34 reviews
Some people might say that the first Azumi is a straight action flick which can and should be seen for its dazzling displays of sword play, but, and that's a big but, what glued the visuals together in the first installment was the characters: The little group of young assassins who went out on their mission. Azumi 2 really, really miss this little group. Our doe eyed heroine is even missing her famous smile and the reason for this - a seemingly ghost from the past - unfortunately leaves her with a facial expression, not unlike those who c's her draw her sword, but ain't quite sure if they're to die or not. That apart, Azumi 2 is worth watching: Especially if you dig the action scenes in the first one, and this time, a trio of really cool opponents has been thrown in, which kind of reminded me of the trio of deadly assassins in sword of vengeance, so if you liked them, check out Azumi 2! But, the bottom line is that Azumi 2 is missing something in order to be as good as the first one: Maybe it has been cut, and maybe some day a directors cut version will surface to set the record straight, but until then: you will love it if you're in it for the action, but if you're like me, you will only like it, cause swords are not enough!
This can't be considered a separate film, it's just part 2. It starts exactly where it left off, without any explanations or flashbacks on how it starts. I can only imagine how confused someone can be watching this movie without seeing part 1. The actors are the same, the extras are the same (to the ridiculous point of having a friendly swordsman be interpreted by the same actor that played a killed foe in the first part of the movie AND being credited in the cast with the same character name).
However, the plot is more refined, it gets into the psychology of the people involved, the fights are more realistic, the directing is slightly better. In a few words it's exactly how Azumi 1 should have been. Of course, this doesn't make it a masterpiece. The same lame excuses for action and the same Japanese clichés are met all over the place. The only thing new to this part is the implementation of a rival clan of assassins, each specialized in a certain way, thus entering the more popular arena of super-strong ninja fighters. Also guns are used more, but with the same insane inefficiency as in the first part.
Oh, and for people reading this without seeing part 1 OR reading my super cool comment on the first part :) this is a movie about a cute diminutive young girl who is the best assassin ever, but still manages to have a conscience, dreams, friends, like any other normal human being. Sorta like Santa.
However, the plot is more refined, it gets into the psychology of the people involved, the fights are more realistic, the directing is slightly better. In a few words it's exactly how Azumi 1 should have been. Of course, this doesn't make it a masterpiece. The same lame excuses for action and the same Japanese clichés are met all over the place. The only thing new to this part is the implementation of a rival clan of assassins, each specialized in a certain way, thus entering the more popular arena of super-strong ninja fighters. Also guns are used more, but with the same insane inefficiency as in the first part.
Oh, and for people reading this without seeing part 1 OR reading my super cool comment on the first part :) this is a movie about a cute diminutive young girl who is the best assassin ever, but still manages to have a conscience, dreams, friends, like any other normal human being. Sorta like Santa.
Yesterday I saw the fist Azumi and it impressed me so much that today I went to see the second one.
I still think that the movie by itself is good. It just doesn't lift to the height of the first one. It's seems that many had expectations about this one that doesn't came through, but if to look at it without comparing to the fist one, Azumi 2 is fine.
The plot is OK. More flaws than in the first one but it's not the problem of this film. It is not as appealing as the first one, but still interesting and never boring. I'm a little disappointed that Kanbei (my favorite character from the first movie) is underused.
The positive thing about this movie, is that it keeps the main cast from the first Azumi (specially when I saw them one after the other).
fights are great, and pretty much on the same level as in Azumi.
The ninja characters are very interesting. They have new tricks and new weapons, and add a lot to the movie.
But the movie has two major flaws: One is the character of Azumi and Nagara, which seems to be less determined in their mission and find other things more important ( like love or quiet living), one thing i could never expect after the ending of the first Azumi, and even less after their swearing to Tenkai in continuing the mission.
The second flaw doesn't concern the first Azumi, and it is in the dialog's of the characters. They say things that are obvious ,make them look stupid. They also look more dramatic (which is far above most of Chinese Kong Fu movies conversations but still reminds them).
Overall i think Azumi2 is a likable samurai movie and better than most in this category.
