May I be the first not to give this movie a rave review. Alright, first try to understand where I'm coming from here. I've been trying to see as many Samurai movies as possible. I've seen a few Zatoichi movies, a whole lot of Akira Kurosawa movies, and some others with Toshiro Mifune and others. And of course I saw the first Lone Wolf and Cub movie before I watched this. I did love the movie, although there was one scene that disturbed me, but it was a damed good movie. I've also read a little of the manga (just the first volume so far.) And I couldn't wait to watch this one. Everyone I know has given it rave reviews and they say it's the best of them all. And so I've just watched it. Upon reflection I might appreciate it a little more, but I doubt that.
My first BIG complaint is the cinematography. When I understood what I was looking at, it was gorgeous. At least 90% of this film was at night and there were quite a few long "scenes" where the picture just went pure black for a few minutes. I'm sorry but I didn't know what the heck I was looking at in all that darkness! But I certainly followed the decent story, I have nothing against it, although it didn't seem as deep as the first movie. It's the usual Ogami Itto getting hired to kill some bad guys, that's basically the entire plot boiled down to it's core. There's some interesting stuff with the Yaguu clan politics, but again nothing that really makes you think. I was looking forward to seeing female swordswomen, and I wasn't too disappointed, although it's no Lady Snowblood/Kill Bill.
Another big complaint from me is the laughable choreography. I think the cinematography purposely avoiding showing any scene where a realistic technique was necessary for plausibility. Basically, he would never focus on the action, and the little action that we are shown is usually not very realistic. At times it wasn't so bad though, but not the really important times. And the death scenes were a bit too drawn out, and again fake-looking. The manga probably does a better job (I don't really think I've read the part this movie covers.) So overall I'm unimpressed and pretty disappointed. I probably won't continue to watch the rest of the series, I'd rather catch up on my Zatoichi.
My first BIG complaint is the cinematography. When I understood what I was looking at, it was gorgeous. At least 90% of this film was at night and there were quite a few long "scenes" where the picture just went pure black for a few minutes. I'm sorry but I didn't know what the heck I was looking at in all that darkness! But I certainly followed the decent story, I have nothing against it, although it didn't seem as deep as the first movie. It's the usual Ogami Itto getting hired to kill some bad guys, that's basically the entire plot boiled down to it's core. There's some interesting stuff with the Yaguu clan politics, but again nothing that really makes you think. I was looking forward to seeing female swordswomen, and I wasn't too disappointed, although it's no Lady Snowblood/Kill Bill.
Another big complaint from me is the laughable choreography. I think the cinematography purposely avoiding showing any scene where a realistic technique was necessary for plausibility. Basically, he would never focus on the action, and the little action that we are shown is usually not very realistic. At times it wasn't so bad though, but not the really important times. And the death scenes were a bit too drawn out, and again fake-looking. The manga probably does a better job (I don't really think I've read the part this movie covers.) So overall I'm unimpressed and pretty disappointed. I probably won't continue to watch the rest of the series, I'd rather catch up on my Zatoichi.