In a charming frame made of high snowy peaks and stone lanterns, while he takes a refreshing bath in the moonlight, the Karma Kula comes back in action against the endless legion of his antagonists holding his sword and performing high athletic moves. In Finally a chance to relax, the fifth episode of the live action series from the Ninjai Gang, our hero quits the hallucinated atmosphere of the previous installment and the show once again offers prevalently martial contents to the viewer.

The new episode is shorter than the previous ones, with concentrated form and story and is structured in an intro with a prayer and spiritual echoes and a predictable conclusion in which the bath smoky waters dye of the blood of the murderous ninjas come to bother the Karma Kula. Scenography is simple but effective, with that overall atmosphere of peace and intimacy destined to be violated by the incoming carnage.

After the short prayer in the beginning the bathouse turns into a tense combat scene, the black shadows of the faceless foes emerge from water and Karma Kula shows once again proof of the incredible quality of choreographies elaborated by the Ninjai Gang and performed by Bellord siblings. Direction is appreciable and so are the slow-motion moments, put in to highlight the performers skills and to give fight an epic touch.

The contrast between the hero’s spirituality and his bloodthirsty rage during the combat gives a strong and well-recognizable sign to the whole series, a sign that is marvelously highlighted by a soundtrack that unmistakably reminds me the work Stuart Chatwood made for the video game Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (one of the few OST that made me pay to purchase the original CD).

Waiting for the 8th of August, the day when the Karma Kula should resume the journey toward his (final?) destination there is a comment I have to make: it’s ok to have a calm nature and a mind where there is no room for uncertainty, still I can’t help but think that taking a bath with floating corpses chunks and waters dirtied by so much blood is a disgusting thing to do. Even for a Karma Kula 😀

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