I still think that the movie by itself is good. It just doesn't lift to the height of the first one. It's seems that many had expectations about this one that doesn't came through, but if to look at it without comparing to the fist one, Azumi 2 is fine.
The plot is OK. More flaws than in the first one but it's not the problem of this film. It is not as appealing as the first one, but still interesting and never boring. I'm a little disappointed that Kanbei (my favorite character from the first movie) is underused.
The positive thing about this movie, is that it keeps the main cast from the first Azumi (specially when I saw them one after the other).
fights are great, and pretty much on the same level as in Azumi.
The ninja characters are very interesting. They have new tricks and new weapons, and add a lot to the movie.
But the movie has two major flaws: One is the character of Azumi and Nagara, which seems to be less determined in their mission and find other things more important ( like love or quiet living), one thing i could never expect after the ending of the first Azumi, and even less after their swearing to Tenkai in continuing the mission.
The second flaw doesn't concern the first Azumi, and it is in the dialog's of the characters. They say things that are obvious ,make them look stupid. They also look more dramatic (which is far above most of Chinese Kong Fu movies conversations but still reminds them).
Overall i think Azumi2 is a likable samurai movie and better than most in this category.
Wow, now that's some neat action. Azumi is back and this movie turned out to be really great for being a follow up. I agree with many people in that the first piece is better than this one, but this one is still great. I felt that this piece really tied up the plot well, by adding this one together with the first movie. Here we get the pleasure to meet a bunch of new character, but they've also chosen to keep the same actors from the first movie - which came as a great surprise to me as too many plots which develops into series have a vital problem with keeping the actors from the first movie. If you like the first Azumi movie you will definitely like this one, and if you're yet not an Azumi fan you will most likely be one in the near future if you choose to experience the series. A warning though, you should really see the first movie first because I can't imagine myself even getting half of the plot here if I wouldn't have seen the first one before. Azumi to the bone! 7/10!
- Zombified_660
- Apr 20, 2006
- Permalink
Azumi left off on a cliffhanger, but at the same time we could have gone without seeing a sequel. This sequel is rather bad. The first one had great manga style action, this one barely has any of the cool action in the first one. Also they decide to recast all the dead actors from the first movie, and have them play a different role. It just doesn't work and creates a huge mess of a film.
The story suddenly becomes a love story, instead of an assassin story like the first one. In the first one, Azumi and her team had one simple goal, kill the men who will eventually start wars in Japan. This movie does have a cool fight scene at the end, but it is short and the way they end this movie is really underwhelming.
I guess fans should watch the sequel just to see what happens to Azumi, but after watching this movie, they should only stick with the first one.
The story suddenly becomes a love story, instead of an assassin story like the first one. In the first one, Azumi and her team had one simple goal, kill the men who will eventually start wars in Japan. This movie does have a cool fight scene at the end, but it is short and the way they end this movie is really underwhelming.
I guess fans should watch the sequel just to see what happens to Azumi, but after watching this movie, they should only stick with the first one.
I loved the first Azumi movie; it had lots of action, lots of story, and lots of symbolism. Azumi ended up as a cool avenging angel with the Herculean task of ending all war - and she had the charisma and determination to make the viewer believe that she might actually succeed! It was an epic samurai youth fantasy movie that worked on many levels - possibly the best Japanese movie I've seen. I rated it 9 out of 10.
Of course, I looked enormously forward to the sequel...
It started out well enough, as a direct continuation of the first movie. However, as it went on, very little happened, and it was marred by long scenes with virtually no content. There was some action, but the movie was primarily made up of ridiculous, nonsensical angst and meaningless emoting. The movie progressed insufferably slowly, had none of the intensity and subtext of the original, and you had just about zero feeling for the characters.
This commercial misfire represents a huge blown opportunity; they could have done something cool, but did something totally bland and soulless. This is a movie that deserves a 4 rating, but I will give it a 5 because it associates to the first, the two movies together forming a franchise of a new type which will hopefully be eagerly emulated and improved by other filmmakers, whether Japanese or Western.
Of course, I looked enormously forward to the sequel...
