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Audio Format: DD 2.0 Surround Video Format: Widescreen 2.35:1 (Anamorphic) Languages: Japanese Subtitles: English Region Code: 1 Year Made: 1972 Running Time: 81
Framed for treason by the evil Yagyu Clan of Ninjas, former Shogun's executioner Ogami Itto wanders the Japanese countryside with his infant son Daigoro. Now a ronin (masterless samurai) Ogami works as an assassin for hire...while continually seeking out opportunities to strike at the Yagyu. Together, he and Daigoro are the Lone Wolf and Cub.
BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX is the second installment in the classic six part samurai series, LONE WOLF AND CUB, which was based on a popular Japanese comic book. The continuing saga of wandering ronin Ogami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama) and his son Daigoro are classic examples of the samurai cinema subgenre, popular in Japan in the wake of Akira Kurosawa's more weighty samurai fare. While more action oriented than Kurosawa's work, the LONE WOLF AND CUB titles do provide an interesting and fairly authentic look at feudal Japanese society and culture. But, don't let that put you off seeing them--the blood flows fast and furious in each installment, and is guaranteed to satisfy even the most discerning action fan.
This time out, Ogami is hired by a clan that makes a specialized dye for clothing. It seems that someone is threatening to reveal the secret of the dye to Lord Retsudo, Ogami's nemesis, and head of the Yagyu. Retsudo, still wanting Itto dead, sends out a vicious clan of female ninja to kill the samurai. To further complicate matters, the traitorous informer is being escorted by three brothers known as The Gods of Death (you have to love that name).
Kenji Misumi's direction is a strongpoint in this entry. The battle scenes are frenetic, but amazing. Particularly interesting is one where Ogami and Daigoro are ambushed by a band of ninjas in a dense forest. The shot's ominous lighting allows for the villains to almost materialize out of thin air, which gives the scene a realistic feel. Even more impressive is the final desert showdown between Ogami and The Gods of Death. The whole scene has a very Sergio Leone spaghetti western feel to it, as Ogami stands on a dune waiting for the battle to begin.
We're also treated to more character development than we were in the series first entry, SWORD OF VENGEANCE. Ogami's stoic nature shows a few cracks as he deals with Daigoro. Likewise, we see Daigoro's love for his father as he nurses him back to health after being wounded in battle. Touches like this are what make the series rise above being a simple hack and slash samurai flick. It puts a human face on the characters and allows the viewer to come to care for them.
BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX is a solid entry in the LONE WOLF AND CUB saga. If you're a fan of samurai action, or just martial arts films in general, find these films...you won't be disappointed.
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