On DVD: Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death

Directed by Kenji Misumi

Starring Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa

 

“They’ll sail to hell on rivers of blood”

 

 

Thanks to the good people at Animeigo, samurai film fans can finally see some great chambara cinema. They recently released Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death on DVD.

 

 

The Movie

 

The continuing saga of Ogami Itto, AKA Lone Wolf and his toddler son Daigoro AKA Cub is told in this film. Originally, the Lone Wolf and Cub story was told over 6 feature length films. A distributor in the United States didn’t think that audiences would want to watch the film in their original Japanese language, so he edited the first two installments together into the English dubbed film Shogun Assassin. Even though I am a rabid fan of the original Lone Wolf and Cub films, I have to admit Shogun Assassin was a lot of fun. It changed certain plot elements and it was told from the perspective of Daigoro, an interesting choice.

 

Basically, Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death is just the English dubbed version of the 3^rd Lone Wolf and Cub film, Baby Cart to Hades.

 

As the film opens, Ogami and his son Daigoro are boarding a boat. There is a woman on board with her few belongings wrapped in a scarf. She accidentally drops the package over the side of the crowded boat. The gruff man that traveling with her tells her to “let it go”.  She begins to cry. The package floats by Daigoro who reaches down to pick it up. After the trip ends, Daigoro returns the package to the grateful woman. Ogami and Daigoro enter the nearest town and find an inn for the night.

 

While on their way to the inn, they walk up on a crime in progress. Two women have been raped and murdered at the hands of a group of Watari-kashi, wandering samurai considered socially to be slightly better than ronin.  Ogami unleashes his fury on the two responsible for the rape but allows the young samurai named Kanbei that is with them to live. He recognizes Kanbei and knows that he is a true warrior. Kanbei requests a duel, considering it an honor to fight someone with Ogami’s skill and legacy. Ogami refuses the duel. However, the audience knows that a confrontation between the two is inevitable.

 

Ogami and Diagoro arrive at the inn and settle down for the night. While eating dinner, they hear a commotion and a woman runs into their room with blood on her face. It is the same woman from the boat ride. As it turns out, the man with her was one of the Boohachimono, an organization similar to the yakuza that runs brothels and other “adult entertainment” ventures. The man tried to rape her before bringing her to the main madame and the woman was forced to kill him. Ogami and Diagoro allow her to hide in their room.

 

Soon the madame of the Boochachimono comes to the inn to retrieve her newest girl. Ogami comes to the defense of the girl and angers the madame. The madame threatens the young girl with buri-buri, which is being hung upside down and beaten with bamboo sticks. Ogami tells her he will stand in for the young girl and by doing so; he will buy her freedom. The madame agrees and the young woman is free to leave. Ogami faces the men and endures the torture of buri-buri. Ogami is extraordinarily tough and the madame has respect for his valiant nature.

 

After the beating, the madame takes Ogami and Diagoro to see the samurai elder of the local authorities. The leader offers Ogami an assignation job, knowing Ogami used to be the official executioner for the shogunate. . He refuses the job, not telling the elder that he has already accepted the offer of another gentleman to execute him. The dedicated “Lone Wolf and Cub” fan knows that soon this man will discover why Ogami declined and will send an army after him. He does exactly that and an army of men to ambush Ogami and his son Diagoro and kill them 

 

Anyone that is a fan of this film series knows what happens next: Ogami unleashes pain and death until the credits role. In this film, Ogami must fight an army of hundreds of men. He also must face Kanbei as well. As usual, the fight sequences in the “Lone Wolf and Cub” series are exciting and well choreographed. The photography of the Japanese countryside is impeccable. Considering these films were made on lower budgets, they all look amazingly.

 

Tomisaburo Wakayama as Ogami Itto or “Lone Wolf” is a stone faced killing machine and great in his part. Also, tiny Akihiro Tomikawa as Diagoro, whom the audience is getting to see grow up in each film in the series, is remarkable in his part. He even gets to have a speaking line in this film.

 

I have heard people describe the Lone Wolf and Cub films as too dour and somber. I happen to really enjoy them. Sure, they aren’t as fun filled as a Zatoichi film or as spectacular as a Kurosawa samurai film, but they are great samurai films in their own right.

 

So, if you already own the DVD of Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades, there isn’t a reason to pick this one up unless you just can’t watch a subtitled film and you prefer your foreign films dubbed.

 

9/10

 

The Video

 

Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death looks simply incredible. The film is presented in widescreen format. The film was remastered from the source print. The presentation of this film is comparable to the Kurosawa DVD’s from Criterion. The color palette is vivid. The quality of the picture is brilliant and sharp. I did not notice any instances of grain or compression artifacts.

 

9/10

 

The Audio

 

The film is presented in Dolby Digital Mono 2.0 in an English language dubbed track. The dialog is pure and clear. When Ogami swings his sword or when one of his victims screams in pain, the sound effects are well produced and brilliantly clear.

 

7/10

 

The Packaging and Bonus Features

 

Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death is presented in a standard amaray case with artwork appropriate for the film presented.

 

There are a few bonus features to explore on this release. There is a photo gallery and original trailer to peruse. There are also some informative program notes.

 

While the bonus features are on the paltry side, it is great the Animeigo continues to feed the habit of all samurai film fans.

 

5/10

 

Overall ( Not an Average) 8/10

 

The Review

The Movie 9/10

The Video 9/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 5/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10

 

-Suzie Lackey