It started out well enough, as a direct continuation of the first movie. However, as it went on, very little happened, and it was marred by long scenes with virtually no content. There was some action, but the movie was primarily made up of ridiculous, nonsensical angst and meaningless emoting. The movie progressed insufferably slowly, had none of the intensity and subtext of the original, and you had just about zero feeling for the characters.
This commercial misfire represents a huge blown opportunity; they could have done something cool, but did something totally bland and soulless. This is a movie that deserves a 4 rating, but I will give it a 5 because it associates to the first, the two movies together forming a franchise of a new type which will hopefully be eagerly emulated and improved by other filmmakers, whether Japanese or Western.
I'm a huge fan of the first one and as much as i hate agreeing with some of the comments, well I do. This isn't even close to the first, simply because kitamura's touch was missing badly. The unique sense of camera angles, sword fights, wire work etc... There's still plenty of violence and blood but not quite as impressive and breathtaking as the first. I hoped for kitamura's direction as it really would have been more intense than the first but not everything goes our way. Still the acting was good and the scene with a copy of the ninja scroll sword boomerang was pretty cool I must say.
Nevertheless I still love this simply because I love the franchise of this type of samurai flick and once again the cute aya ueto's presence once more. Recommended to all action and samurai fans out there. 10/10 simply because it's still a great movie with ueto in it...
Nevertheless I still love this simply because I love the franchise of this type of samurai flick and once again the cute aya ueto's presence once more. Recommended to all action and samurai fans out there. 10/10 simply because it's still a great movie with ueto in it...
The second installment, and the final chapter of Azumi's saga picks up where the first one left off.
Monk Tenkai (Shigeru Kouyama) is still leading the ninja assassin troop to hunt down the remaining warlords of the Toyotomi clan. Azumi (Aya Ueto), and Nagara (Yuuma Ishigaki) who are the survivors from the first movie is part of Tenkai's assassins. There is a girl ninja in Tenkai's troop named Kozue (Chiaki Kurihara) who joins Azumi, and Nagara. Together they take off to assassinate Masayuki Sanada (Mikijiro Hira). On their way, they meet a group of bandits. One of them named Ginkaku (Shun Oguri) looks exactly like Azumi's first love Nachi. Kozue tells Nagara that Azumi secretly wants to defect with Ginkaku and live a peaceful life. In order to help Azumi realize her dream, Nagara suggests to go separate ways sending Azumi on a wild goose chase. Nagara, and Kozue then heads out to assassinate Masayuki Sanada. On their way, Kozue shows her true color as Masayuki's double agent. In the mean time, Masayuki decides to mount a preemptive strike on Tenkai's troops, and leaves his castle to assassinate them. Just when this seems to succeed, Azumi and the bandits shows up and defeats Masayuki's first wave of attack. Masayuki's main troop plans for another attack, this time with ninja Tsuchigumo (Taku Sakaguchi), and Kuunyo (Reiko Takashima). In the mean time, Kozue shows up at Tenkai's camp, and tells she got separated from Nagara. Then she moves to assassinate Tenkai, but is cut down by Azumi. On her way to kill Masayuki, Azumi encounters Tsuchigumo, and is nearly defeated by his steel wire attack. She survives, but now Kuunyo stands in her way. Drugged and nearly unconscious, Azumi can't fend for her life. Just when Kuunyo is about to give the finishing blow, Ginkaku shows up and stabs Kuunyo, but also gets fatally wounded by Kuunyo's lance. Azumi continues to Masayuki's camp, and Masayuki furious of Azumi killing Kuunyo, and his other henchmen, moves to a duel with Azumi.
Unlike the first Azumi which was mostly based on Kill Bill like action, this version is more poetic, and story driven. There's sadness to the whole story, and makes you wonder how Azumi's life will be like in the future. Ironically, director Shunsuke Kaneko who was a big fan of Kill Bill Vol 1 hired actress Chiaki Kuriyama who played Go Go in Kill Bill to play the role of Kozue on this film. Aya Ueto is more mature and pretty as ever. This is one lady who best of Hollywood beauties will have hard time competing with, and she can act to boot.
Bitter sweet saga that begs for a sequel, but probably wouldn't happen due to Aya Ueto's current age.
