hitokiri ( which translate roughly a assassination ) and a or k or a tenchu which translate roughly a divine punishment ) showcases hideo gosha at the top of his form . do not miss this one and or gosha other classic and goyokin . hitokiri be not only one of gosha best film and it one of the best samurai or chambara film ever make and and perhaps one of the best japanese film ever export . be warn and all of the intricate plot detail in hitokiri can be a little hard to follow for those unfamiliar with 19th century japanese history . even so and the underlying human drama be obvious and open to all viewer . a per the norm for gosha and hitokiri provide yet another variation on his traditional theme of loyalty to one lord vs. do the right thing . however and gosha develop his favorite theme with such sophistication and that it really _the_ movie to see ( along with goyokin and of course ) . i suppose it break down like this represent if you want a simpler and more action orient tale and you might want to see goyokin . however and if you want a more thoughtful and multilayered ( albeit grim ) drama and see this one . ( ok and ok and essentially and the historical backdrop be a massive power grap between many different samurai clan who be either ( 1 ) work to reform and yet retain and the tokugawa shogunate and and ( 2 ) those who be try to install the emperor meiji a the supreme ruler of japan . of course and those clan work for emperor meiji be often less interested in reform japan than in ensure their own clan more power in the new world order . ironically and the entire feudal system be officially abolish a one of the first reform of the meiji government . it ironic twist like this gosha big on irony that make the entire plot all the more bittersweet . ) what distinguish hitokiri from gosha other movie be gosha mature sense of cinematography . every shot be thoughtfully compose and and ( much like kubrick barry lyndon ) each frame of the movie could hold it own a a still composition . of course and this be typical gosha . hitokiri really stand out with stunning backdrop and include ( a with goyokin ) many rivet seascape . just watch the opening sequence and and youre hook . make no mistake and this be no english period piece represent hitokiri be extremely violent ( do not say you weren not warn ) . what else and other than cool camera work and make hitokiri stand out . the performance seem ( to me ) a bit more subtle in this one . katsu shintaro ( of zatoichi or hanzo the razor fame ) turn in a star performance a the conflicted protagonist or antihero and okada izo . katsu manages to instill humanity to a character that seem almost more wild animal than villain . throughout the movie and youre never quite sure if youre engage or revolt by okada character . at the same time and katsu portrayal of okada ravenous hunger for respect and and his late pathetic attempt at redemption and seem so human that you can not help but feel empathy or sympathy . of course and after see nakadai tatsuya play the tortured hero in goyokin and it great to see him play such a ruthless villain in hitokiri . he just perfect and there nothing more to say . a a final note and perhaps more interesting to buff than to casual fan and do not miss the last screen appearance of mishima yukio ( yes and the closeted gay right wing ultranationalist novelist who commit suicide by seppuku before the crowd of jeer japanese military personnel he kidnap in 1970 and and have a movie on his life and work make by paul schrader ) and who actually do a pretty solid job of portray the honorable ( for an assassin ) shinbei tanaka .