Eko eko azaraku II

I thought this film featuring Misa was a bit better than the previous film. It just made little sense, the one thing I would tell anyone watching these films is to start with this one first and then watch the first film. It will clear up a couple of things anyway, though there are still a lot of things about the first one that made absolutely no sense and I am guessing you have to have read the comics upon which these films are based to really get it. This one shows Misa as a girl who is alone. Something is tracking her down and it is not to long before she is running for her life with the aid of this guy who practices magic. Misa does a bit more in this film than the last one, cause in that one her magic was rendered ineffective for most of the movie which makes that film seem like a strange way to begin the series. The sexual aspect that was present in the first film is nonexistent in this one, which does not hurt this one all that much as it really has some good kills to make up for the sex, and quite frankly the sex seemed kind of out of place in that film anyways. The film sort of reminds me of Terminator 2 a bit as they have to keep running from this seemingly unstoppable foe. Really quite action packed right out of the gate, however it does get slower as things are revealed about the strange man aiding Misa and about Misa herself. However, this was welcome as it cleared up some stuff which the first film did not clear up anything. This one has a plot you can follow a lot easier than in the first film. I am hoping the third film brings it all together, but as it is this is a much easier to follow sequel that is a prequel, it also looks more like a movie than the first film. So a step in the right direction.

In this prequel to to the very enjoyable first film "Wizard of Darkness", Misa (again played by Kimika Yoshino) not knowing that she;s a witch yet is pursued by a body-hopping evil spirit. After coming back from a convenience store to find all her friends dead and the body-hopper has her within it's grasp, she's saved by a mysterious stranger who has to earn her trust. Very reminiscent of "Terminator" as well as "the Hidden", this movie is enjoyable none the less. And it's a rare instance of the second film in a series being even nearly as good as the first.

My Grade: B-

DVD Extras: 17 minute Making of; Interviews with Shimako Sato and Kimika Yoshino; Film Premiere footage; Theatrical Trailer; and Trailers for "Eko Eko Azarak 1", "Ichi the Killer", "Pyrokinesis", and "Versus"

Somewhat of a letdown after the exceptional "Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard Of Darkness", but if you like the genre, it's still worth checking out. Our favorite high school witch, Misa Kuroi, is being pursued by a nasty demon who keeps jumping from one host body to the next (like "The Hidden"). She is forcefully protected by a mysterious stranger (like Kyle Reese in "The Terminator"), and together the two of them find love and courage, and face the demon. As a sci-fi/horror film it's rather plodding and unremarkable, but what it does succeed at is creating an interesting character study of the melancholic plight of Japanese teenage girls. The entire film just looks and feels like shojo manga. Tragically beautiful Kimika Yoshino has matured as both an actress and a woman, and seems more confident in her abilities and more convincing in her role as Misa. The movie shares the same high production values and gory special effects as the first film, but without the sexual content.

With 'Eko Eko Azarak II', we're offered a prequel this time, learning us (in a subplot) how Misa got acquainted with witchcraft and developed her powers. The rest of the plot is *very* much inspired by the first 'The Terminator' movie. Only replace Arnold Schwarzenegger by an ancient evil witch, jumping from body to body, constantly chasing the young Misa and her protector. The pace of events is higher this time than was the case with the first film. The occasional blood & splatter is still there. The story is interesting enough. And the effects are about as good as they could get for a 1996 modest-budget Japanese horror effort. It does slow down a bit too much just before the third act, but other than that, it's pretty much a fun ride with a great climax. Worth hunting down a copy of it.

Version: Japanese, with English subtitles (by SBS)

SBS' Cult Movie time-slot is awesome, for the simple fact that most of the movies shown aren't actually about anything, but manage to be awesome anyway. In this tradition, they showed 'Eko Eko Azaraku: Wizard of Darkness'. It was pretty cool, and so they showed 'Eko Eko Azaraku II: Birth of the Wizard', and it was also pretty cool.

Kimika Yoshino returns in this prequel to 'Wizard of Darkness' to play Misa Kuroi before she was famous, or at least before she realized she was a witch. 'Birth of the Wizard' begins in Meiji-era Japan, in a village of former witches and wizards. I say former, because someone seems to have slaughtered them. Skip to the present day, and an archaeologist discovers a mummy from the village. Blissfully unaware that the mummy is, in fact, possessed by an evil spirit (naturally), he runs off, leaving his assistant alone. The mummy comes to life, kills her, and the evil spirit takes over her body.

This evil spirit is now searching for Misa, who is protected by Kyle Reese, who goes by the name of Saiga in this film (I thought I had made an original joke, but then I noticed the other reviewer caught the same connection six years ago). It is Misa's destiny to defeat this evil spirit, but she needs Saiga's help to do it.

'Birth of the Wizard' ends up playing a lot like 'Wizard of Darkness'. Again, the story isn't original, but it is entertaining. Similar stylish and gory horror, a nice fast pace, and some pretty good special effects. Although, it is a prequel, so despite excitement, you can have some guesses as to Misa's fate (and if you guess wrong, you really need help). That aside, it is an entertaining horror movie.

The only thing missing in this from the original is the Japanese-style unusual situations involving lesbians. If that was your main reason for watching 'Wizard of Darkness', then you may be disappointed with this. Finally, I swear there were several plot-elements and moments in the movie that were lifted from 'The Terminator'.

8/10 - For fans of 'Wizard of Darkness', Japanese horror, or horror in general. I'll have to check out the third movie sometime.