Red-Barracuda

The third entry in the 'Lone Wolf and Cub' series finds Ogami Itto - ex chief executioner of the Shogunate (once more splendidly played by Tomisaburô Wakayama) - on a road trip full to the brim with bloody violence. Like before, Ogami is hired to kill, while simultaneously the target of hired killers himself. In this one, he saves a prostitute from a deadly fate and is then hired by the female boss of the brothel to eliminate an undesirable individual.

This entry continues the excellence of this samurai series, with great cinematography, interesting characters and well choreographed martial arts violence, typified by a grand finale where Ogami takes on a mini army of assassins all by himself. While this one has its share of blood fountains, the level of visceral violence is down a notch from the previous two entries in the series. There's a bit more about honour and the samurai code underpinning events. But all that being said, this one still certainly delivers the particular brand of beautifully well-orchestrated mayhem that 'Lone Wolf and Cub' has justifiable become famous for.

I recall when this one came out it held the world record I think for the longest gap between sequels. It seems pretty clear that this was finally made in 1983 to cash in on the early 80's craze for slasher movies but the 23 year gap inadvertently works in the film's favour, in that is gives a realistic premise for Norman Bates being released after a long incarceration. The story positions Norman as a vulnerable, mentally ill man trying to readjust while another series of murders start in and around the old motel.

You're always going to have your work seriously cut out by making a sequel to an established all-time classic movie but it does have to be said that Psycho II rises to this challenge far better than most people could have reasonable expected. Its got a decent story-line with twists and turns that don't break the test tube, Anthony Perkins is very good once again as the central character, there's some fine camera-work in places, a pleasing injection of 80's-style slasher violence added to the mix here and there and some genuinely unnerving scary moments occurring in the Bates residence. If I had to criticise it would be to say that I didn't really care for the idea of opening with the classic shower scene from the first movie - removing that scene from its original context seems cinematically criminal. On a less egregious note, the pacing flounders a bit at times, with the movie feeling like it might be slightly too stretched out. But these are minor grumbles in the grand scheme of things, as Psycho II is overall one of the very best slasher films from its day and an intelligent and very well made film overall.

From the opening scenes of this one it was made abundantly clear that this is no ordinary sport, as we watch brutal fights in which guys get their heads well and truly pummelled, with blood everywhere! Welcome to the world of mixed martial arts fighting, a sport I hadn't even heard of before a very kind fellow IMDb user sent me a copy of this doc. The film is a behind-the-scenes look at the sport but primarily follows champion fighter Mark Kerr as he prepares for a tournament, suffers a near fatal overdose of painkillers and endures relationship problems. Its a film which injects some vulnerability into a sport which for most must be purely about brute force and violence. The story arc isn't necessarily the most dramatic, its more like a slice-of-life but its a pretty interesting subject none-the-less.