Review published 8th February 2026

Watch the official trailer.

Mysterious Signs and Unseen Forces Haunt a Military Mission

An elite squad of Japanese Self-Defence Force soldiers led by Lieutenant Iba (Shin’ichi Chiba) of the 54th Infantry Regiment begin to notice strange events as they head to their mission. First, one of the men discovers an inexplicable, glowing green star in the sky, and shortly afterwards, they make the startling discovery that none of their watches work, all having stopped at the same time. Unable to fully understand why these strange events are happening around them, they press on.

Trapped in Time: Soldiers Face Samurai and the Battle to Change History

However, soon the soldiers are surrounded by lights and visions, and the entire group is transported back in time. As the power plant in the distance vanishes, the men question what year and time they have entered. Regardless, armed with guns, tanks, and a loaded helicopter, the group continues to travel toward where their base should be in hopes of finding more answers. Along the way, they learn more about the new time period they are trapped in, as well as what kind of enemy roams the lands. As they continue onwards, a new thirst for power, along with a desire to change history forever, begins to brew in Lieutenant Iba. Additionally, a significant alteration to history could create a shockwave large enough to send the entire group back to their own time. But to change history, this group of soldiers will have to take on various clans of skilled samurai. Will Lieutenant Iba succeed in changing history, and will he and his men survive their ultimate fight in combat?

G. I. Samurai: A Thrilling Adventure of Action, Sci-Fi, and Time Travel

G. I. Samurai, aka Time Slip, is best described as an adventure, action and sci-fi film. The film is in Japanese with subtitles. G. I. Samuraiwas directed by Kôsei Saitô, whose other works behind the camera include Ninja Wars (1982), Devil’s Flute (1979), Tsumiki Kuzushi (1983), Desperate Pursuit (1986) and many more!

Explosive Action and Over-the-Top Battles Make for Pure Entertainment

Succeeding wonderfully at brainless entertainment, there are plenty of big tanks and helicopters taking on samurai on a battlefield, as well as massive explosions. There are several purely entertaining moments, particularly in the action sequences, with the third act reaching the height of intensity, not to mention the showdown, which is packed with bloodshed and spectacle.

Simple Time Travel, Strong Obsession, and Unexpected Character Depth

The story itself is fairly basic, particularly when it comes to the time travel element for our leading squadron. Why and how have they travelled through time? The film doesn’t really explain. That said, there’s still a pleasing sci-fi aspect at its core. More importantly, the story follows a man driven by an obsession with winning and changing history, which ultimately makes him an unstoppable force within the squad. I also enjoyed seeing the character development in Lt. Iba as the film progresses, which added an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

Distracting and Misguided Music Undermines Key Moments

When it comes to the film’s music, there’s simply no polite way to say it: it’s awful and completely unfitting. The lyrics of each featured track also seem entirely unrelated to what is happening in the story and with its characters. Every song feels like a misguided choice and a missed opportunity, and what’s worse, whenever a song appears, it completely pulls me out of an otherwise deeply enjoyable moment.

G.I. Samurai: Epic Action, Time Travel Chaos, and a Notorious Soundtrack

Overall, G.I. Samurai, also known as Time Slip, is enjoyable for multiple reasons. It features both epic and brainless action: tanks and helicopters taking on armies of samurai, along with minor sci-fi elements and a compelling journey as Lieutenant Iba develops a thirst to change history and conquer armies like an unstoppable force, with his squad standing by his side.  Although the film is certainly long, its biggest flaw by far is the musical score, which is jaw-droppingly bad and completely unfitting at every moment. Needless to say, this is an epic action film from the late ’70s that movie lovers should absolutely immerse themselves in.

G.I. Samurai AKA Time Slip (1979) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Umbrella!

About the Reviewer

Peter Walkden

Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.

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