By Justin Taylor

“Blade of the Immortal” is a Japanese action film based on the manga of the same name. It follows Rin, an orphan seeking revenge on the ruthless samurai clan that killed her family, as she enlists the help of a legendary swordsman cursed with immortality. The 100th film by Takashi Miike (“Dead or Alive 2: Birds,” “13 Assassins”), “Blade of the Immortal” is a delight. It plays heavily into the conventions and cliches of the genre, but those moments are when this outlandish samurai flick is at its finest.

The film centers around a simple revenge plot that has been told countless times. Even the convention of a girl hiring a mercenary to help her pursue revenge is played up in this flick. It’s how Miike portrays his character and the things he does with them that make this film both memorable and engaging. Beginning with the bloody samurai battle over the killing of his sister, the audience gets to see how swordsman Manji is first cursed with immortality. This way we get to see Manji’s emotional journey as opposed to thinking of him as a blank-faced killer. He is just as much the protagonist as Rin. The path of revenge, the central point of the film, often gives way to Manji’s emotional arc, specifically overcoming his past deeds.

The film is laced with dynamic villains as well as heroes. Some are brooding and powerful, while others are unhinged and chaotic. They are many in number, but each is more memorable than the last.

One of the key highlights of its film is its action sequences. Most of the fights are between two lone opponents and are rather short and confined. They are small-scale, but effective. Some demonstrate Manji’s brutality as a warrior, while others serve as strong character moments for either him or his opponent. One scene in which he battles a swordsman cursed with the same affliction is surprisingly poignant.

However, the truly memorable battles come at the start and finish of the film. These fights aren’t anything groundbreaking, but do in some way enhance the story. Both are sprawling and intense, pitting Manji against an army of warriors. These fights are lengthy, but are intense enough to keep you engaged.

“Blade of the Immortal” is at its core a typical samurai film, conforming to the general tropes in almost every way, but this is not always against its benefit, as it serves as a fun and devoted send-up of the mythic samurai films that inspired it.

Rating: A-