Monk Tenkai (Shigeru Kouyama) is still leading the ninja assassin troop to hunt down the remaining warlords of the Toyotomi clan. Azumi (Aya Ueto), and Nagara (Yuuma Ishigaki) who are the survivors from the first movie is part of Tenkai's assassins. There is a girl ninja in Tenkai's troop named Kozue (Chiaki Kurihara) who joins Azumi, and Nagara. Together they take off to assassinate Masayuki Sanada (Mikijiro Hira). On their way, they meet a group of bandits. One of them named Ginkaku (Shun Oguri) looks exactly like Azumi's first love Nachi. Kozue tells Nagara that Azumi secretly wants to defect with Ginkaku and live a peaceful life. In order to help Azumi realize her dream, Nagara suggests to go separate ways sending Azumi on a wild goose chase. Nagara, and Kozue then heads out to assassinate Masayuki Sanada. On their way, Kozue shows her true color as Masayuki's double agent. In the mean time, Masayuki decides to mount a preemptive strike on Tenkai's troops, and leaves his castle to assassinate them. Just when this seems to succeed, Azumi and the bandits shows up and defeats Masayuki's first wave of attack. Masayuki's main troop plans for another attack, this time with ninja Tsuchigumo (Taku Sakaguchi), and Kuunyo (Reiko Takashima). In the mean time, Kozue shows up at Tenkai's camp, and tells she got separated from Nagara. Then she moves to assassinate Tenkai, but is cut down by Azumi. On her way to kill Masayuki, Azumi encounters Tsuchigumo, and is nearly defeated by his steel wire attack. She survives, but now Kuunyo stands in her way. Drugged and nearly unconscious, Azumi can't fend for her life. Just when Kuunyo is about to give the finishing blow, Ginkaku shows up and stabs Kuunyo, but also gets fatally wounded by Kuunyo's lance. Azumi continues to Masayuki's camp, and Masayuki furious of Azumi killing Kuunyo, and his other henchmen, moves to a duel with Azumi.
Unlike the first Azumi which was mostly based on Kill Bill like action, this version is more poetic, and story driven. There's sadness to the whole story, and makes you wonder how Azumi's life will be like in the future. Ironically, director Shunsuke Kaneko who was a big fan of Kill Bill Vol 1 hired actress Chiaki Kuriyama who played Go Go in Kill Bill to play the role of Kozue on this film. Aya Ueto is more mature and pretty as ever. This is one lady who best of Hollywood beauties will have hard time competing with, and she can act to boot.
Bitter sweet saga that begs for a sequel, but probably wouldn't happen due to Aya Ueto's current age.
Azumi was one of the best in recent samurai movies in the last few years. This sequel, while not hitting the high points of that movie, is still a good follow-up. As Azumi and Nagara continue their hunt for the last lord, they meet up with a group of bandits, one of whom looks very familiar.....
The original had a plot that was more simple and straight forwards. Here there is actually more going on, and as a result, with a number of new characters introduced sometimes Azumi and Nagara are lost in the mix.
Having said that however, the action, while not quite as good as in the first movie, is still very impressive. But what has also been added is a bit more of an emotional, even love story with the character of Ginkaku. Loking exactly like Nachi (someone Azumi liked, possibly loved and had to kill in the first movie), it gives Azumi a possible chance of love, but as is always the case in movies like this, things never go to plan.
As in the first movie, Aya Ueto gives a strong performance in the lead role. The rest of the cast are just as good too. Shusuke Kaneko taking over the direction handles it well.
It may not be as action packed as the first, but it is a very worthy sequel.
The original had a plot that was more simple and straight forwards. Here there is actually more going on, and as a result, with a number of new characters introduced sometimes Azumi and Nagara are lost in the mix.
Having said that however, the action, while not quite as good as in the first movie, is still very impressive. But what has also been added is a bit more of an emotional, even love story with the character of Ginkaku. Loking exactly like Nachi (someone Azumi liked, possibly loved and had to kill in the first movie), it gives Azumi a possible chance of love, but as is always the case in movies like this, things never go to plan.
As in the first movie, Aya Ueto gives a strong performance in the lead role. The rest of the cast are just as good too. Shusuke Kaneko taking over the direction handles it well.
