Good mix of politics and ninjas at the start of the Tokugawa era in Japan
Samurai Spy takes place at the very start of the Tokugawa era before the family had fully established its control of the country. It was still facing off against the Toyotomis. The movie focuses upon the ninja clans that were competing against each other during this time. Koji Takahashi plays a member of the Sanada clan that is neutral in the conflict. He runs into trouble when his friend he’s traveling with played by Saizo Krigakure wants to side with the Toyotomi.<br /><br />The movie has a good mix of intrigue and action sequences. Both the Tokugawa and Toyotomi believe that Takahashi has important information and constantly come to him trying to buy him off or kill him. That’s where the ninjas come in. It’s good to see them throughout the film instead of just at the end. There’s also some great cinematography like when a ninja confronts Takahashi in a hallway and a slim ray of light hits him down the middle from an open door.<br /><br />Finally Takahashi’s character is different from traditional cinema. In Japanese movies it’s always the group like the family and clan that takes precedent. Here Takahashi is basically acting alone. His desire is to have peace and escape the wars that were still part of Japan that’s why he refused to take sides over money. The movie thus stood against those who schemed for power.<br /><br />Overall it’s a very good mix of politics and ninjas.
The movie title "Samurai Spy (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.8 from 34 reviewers. 
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This title falls under the categories of Movies & TV, Featured Categories, DVD and Action & Adventure. 
The additional details include the following in key-value format :
 {"Genre": "Action & Adventure", "Format": "Multiple Formats, NTSC, Black & White, Subtitled, Widescreen", "Contributor": "Misako Watanabe, Shintar Ishihara, Eitar Ozawa, Eiji Okada, Tetsur Tanba, Rokko Toura, Kei Sat, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Yasunori Irikawa, Masahiro Shinoda, Takeshi Kusaka, Jun Hamamura, Koji Nakada, Koji Takahashi, Seiji MiyaguchiMisako Watanabe, Shintar Ishihara, Eitar Ozawa, Eiji Okada, Tetsur Tanba, Rokko Toura, Kei Sat, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Yasunori Irikawa, Masahiro Shinoda, Takeshi Kusaka, Jun Hamamura, Koji Nakada, Koji Takahashi, Seiji Miyaguchi   See more", "Language": "Unqualified (DTS ES 6.1), Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)", "Runtime": "1 hour and 39 minutes", "Aspect Ratio": "2.35:1", "Is Discontinued By Manufacturer": "No", "MPAA rating": "Unrated (Not Rated)", "Product Dimensions": "0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 Ounces", "Item model number": "CRRNSAM160DVD", "Director": "Masahiro Shinoda", "Media Format": "Multiple Formats, NTSC, Black & White, Subtitled, Widescreen", "Run time": "1 hour and 39 minutes", "Release date": "October 4, 2005", "Actors": "Jun Hamamura, Yasunori Irikawa, Shintar Ishihara, Takeshi Kusaka, Seiji Miyaguchi", "Subtitles": "English", "Studio": "Criterion Collection", "Writers": "Koji Nakada, Yoshiyuki Fukuda", "Country of Origin": "USA", "Number of discs": "1"}

Here is a brief synopsis of the title : Years of warfare end in a Japan unified under the Tokugawa shogunate, and samurai spy Sasuke Sarutobi, tired of conflict, longs for peace. When a high-ranking spy named Koriyama defects from the shogun to a rival clan, however, the world of the swordsmen is thrown into turmoil. Direction: Masahiro Shinoda Actors: Eiji Okada, Koji Takahashi, Rokko Toura, Tetsuro Tamba Special Features: 2.35:1, Anamorphic16x9, Widescreen format. Language: Japanese Year: 1965 Runtime: 100 minutes..