So much average

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Pursued by the authorities, rōnin assassin Shiro (Tetsurô Tanba) is taken in by the immoral Bohachi clan, who use the warrior's awesome sword-fighting skills to help them seize control of the local prostitution industry. When no longer of any use, the evil Bohachi leader tries to dispose of Shiro by getting him addicted to opium and caging him up with a syphilitic whore; but even stoned out of his gourd, the assassin proves to be a formidable opponent...I'm of the opinion that, like cyborgs and dwarfs (and cyborg dwarfs), gratuitous female nudity and gore can make virtually any film more entertaining; director Teruo Ishii clearly agrees, loading Bohachi, a delightfully sleazy Chanbara movie, with countless naked Japanese cuties and very bloody sword-fights, which means that when the screen isn't full of tits (no muff: this being a Japanese film the ladies keep their hands in front of their nether regions at all times), there's severed body-parts flying everywhere instead. Sometimes, Ishii even combines the two, having his naked Bohachi women whipping out weapons and partaking in the violence themselves—something I'm all in favour of.The name of the game here is clearly 'exploitation excess' meaning that on top of the all the wonderful big-breasted Asian babes and bright crimson blood, viewers can also expect a smidgen of torture, a smattering of lesbianism, and some opium-fuelled sex (with hero Shiro entertaining not one woman, but four!), all realised with hyper-stylised direction that uses strong experimental lighting effects to really add to that cool 70s vibe.7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.

As America, once the world's greatest democracy, becomes the world's greatest hypocrisy -- a morally confused society that sells everything with sex, yet denies its existence beyond commerce -- it is more than comforting to watch Teruo Ishii directing like a demon in "Bohachi Bushido - Code of the Forgotten Eight", a cinematic masterpiece that celebrates the lurid, the violent, and the surreal without an ounce of shame. The comic book this is based on provides director Ishii with one of the most solid screenplays of his uneven career. The subject matter is the perfect marriage for the director's obsessions and bizarre style. A ronin named Shino (Tetsur Tamba) is invited to join the Forgotten Eight, a clan of cold-hearted outcasts who have sworn off shame and society's unwritten "rules" of conduct. The clan is ruled by a smart old nutbag who convinces Shino to help him rid Yoshiwara (the Red Light district) of illegal prostitution. Once Shino has done his job in the bloodiest fashion imaginable, a plot is hatched that will lead to his destruction. This bare-bones synopsis doesn't even hint at the lurid pleasures contained within this film's pink-curtained frames. There is a plethora of naked woman, and anybody who appreciates the female breast is guaranteed of a jolly good time not had since combing the floor of Russ Meyer's cutting room. Dozens of beautiful, lethal women adorn the frames of this beautifully shot and choreographed fantasy. Ishii even throws a syphilitic old hag into the mix and gives us garish, amazing images ripped from the covers of the sleaziest pulp paperbacks. For mine, most movies that attempt to emulate the pulps fall short of expectations. Apart from a few token gestures to emulate the feel and content, the discipline to stick with the program isn't there. No so with this excellent achievement in cinema. A special nod must go to Tetsur Tamba, who plays Shino with absolute conviction. His performance is mesmerizing. This is not "Lone Wolf and Cub" with breasts and it's not "Captured for Sex 2" with swords -- it is its own unique creature, a product of a fertile imagination that was given adequate finance and free rein to create a work of beauty, raw sexuality, and stylish bloodshed.

"Porno Jidaigeki: Bohachi Bushido" aka. "Bohachi: Clan Of The Forgotten Eight" of 1973, should be interesting to all my fellow fans of Japanese Exploitation cinema, as it is a film that combines the work of Teruo Ishii and Kazuo Koike. Teruo Ishii is the brilliant director responsible for films such as "Female Yakuza Tale", "The Black Cat's Revenge", "The Executioner" or "Horrors Of Malformed Men". Kazuo Koike is the genius writer behind such masterpieces as the "Kozure Ôkami" films with Tomisaburo Wakayama, the "Hanzo The Razor" films with Shintaro Katsu, or "Lady Snowblood" with Meiko Kaji (Koike wrote the comic-books these films were based on, and, in most cases, the screenplays). The pairing of Koike and Ishii promises something stylish, brutal and sleazy, and this memorable film truly has all these attributes. While "Porno Jidaigeki" is not one of the most memorable Chambara/Sexploitation crossovers (films like "Hanzo The Razor: Sword Of Justice" and "Sex And Fury" come with my highest possible recommendations) this is definitely a very interesting, blood-soaked and delightfully sleazy film that fans of Japanese Exploitation cinema should not miss.In 17th century Japan, a Ronin named Shiro (Tetsuro Tamba) is recruited by the ruthless Bohachi-Clan, which controls prostitution in the area. The Bohachi-Clan's forces include the 'Bohachi Women', some sort of mixture between prostitutes and beautiful but lethal (and mostly naked) female assassins. Shiro is to wipe out the Clan's competitors in prostitution business... Tetsuro Tamba is stone-cold and bad-ass as always, and he was the perfect choice to play Shiro. The yummy female cast members are naked for about 99% of their screen time, and the film is filled with vast amounts of perverted sleaze as well as lost of stylish bloodshed, so most of my fellow Exploitation-lovers should be satisfied. The score is also pretty cool, and the photography and choreography are great. The story may be a bit messy, but the film's great style, and, especially, the sexy female cast and tons of sleaze and violence make up for this easily. Overall, "Bohachi: Clan Of The Forgotten Eight" is a more than entertaining film that should satisfy all my fellow fans of Japanese Exploitation cinema. Highly Recommended. My rating: 7.5/10

