Shogun Assasin (March 23rd, 2008)

Lone Wolf and Cub was an epic series of film, and a masterpeice of chanbara cinema. In the vein of more realistic asian cinema, characters are observed more often than explained,  which creates the tension often recognized in films of that genre.

Lone Wolf employs this method most with main character Ogami Ittō, who rarely speaks. In fact, dialogue is highly uncommon throughout most of the 6 films. This makes for a slow movie, but it is still beautiful, and the story, while predictable in it's storytelling formula after the first film, is very interesting. The battle scenes are clearly fake, but still engaging and incredible. Although you can see the swords simply glide over a body rather than truly cut into it, you never doubt for a second Ittō's ability or intent.

Shogun, on the other hand, while certainly faster paced, and more action packed because of it, lacks the honesty and depth of Lone Wolf. Asian exploitation films are characterized by being more brutal than many of it's international counterparts, but in turn, takes itself more seriously, and is far more honest than the extremely tame American takes on "extreme" cinema. 

Daigoro is heavily featured in Shogun, being the films narrarator. This did not change much for me, as he was at the films center for me, with his unwavering clarity of spirit as a character, and the incredibly precocious and adorable young actor who played him was impossible to ignore. However, it just doesn't do Tomisaburo Wakayama's Ittō justice to ignore him, the hero, during the whole film. He is completely flat, as opposed to a complete mystery.

The story is a little twisted; it gets across the jist of the second film, Baby Cart at the River Styx, but it is not the same. The voices are too fake, and the shortened plot just doesn't do the same thing. I read an review of Shogun saying that it wouldn't be good enough for purists. Well, I would agree I am, but I don't think anyone else should have to settle for less.

As an incomplete, hacked up representation of a very long story, Shogun Assasin did a very decent job; but for me, a good job at being a fuck-up is not nearly good enough.