Azumi and Azumi 2: Death or Love Reviewed

[PyrasTerran]

Is there a thread for this already?


Finished seeing it, man was it neat. Further enforces my beliefs that Kitamura is a good director.

[Mothraleo]

I got my copy from $^& (three letter abreviation for those who know it).
Anway, I only was able to watch the first half, as at 1 hour 7 minutes it glitchs terribly (they are sending me a replacment though). Anway, from what I saw, I can easily say I love it. It would fall in my top 3 movies. This only pushes Kitamura to my 2nd favorite director of all time as well.

Versus, Alive, Aragami Duel, and Azumi= Greatness. Still need to see Sky High, and if I can find them, Down to Hell and Heat After Dark, his first short movies. The Messenger to I guess (I could just buy Jam Films there though).

[PyrasTerran]

I'm not sure, but I heard an Azumi 2 was being considered or in the works? I can't remember but it might be one of this other movies that is getting a sequel...

[Mothraleo]

I'm not sure, but I heard an Azumi 2 was being considered or in the works? I can't remember but it might be one of this other movies that is getting a sequel...

Yes. There is going to be an Azumi 2. I think its acually done filming. Due out in Japan next year sometime. Guess what? Directed by "Kaneko" this time around. Toho Kingdom has link to the trailer too.

[PyrasTerran]

Oh? Super sweet. I'd like to see what Kaneko can do with that franchise.. :)

[Mothraleo]

Oh? Super sweet. I'd like to see what Kaneko can do with that franchise.. :)

The trailer looks intresting. "Azumi 2: Death or Love".

Azumi 2 Site/Trailer (http://www.azumi2.jp/index.html)

Hopefully it should work.. a few people on Toho Kingdom had trouble with it.

[SpaceGamera]

Azumi is easily Kitamura's best movie. Everyone having doubts about Kitamura directing GFW should see Azumi.

[SandwormPhish]

Still need to see it and Aragami Duel.

[Cole Deschain]

Never seen it. More to the point, never heard of it.

Go me.

[Project Pimp]

I'm wondering why there isn't a R1 for this yet. Aragami, Alive, and Versus got theirs.

How frustrating. In any case, it's the best Kitamura flick I have seen. And I've seen the above three as well.

I hope the reason isn't because of the scene with the kids killing each other... in other words pretty much what happened with Battle Royale. :(

[RyougaSaotome]

I'm wondering why there isn't a R1 for this yet. Aragami, Alive, and Versus got theirs.

How frustrating. In any case, it's the best Kitamura flick I have seen. And I've seen the above three as well.

I hope the reason isn't because of the scene with the kids killing each other... in other words pretty much what happened with Battle Royale. :(
The poor BR series...two masterpieces in my eyes, but never to be released here. However, Azumi is a marvelous film, with excellent action.

Btw, if you guys like Kitamura films...you should watch Battlefield Baseball. It was directed by The producer Shin, and Produced by kitamura, starring all the familiar versus people. It was HILARIOUS.

[Mothraleo]

I think a Mod should move this thread. I just realized that this is a Toho produced movie, and should go to the Millennium Toho board. Just saying.

[Saruman]

I think a Mod should move this thread. I just realized that this is a Toho produced movie, and should go to the Millennium Toho board. Just saying.
It's not a Kaiju film as much as it is a sword/martial arts film.

I did enjoy this film very much, unlike Versus, this film was done very well and had a nice story. The only real problem with the film is that it is way to short. They could have added another 10-20 minutes to this film with ease.

Kitamura is 50/50 right now with me. Versus was absolutely horrible and a waste of film, but Aragami was excellent. Now if I could just find Alive but it never seems to be in stock.

[Mothraleo]

It's not a Kaiju film as much as it is a sword/martial arts film.

I did enjoy this film very much, unlike Versus, this film was done very well and had a nice story. The only real problem with the film is that it is way to short. They could have added another 10-20 minutes to this film with ease.

Kitamura is 50/50 right now with me. Versus was absolutely horrible and a waste of film, but Aragami was excellent. Now if I could just find Alive but it never seems to be in stock.

Don't mean to argue with you, but

" Toho & Godzilla: Millennium
Discuss all your favorite Toho and Godzilla films here, 1999 - 20??."
It doesn't really say anything about it only being for Goji and monster movies. Just pointing out, nothing personal.

Anway, I warn you now. Alive=another Japanese Matrix in one way. Alive's fighting does some big refrencing to The Matrix, but, if a person can ignore that, you should enjoy it. Not as much action as Versus, Azumi or Aragami. More story and character. Anway, I wish that V#% would hurry up with my replacment disc for azumi, I want to see the end lol.

[Saruman]

Don't mean to argue with you, but

" Toho & Godzilla: Millennium
Discuss all your favorite Toho and Godzilla films here, 1999 - 20??."
It doesn't really say anything about it only being for Goji and monster movies. Just pointing out, nothing personal.
That's true, but your not looking at the "category" it is under, that being "KAIJU DISCUSSION.";)

[RyougaSaotome]

The original 'Azumi' was a film that I immediately grew fond of upon my first viewing. It's pace, regardless of the length of the film, worked well within the context. Ryuhei Kitamura skillfully integrated the action sequences amidst an intriguing political story. Combined with these two aspects, was the score which was a mix of classical japanese music, and electric guitar. In a surprising twist, this ended up working to a great level, and created an experience that was both easy on the eyes and ears as well. I'd go so far as to say 'Azumi' is a personal favorite of mine amongst film, because it's so easy to just sit back and enjoy. Thus one could imagine that it was with great pleasure that I heard Shusuke Kaneko was crafting the sequel. While I knew he had a far different style then that of Kitamura, I rightfully thought that Kaneko could create a film that, while different than the first, was just as great if not better.

Perhaps I set myself up for disappointment to begin with. It is with great dismay that I state that 'Azumi 2' is a far inferior beast than it's bigger sister, 'Azumi'.

The first thing that struck me when I began the movie, was the music flowing through my speakers. I was, and still am, a huge fan of the first films soundtrack, and I found it troubling that this new movie had a score rivaling that of a very cheaply made B-movie. Not very fitting if I do say so myself. Within the first five minutes, there's a very entertaining fight scene with Azumi and Nagara facing a squad of bird faced ninja's. Yet even with the action going on onscreen, I kept finding myself distracted by this terrible music. As a result, I tried to pep myself up, hopeful that the music would somehow improve over the course of the film. One of those few cases where I really do wish I was right. I'll get back to this later.

The story picks up with Nagara and Azumi hunting after the remaining General of the Tomyoki (SP) faction who're supposedly trying to begin a war. I wish I could say more about the story, but it certainly doesn't go much deeper than that. The 'Love' in the title is a highly halfhearted subplot used to cover the scenes in which people aren't being killed. Azumi's 'relationship' with Ginkaku is laughable, as they barely ever exchange words during the film. And yet, all of a sudden, we have this huge plot revelation toward the end, that Ginkaku is in fact Nachi, Azumi's fallen comrade from the first ten minutes of Azumi. How this is the case, is never explained, and just one of the many disappointments of the film. He dies, and none of the aspects as to how he survived his fatal blow, or being buried for that matter are ever went into.

Yet, perhaps that's the most fatal flow in 'Azumi 2', everyone just dies. Nearly each and every character introduced into the movie dies too fast for the viewer to care in the least. Even Nagara, a main character, is killed off before the first half of the movie ends, and his story recieves absolutely no closure. We are given the promise of some character backstory early on, yet it's never delivered, except in small morsels that do little more than make us crave for the real thing. Chiaki Kuriyama is hideously underused, and for all intents and purposes thrown off to the side for the majority of the film. She seemed to have some sort of motive to her madness, but that seemed to be shelved just as fast as she was. This was basically, as others have stated, a less enthralling Chigusa. A huge let down for those who hoped to see more of her GoGo/Battle Royale antics.

Each assassin in 'Azumi' had some sort of independent character to them. Something that made them stand out, even for a little while. But more importantly, they each appeared to be determined to do what they had to do, no matter what. Part of the reason why 'Azumi 2' fails is because the characters lack this determined and focused attitude. They all just seem to be doing what they gotta do to pass the time, rather than actually have some sort of...well...character to them.

'Death'. They weren't kidding when they put Death in the title of the film. There's a helluva lot of it. It's unfortunate then that everything is just so wasted. The fights tend to be so fast, that nothing is achieved. The first film set up a vivid fantasy world where people could jump amazing heights, pose without worrying about getting killed etc. In this film, it's as if Kaneko took this, scratched it out, tried to keep some of the fantastical elements (The wire fight with Tak), yet discarded others by keeping things short. Some may argue that the final showdown in 'Azumi' between said character and Bijomaru was anticlimactical. Well, basically every fight in 'Azumi 2' is about as bad, especially the climax, which starts off as a carbon copy of the ending of the first, only with far worst music and camerawork. The final scenes made me want to instantly turn the movie off, as it had no real ending or conclusion. Pathetic considering the journey this girl's gone on. It appeared as though the love story was just there to try and make things more complicated, rather than actually progress things. The final fight is extremely anticlimactic, and pales in comparison to the first Film's grand ending.

With the production team it had, this movie should have been destined to be great, yet in the end it succumbs to the sequel syndrome: being a far inferior product then the one put out beforehand. Honestly, this one would have never known that Shusuke Kaneko had any part in making this movie had it not been for the announcements past. Truly the first huge disappointment of the year in terms of film, at least for myself, though in the least it does make the first film, 'Azumi' even seem greater than it already was.

*1/2 out of *****