Many may know of prolific manga author Koike Kazuo's recent works such as his brilliant "Crying Freeman" series or his wildly erotic adventure comics like "Kizuoibito" or the "Offered" but his most lasting creation has been the influential and groundbreaking "Kozure Okami" (Lonewolf & Cub) series of the 70s. Together with talented artist Goseki Kojima, they brought new life to the traditional chambara/jidaigeki" (Samurai Costume Drama) by infusing their story with ultra violent swordplay, pornographic sex and near Shakespearian tragic melodrama. "Kozure Okami" was an epic tale that was perfect for film and thus it was adapted to the screen by famed Katsu Productions (who had produced the classic Zatoichi films). The "golden duo" of Koike and kojima followed up with other Samurai manga stories such as "Kubikiri Asa" and "Hanzo No Mon" but weren't able to capture the same impact as "Kozure Okami", although Koike's other manga stories like "Shirayuki Hime/Princess Snowblood" and "Goyokiba/Hanzo The Razor" were also made into films. Toei's "Bohachi Bushido" was adapted from a Koike/Kojima manga short and in an inspired selection, Ishii Teruo, who directed such films as "Edogawa Rampo Taizen: Kyofu Kikei Ningen/Horrors of the Malformed Man" and "Tokugawa Onna Keibatsu-Shi/The Joy of Torture" directed the film and the results were pure exploitative magic.Tiring of his aimless existence, wanted Ronin, Ashita Ashita Shiro - lit. "Die Tomorrow" (Tetsuro Tamba) decides to commit suicide by drowning himself after massacring yet another band of pursuing "goemon" (state authorities) sent to capture him. As Shiro sinks to the bottom of a river, he remarks "To die is Hell, but to live is also hell", yet these words prove eerily prophetic as Shiro finds himself saved from his fate by hellish criminal syndicate "The Bohachi", a group so sinister and vile, they refer to themselves as "beasts wearing human skin". The "Bohachi" are so named because they have made an unholy oath to reject all human virtues - Ko -Piety towards God; Tei -Group/State allegiance; Chu -Friendship/loyalty; Shin- trust, Rei -civilness/humanity; Gi -sense of justice/morality; Ren -conscience/regard; and Chi -Selfworth/shame. It's members are initiated through sadistic torture and are made to rape multiple women to show their worth to the syndicate. While the Bohachi Men are true human scum, the Bohachi woman are equally cruel, cunning and heartless (having been made that way through constant beatings and relentless sexual assaults).Shiro is made a guest by Bohachi monarch, Daimon Shirobei (Endo Tatsuo) a wealthy merchant with vast amounts of wealth and widespread influence. He is aided by his lead henchman, the emotionless Shirakubi Kesazou (Ibuki Goro) and his paramour, the seductively beautiful but cruel Omon (Hishimi Yuriko). The Bohachi have dominated the sex-trade in Tokugawa Era Edo's (now Tokyo) Yoshiwara district since government formation and have amassed enormous amounts of influence and money through their government contracts of providing prostitutes and harlots to Samurai, government workers and laborers. However other criminal factions have begun to muscle in on their criminal enterprises. Daimon asks Shiro to help them to kill off the Samurai officials who go to the rival brothels and destroy the competition. Shiro at first refuses the offer but is then persuaded by Daimon through promises of protection from government authorities. Shiro soon acts as the Bohachi's assassin/enforcer and successfully crushes the Bohachi's rivals and the assassins sent to kill him. Shiro later finds out however that he was sold out by Daimon to the Tokugawa Chancellor in an arrangement to give the Bohachi complete control over Yoshiwara in exchange for Shiro's capture. Shiro vows to get revenge on the Bohachi for their treachery. Ishii Teruo is one of the most visually artistic of the Toei directors of the 70s and his films, while controversial were always feasts for the eyes. "Bohachi Bushido" is no exception. From it's blood splattering opening title sequence (the blood and gore actually form the movie's title) to the various images of debauchery, opium use, over-the-top bloodshed and violence and wanton nudity, Ishii's film is not for the overly prude or easily offended. While the film promotes itself as a "Porno Jidaigeki" (Pornographic Samurai Film), the film is not all that graphic or hardcore. While there is ample shoots of nudity, the sex scenes are brief and not gratuitous.Those familiar with Tamba Tetsuro's previous work on TV and film may find his character here in stark contrast to the jovial or stoic parts he's played in the past. I never thought of Tamba as an action star but he certainly pulls it off here, giving Ashita Shiro some decent nobility and honorable qualities as well as showing off his skills with the sword. His outsider character seems in the same vein as Clint Eastwood's "Man Without A Name" character in films like Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Western "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly". Great character actor Endo Tatsuo (Daimajin, Zatoichi Royaburi) is no stranger to portraying vile and despicable characters and again delivers a truly menacing performance as the Bohachi leader Daimon. Ibuki Goro (Jingi Naki Tatakai) is also wonderfully sinister as lead henchman Shirakubi Kesazou. He looks menacing and his cold and calculating performance is definitely chilling.Many may be pleasantly surprised (as I was) by Hishimi Yuriko's performance as lead Bohachi Woman, Omon. Having only known her from her role as cute Yuri Anne in the cult Tokusatsu show "Ultra Seven" and Yuriko in the sexy all-female detective show "Playgirl", it was refreshing to see her in a much more darker and aggressive role. She definitely gets to show off her "ample assets" during her many scenes including one audacious sequence where she is assaulting a blonde foreign nun (Donna Kay). "Bohachi Bushido" is not for the overly serious and it's bawdy and carnal subject matter may offend some but it is outrageous entertainment that has to be seen to be believed.