It may not be as action packed as the first, but it is a very worthy sequel.
- kevin_crighton
- Oct 9, 2008
- Permalink
When ı heard miss Kuriyama has won the MTV award a few years ago ı was so happy because she has some Allah given talent. But the award was surprisingly categorised "the best fight". Honestly there are better fights in films. Yes she is an awesome fighter but her character role playing is better then her fighting. She is nearly the number one evil girl character to me.
And miss Ueto had given a stunning performance in the first film displaying a strong hearted young woman. But somehow in this film she is weaker (ı mean Azumi) fight scenes are less convincing.
Overall this is a successful Japanese film to watch with family. The best of it is "love" is given without sex scenes. That makes the audience spectrum larger.
And miss Ueto had given a stunning performance in the first film displaying a strong hearted young woman. But somehow in this film she is weaker (ı mean Azumi) fight scenes are less convincing.
Overall this is a successful Japanese film to watch with family. The best of it is "love" is given without sex scenes. That makes the audience spectrum larger.
- abdullahxyy
- Oct 19, 2007
- Permalink
I didn't bother commenting on Azumi 1 since there's w really not much to say. It's a very good modern ninja movie. And it's good to see a female hero for once, though I'm sure it has existed before in Asian movies (Lady bloodsnow or something right ?) Anyways, i liked Azumi 1 and rated it a seven (7). But i liked this one slightly more. I feel you get to understand the character better as well as there's now need for the long introduction which was at the beginning of Azumi 1.
The story is pretty much the same, but the fighting sequences are more believable and interesting.
That's all i have to say, really, slightly better is my final words.
The story is pretty much the same, but the fighting sequences are more believable and interesting.
That's all i have to say, really, slightly better is my final words.
- Berserker_swe
- Aug 20, 2009
- Permalink
- CuriosityKilledShawn
- Jun 19, 2008
- Permalink
- blaxter101@iprimus.com.au
- Jul 13, 2005
- Permalink
This is still a real good example of Asian flicks so it's not for everybody but if you can understand their way of living than you really will enjoy this flick. It goes further were part one stopped and their are some flashbacks but overall the story is much better than the first one. But you will need a paper to wrote all the names down to understand who is who. Again they used CGI for some scene's to fill in the blood or the more gorier (funny) parts that reminded me of one of the traps of Cube. But when the red stuff flows it sputters like they use to do in Asian flicks. It clocks in at almost 2 hours but still you keep attracted to the screen. Nowadays it's easy to find the DVD and it's so cheap that you have to pick it up.
Azumi 2: Death or Love is a serviceable sequel to the movie that preceded it, but it's not quite as interesting the second time around. Where the first movie dealt with the cyclical carnage of war and the sacrifices people make for questionable higher goals, Azumi 2 is more of a straight-forward action movie that continues those themes as earnestly, but less effectively.
After the events of the first movie, the young assassin Azumi continues her mission to find and kill the last remaining warlord that seems determined to plunge feudal Japan back into war. She's accompanied by her last remaining companion, still haunted by the deaths of her friends, and sought by a vengeful warrior who wants her death above all things. Of course, she also finds new allies and hidden enemies on her journey.
This movie mirrors the plot of the first in many ways, but it's just not quite as good. The battles aren't as fun, and the story isn't as captivating. The attempts at poignancy and don't ring as true as the first movie, either.
Aya Ueto is still an irresistible heroine and I recommend to anyone who enjoyed the first movie that they should check this one out, too. Just keep in mind that the change in directors from the first movie was not exactly an improvement.
After the events of the first movie, the young assassin Azumi continues her mission to find and kill the last remaining warlord that seems determined to plunge feudal Japan back into war. She's accompanied by her last remaining companion, still haunted by the deaths of her friends, and sought by a vengeful warrior who wants her death above all things. Of course, she also finds new allies and hidden enemies on her journey.
This movie mirrors the plot of the first in many ways, but it's just not quite as good. The battles aren't as fun, and the story isn't as captivating. The attempts at poignancy and don't ring as true as the first movie, either.
