• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Sleepy Eyes Of Death: Sword Of Seduction
    Genre:Thriller

    Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Ichikawa Raizo, Fujimura Shiho, Kubo Naoko & Joh Kenzaburoo

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 1.5
    Sound Rating: 2
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): AnimEigo, Inc.
    (Catalog Number): AD097-013
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Retail Price): $39.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 81
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1964
    (LD Release Date):
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Ikehiro Kazuo
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.15:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
    (Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Based in the novel by Shibata Renzauro, Sleepy Eyes Of Death: Sword Of Seduction follows the adventures of Nemuri Kyoshiro “Son Of The Black Mass” (Ichikawa Raizo). Corruption in the Tokugawa Era—the sadistic Princess Kiku is poisoning her ladies-in-waiting, extensive opium smuggling in streetside markets and an evil merchant is betraying Christians in hiding—finds Kyoshiro in a tangled web of deceit and treachery. Will the master of the Engetsu-Sappo, or Full Moon Cut (drawing a circle with his sword, enticing an opponent to come closer and slaying the enemy before the circle is completed), be killed before he can save more innocent victims and learn the dark secret of his own birth?

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The 2.15:1 picture is wanting in naturalness. Color fidelity is inconsistent and often washed out in exterior scenes, while plugged-up in interiors. Often same-scene colors will vary dramatically. Images are often wanting in sharpness and detail. Shadow delineation and contrast is poor. Subtitles are cut off on widescreen monitors.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack is undistinguished and distorted monaural.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
    (Aggressive System Surround): No
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): No
    (Aggressive Split Surround): No
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: