However, all is not quite as simple as it would seem, because if the Shogunate's Elder is killed, it would create a vacuum and instability that would bring about the end of not only the Shogunate period, but also the samurai themselves. The conspirators are either too dense to realize this, thinking that their masters in Mito can fill the vacuum, or too concerned about securing high-ranking positions in Mito and their partners in this venture to topple a government. Timely...yes, surprisingly, as Samurai Assassin was made in 1964, and tells of events from 1860. Or maybe it is just that history repeats itself.

Samurai Assassin is visually striking, as the director, Okamoto Kihachi, uses zooms, quick cuts, flashbacks, extreme angles and close ups...very innovative for 1964 as well as Japanese Cinema which is known more for long shots, careful compositions, and static cameras. Honestly, I have seem a lot of Samurai films, and I cannot believe that I haven't seen this before, like I should have in that Asian Cinema class I took. The film's style is strongly supported by a cleverly written script. For example, there is a "narrator" character, but he is also the scribe and official recorder of the conspirators actions and meetings. This device of a narrator within the film helps keep any lengthy exposition to a minimum, which in turn keeps the pacing brisk. There is one long, somewhat slow sequence during the film, but as it has so much emotional gravitas involved, you can overlook it. Also, the addition of flashbacks and "back to's" help keep apace. Luckily, the film climaxes in a really well-choreographed and quite bloody battle in the end that...well, just watch it.
Samurai Assassin is a peach of a samurai film, an absolute peach. But not just for the cool fight scenes and even for the awesomeness that is Toshiro Mifune, but Samurai Assassin is a cleverly devised script and superbly directed film. This film starts out in the middle of the action and just keeps going, but also offers a sensitive Mifune at his acting best in a role that shows he can do more than cut people apart or drink heavily. Not that we don’t love him for that, but his acting shows a lot of depth in Samurai Assassin.

As with the rest of the films in "Toshiro Mifune: The Ultimate Collection", the extras aren't much. Character biographies as well as the actors' filmographies are included. The bios are helpful if you missed anything in watching the film, but you should be able to pick up on all that watching the film. There are some program notes that can illuminate the period of Japanese history covered in the dense plot.