior what has happened and Jubei runs into a government spy named Dakua. Dakua poisons Jubei so he will join him on a quest to find out what the demons are up to and to stop them. Kagero comes back and joins the men on the quest as ordered by her superior. While battling villains and trying to save Japan Jubei and Kagero fall in love. But sadly their love and never be. Kagero is cursed, she is full of poison and any man that tries to sleep with her will die. We later learn that the only thing that can save Jubei is to sleep with Kagero, but he doesn’t because he cares about her. In the end good defeats evil. The only casualty is Kagero who was stabbed by Genma. Before dying she kisses Jubei saving his life. The last thing we see is Jubei walking into the sunset, with Kagero’s headband tied to his sword.