Blog Archives

Lone Wolf and Cub Vol 3: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

Once again, we catch up with Itto Ogami and his son Daigoro, as they trundle their way across Japan, killing some folks and not killing others while wandering through a lot of extremely scenic countryside. For some reason, the music is a sort of ghastly 70s blarting, which distracts considerably from the action it’s supposed to underscore.

As the credits roll, accompanied by the nasty blarting music, we’re treated to Ogami and son bathing in a stream and catching fish, … (read more)

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Lone Wolf and Cub Vol 1: Sword of Vengeance (1972)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

Well, I have to say, it’s amazing what a man will do to carry out an assassination. And I really don’t think the synopsis does it justice, and I’m not sure I can either.

For one thing, Tomisaburo (Ogami) is not an actor who over-emotes. I can’t imagine him at acting classes pretending to be an ice-cream. I swear the only difference in his expression throughout the film is whether his eyes were downcast or staring at someone. And I … (read more)

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Lone Wolf And Cub Vol 5: Baby Cart In The Land Of Demons (1973)

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Posted on February 6, 2006 by Alison

For my money, this is the best of the Lone Wolf and Cub series. Or maybe it’s just that I get more enthusiastic with each new film I see. Whatever the case, I’m very enthusiastic about this one.

It’s impossible to talk about the Lone Wolf and Cub series without talking lot about swordplay. After all, that’s what the series is all about: indeed, it’s reputed to be the best swordplay series ever made. Having not seen the entire … (read more)

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Zatoichi: The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Mat

Zatoichi: The Tale of Zatoichi is the first in a long series of movies (around twenty-six in the series), of the adventures of Zatoichi, a blind masseur, who also happens to be a master swordsman. He spends his time wandering from town to town, offering his services as a masseur and generally helping those who can’t help themselves with his sword skills.

My first introduction to the legendary Zatoichi was the 2003 Takeshi Kitano film Zatoichi, starring Kitano himself … (read more)

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Lone Wolf and Cub Vol 2: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Justin

Following on from the first film in the series, Sword of Vengeance, Baby Cart at the River Styx continues the story of Ogami Itto and his baby son Daigoro as they wander the Japanese landscape as assassins-for-hire. Dour and quiet, Ogami is still haunted by the death of his wife, and early in the story we hear the chimes that were ringing as she was murdered in the first film.

After the events of the first film, the Yagyu … (read more)

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