“Blade of the Immortal” is playing through Thursday, Nov. 9, at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. (just west of the 405 Freeway) in West Los Angeles.
The 100th film by master director Takashi Miike (“13 Assassins,” “Audition”) is an action epic taken to new heights. It features spectacular fight scenes with a whole array of imaginative weapons, and a climactic battle involving some 300 people that took more than two weeks to film.
Manji (Takuya Kimura), a master samurai swordsman, is given the gift (curse?) of immortality by a spooky old woman, who feeds him “bloodworms” that cause him to heal no matter how badly he is maimed in battle. Haunted by the brutal murder of his sister, who he was unable to save, Manji knows that only fighting evil will regain his soul.
He becomes the protector of a young girl named Rin (Hana Sugisaki), who is determined to avenge her parents, killed by a group of expert swordsmen led by a ruthless androgynous warrior Anotsu (Sota Fukushi). The mission will change Manji in ways he could never imagine.
Showtimes: Nov. 4 at 11 a.m., 2, 5, and 8 p.m.; Nov. 5 to 9 at 1, 4, 7 and 9:55 p.m. Running time: 2 hours, 21 minutes. Rated R. In Japanese with English subtitles.
For more information, call (310) 473-8530 or visit www.landmarktheatres.com.
“Blade of the Immortal” will open on Friday, Nov. 10, at Laemmle’s Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, and NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. For more information, call (310) 478-3836 or visit www.laemmle.com.