Aya Ueto is still an irresistible heroine and I recommend to anyone who enjoyed the first movie that they should check this one out, too. Just keep in mind that the change in directors from the first movie was not exactly an improvement.
- lewiskendell
- Jun 21, 2011
- Permalink
I loved the first "Azumi" movie. I've seen Ms. Ueto in a variety of her TV appearances and I've seen my fair share of samurai and ninja flicks. I have to say that this movie was much weaker than I'd expected.
Given the movie's cast and set up in "Azumi", they should have been able to do a much better job with this movie, but instead it was slow, plodding in parts, and sprinkled with very poor, unconvincing, and wooden acting.
When they bothered to reference the first movie, they did so in a manner that was pretty loose and weak. In "Azumi", the title character is the best of a group of superior killers. In "Azumi 2" she seems somehow diminished and less-impressive.
That's not to say it was a total loss. There were a few decent fight scenes and some over-the-top characters. Unfortunately, the movie suffers overall from the simple fact that Shusuke Kaneko and Yoshiaki Kawajiri are not Ryuhei Kitamura and Isao Kiriyama. The latter two truly captured the "manga" feel in their screenplay whereas the former never quite "got it."
Given the movie's cast and set up in "Azumi", they should have been able to do a much better job with this movie, but instead it was slow, plodding in parts, and sprinkled with very poor, unconvincing, and wooden acting.
When they bothered to reference the first movie, they did so in a manner that was pretty loose and weak. In "Azumi", the title character is the best of a group of superior killers. In "Azumi 2" she seems somehow diminished and less-impressive.
That's not to say it was a total loss. There were a few decent fight scenes and some over-the-top characters. Unfortunately, the movie suffers overall from the simple fact that Shusuke Kaneko and Yoshiaki Kawajiri are not Ryuhei Kitamura and Isao Kiriyama. The latter two truly captured the "manga" feel in their screenplay whereas the former never quite "got it."
It's been a long wait for me for the continuation of the original Azumi. Azumi ended at such a crucial point that as soon as an English subbed version of the sequel was available, it was in my hands.
Azumi 2 is every bit as touching, amazing and downright brilliant as the first instalment. The characters are as easy to attach to as those in the original film, the battle sequences just as brimming with amazing CGI and breathtaking choreography (the human spider sequence in the bamboo forest will have you gripping your palms 'til they pour with sweat).
With a new director on board it was easy to mess this one up, but it shines just as well as its predecessor.
Azumi 2 is without a doubt one of the best sequels made for a Japanese film. Lets just hope Hollywood don't buy the rights to create another shoddy remake.
Azumi 2 is every bit as touching, amazing and downright brilliant as the first instalment. The characters are as easy to attach to as those in the original film, the battle sequences just as brimming with amazing CGI and breathtaking choreography (the human spider sequence in the bamboo forest will have you gripping your palms 'til they pour with sweat).
With a new director on board it was easy to mess this one up, but it shines just as well as its predecessor.
Azumi 2 is without a doubt one of the best sequels made for a Japanese film. Lets just hope Hollywood don't buy the rights to create another shoddy remake.
- blacksword83
- Aug 26, 2005
- Permalink
- tarquinbetts
- Sep 28, 2006
- Permalink
The girls is cute, but it just lacks really good action scenes and realistic story. You will be see a lot of conversation in this movie. Action senses is pretty short and the ending just sucks. The boss is really weak at the ending. I thought the first movie was much better, more bloody and better story line. The first movie contain challenges that Azumi and her friends got to go to through. My favorite enemy in the first movie was the crazy guy that in the white kimono. He just plain crazy and kill everything in his way. This second movie seem to focus more one story or try to. Sure, there is one good fight seen in the bamboo forest with Azumi versus bear ninja guy(use claws and wire as weapon). The second attempt of this movie made probably to sell the cute actresses. Don't get me wrong, I'll go and watch the cute ninja girls in action, but for action and story line. It just plain triable. I don't mind of having female as a warrior. Just watch it yourself and decide if it good or bad.
A great looking girl as a killer assassin, my type of movie, a superb follow up to the first. The first I gave a 10 as it developed more of the rather small storyline (take out the 3 warlords to prevent war. This movie continues the last part of the mission: search and destroy Sanada.
