DMW: Digital Music W...

As expected, Hollywood takes another Japanese flick and tries to Americanize it any way they can. "Shinobi" is the latest Japanese ninja scroll movie to get this treatment. Instead of the plot taking place in 1600 Shogunate Japan, it will take place in Hong Kong (I assume modern day). And something along the lines of Romeo & Juliet meets asian gangs meets ninja gangs.

In case you don't already know, there is an anime version of the story. It played on IFC during their anime block. That show is "Basilisk". That is a great show. The original Japanese live-action movie is remarkable. Both titles are distributed by FUNimation.

Little back story - "Basilisk" was based on the novel "The Kouga Ninja Scrolls" written by Futaro Yamada in 1958. The novel was based on actual events and some characters that took place in Japan. In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu was named Shogun after a decisive battle that took place at the Battle of Sekigahara. Japan was unified and peace began to reign throughout the land. There were factions of ninja clans that would fight against each other from time to time. But there were two significant ninja clans that held a very long storied grudge against each other. They were the Iga and Kouga clans. The Shogun would like nothing more than to see these two clans decimate each other off the planet. But as fate would have it, two lovers from opposite sides of the clan are forced to fight each other to the death. Only one Shinobi will remain standing from either clan.

When you get a chance, try to catch both versions - anime and Japanese live-action. It is basically the source material of all things ninja. See it before it gets Americanized.