A Disappointing Continuation

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I found out about this movie after just getting into the whole Japanese Samurai Genre movies. I have to say that I absolutely love this movie it is one of the best and most iconic movies I have seen due to the fact that story and characters are highly likable and lovable the weapons each of the characters use are brilliant and the settings for each of the scenes make this movie a classic. the movie takes place probably in the 1700s where a ex shogunate executioner family is killed along with his local residence upon discovering this, he is met by the local authorities who are also ordered to kill him this results in him wondering the lands of japan with his toddler son, I wont give any more of the story away but I loved this movie and I highly recommend it to gore lovers.

This film begins with the Shogun's executioner performing a disturbing killing of a small child—all to satisfy the bushido code of honor and obedience. However, when the executioner's family is murdered in a plot and he himself is ordered to commit suicide, he decides that bushido ain't all it's cracked up to be and becomes a revenge-oriented ronin (masterless samurai)—taking his very, very young son in tow.This is the very first Lone Wolf and Cub film. It led to more films and even a TV series—so it's obvious that the series was very popular in Japan. I noticed that the film was produced by Shintaro Katsu—the same guy who starred in a very long string of wonderful Zatoichi films. And, In many ways, this film played much like a Zatoichi film…that is, if Zatoichi was completely amoral!! In fact, I am sure that many fans of the Zatoichi films would be put off my this amoral character as well as the many family unfriendly elements in the film—such as a rather graphic rape/murder! To me, this was just too much. While I probably will try watching another Lone Wolf and Cub film, if it keeps this same nasty tone I'll probably stop after that. As I see it, Zatoichi was very decent—but the ex-executioner in this Lone Wolf film was hard to like or respect—he was much more tough to like.

The foremost reason why this is a standout movie-series is because of it's unusual and highly original main concept. There are plenty of Japanese movies about a shogun, ronin or a samurai fulfilling their destinies and travel through the country, getting into all kind of adventures and troubles. The Kozure Ôkami-series has an original take on this type of movies by letting the main character carry and drive around his infant son in an armed and dangerous baby cart. His infant son even helps him in battle sometime. No big surprise that this all is being based on a manga-series, by Kazuo Koike, who also contributed to this movie its script.It also becomes obvious that this movie is being based on a manga when you look at its violence. It's really deliberately being over-the-top and the entire series is well known for featuring fountains of blood, whenever someone gets struck down or gets a limb or head cut off. It's a pretty bloody movie but because it all gets down in such an over-the-top way, it's nothing too shocking to watch, even when you don't have the stomach for it.It are really its action sequences that stand out and there is plenty of action in this one. All of the fights got nicely choreographed and brought to the screen and above all things they also often have something original to offer. Often Itto uses some tricks to fool his opponents and can strike down the best trained and most powerful shogun with one strike because of some clever and unexpected moves and tricks, sometimes helped by his infant son Daigorô.The movie is good looking, thanks to its fine directing, that provides the movie with some nicely done sequences but also due to its great looking environments. The movie often uses nature elements and environments as a key part of the movie its climatic battles, such as water or the sun.All in all, a great start of the series!8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance is the first of the Lone Wolf and Cub series and what a way to start it! With a simple story, brilliantly choreographed fight scenes, amazing cinematography and a terrific soundtrack, this is an unmissable piece of gritty 70's cult cinema.Ogami Itto is the official Shogunate executioner who, after his wife is murdered, is framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan (who desperately want the coveted position). Itto is now a Ronin (a samurai without a master) and has become a wondering assassin for hire, accompanied by his son Daigoro, who he pushes around in a cart. Together they are known as Lone Wolf and Cub.The first in a series of six films, Sword of Vengeance is a superb introduction into the world of Itto and his son Daigoro. Together they hack and slash their way through people stupid enough to challenge Itto, who is a calm, collected fighter and who always gets the fatal cut in (usually followed by a geyser of blood or loss of limbs, in the traditional Japanese samurai film style).Definitely a must see, Sword of Vengeance is a very well-made piece of cinema and will always remain the cult film it is.5/5