A surprise is the bandit Ginkaku (a lookalike Nachi from the first movie) played by the same person as he had such a small role in the first movie, whom Azumi feels instantly attracted to.
Azumi is as inhumanly fast and deadly as in the first movie, very few foes lasting a second or two before you see the blood spurting or body parts flying. I would say shes like a blur but that credit goes to Kunio.
A large flaw I found was the lack of guards around Tenkai which was laughable, the only reason I can see for this is Sanada had his forces around him isolating him from his troops which makes no sense. Surely at all times there would be a large guard around someone of his importance, even if they weren't expecting an attack, comeon. Though of course some nice action sequences would need to be changed.
As has been said, watching this before the first will leave you lost, though you can watch it purely for the action sequences. I had to rewind a few scenes to follow the killing spree.
This movie kills so many action movies, with a few lengthy boss fights throughout the movie, not just waiting for the last fight.
Thoroughly entertaining.
A surprise is the bandit Ginkaku (a lookalike Nachi from the first movie) played by the same person as he had such a small role in the first movie, whom Azumi feels instantly attracted to.
Azumi is as inhumanly fast and deadly as in the first movie, very few foes lasting a second or two before you see the blood spurting or body parts flying. I would say shes like a blur but that credit goes to Kunio.
A large flaw I found was the lack of guards around Tenkai which was laughable, the only reason I can see for this is Sanada had his forces around him isolating him from his troops which makes no sense. Surely at all times there would be a large guard around someone of his importance, even if they weren't expecting an attack, comeon. Though of course some nice action sequences would need to be changed.
As has been said, watching this before the first will leave you lost, though you can watch it purely for the action sequences. I had to rewind a few scenes to follow the killing spree.
This movie kills so many action movies, with a few lengthy boss fights throughout the movie, not just waiting for the last fight.
Thoroughly entertaining.
- gandalf_a_1999
- Aug 25, 2006
- Permalink
- wierzbowskisteedman
- Jul 7, 2006
- Permalink
- gashmanflirty
- Sep 4, 2011
- Permalink
You like beautiful girls? Yeah me too. What is there bad to say about beautiful girls/women? Nothing imo, so why would I give this movie only 2 stars out of 5, although it got the "talents" of Chiaki Kuriyama and Aya Ueto?
If I really wanted to watch beautiful people, I'd watch MTV or something that's why. This is a movie, a so called action movie nevertheless. So by definition it does not even really need a plot right? I'm not agreeing 100%, but let's say yes to that. So what does it need? 20 minutes footage from part 1 (I might be exaggerating a little bit, but it felt like more than 20 minutes ...)?! That would be "No". But then again you never know, the people who watched part one might not know what they ate this morning for breakfast, so hey let's remind them ... hey maybe remind them even twice? Just to be sure they won't forget ... at least until the credits roll, of course!!!!
So forget about the story, about character development, about real emotions, about the "acting" (and no, I don't think women in skirts walking and/or fighting is accountable for acting!) ... what does that leave? Yes the action scenes. The action scenes are not bad and that's the reason I gave the movie 2 stars instead of 1! I was giving this movie a chance, but it was a waste of time ... You have better things to do/watch, believe me ...
If I really wanted to watch beautiful people, I'd watch MTV or something that's why. This is a movie, a so called action movie nevertheless. So by definition it does not even really need a plot right? I'm not agreeing 100%, but let's say yes to that. So what does it need? 20 minutes footage from part 1 (I might be exaggerating a little bit, but it felt like more than 20 minutes ...)?! That would be "No". But then again you never know, the people who watched part one might not know what they ate this morning for breakfast, so hey let's remind them ... hey maybe remind them even twice? Just to be sure they won't forget ... at least until the credits roll, of course!!!!
So forget about the story, about character development, about real emotions, about the "acting" (and no, I don't think women in skirts walking and/or fighting is accountable for acting!) ... what does that leave? Yes the action scenes. The action scenes are not bad and that's the reason I gave the movie 2 stars instead of 1! I was giving this movie a chance, but it was a waste of time ... You have better things to do/watch, believe me ...