Azumi 2: Death or Love

Azumi left off on a cliffhanger, but at the same time we could have gone without seeing a sequel. This sequel is rather bad. The first one had great manga style action, this one barely has any of the cool action in the first one. Also they decide to recast all the dead actors from the first movie, and have them play a different role. It just doesn't work and creates a huge mess of a film.

The story suddenly becomes a love story, instead of an assassin story like the first one. In the first one, Azumi and her team had one simple goal, kill the men who will eventually start wars in Japan. This movie does have a cool fight scene at the end, but it is short and the way they end this movie is really underwhelming.

I guess fans should watch the sequel just to see what happens to Azumi, but after watching this movie, they should only stick with the first one.

Azumi was one of the best in recent samurai movies in the last few years. This sequel, while not hitting the high points of that movie, is still a good follow-up. As Azumi and Nagara continue their hunt for the last lord, they meet up with a group of bandits, one of whom looks very familiar.....

The original had a plot that was more simple and straight forwards. Here there is actually more going on, and as a result, with a number of new characters introduced sometimes Azumi and Nagara are lost in the mix.

Having said that however, the action, while not quite as good as in the first movie, is still very impressive. But what has also been added is a bit more of an emotional, even love story with the character of Ginkaku. Loking exactly like Nachi (someone Azumi liked, possibly loved and had to kill in the first movie), it gives Azumi a possible chance of love, but as is always the case in movies like this, things never go to plan.

As in the first movie, Aya Ueto gives a strong performance in the lead role. The rest of the cast are just as good too. Shusuke Kaneko taking over the direction handles it well.

It may not be as action packed as the first, but it is a very worthy sequel.

The second installment, and the final chapter of Azumi's saga picks up where the first one left off.

Monk Tenkai (Shigeru Kouyama) is still leading the ninja assassin troop to hunt down the remaining warlords of the Toyotomi clan. Azumi (Aya Ueto), and Nagara (Yuuma Ishigaki) who are the survivors from the first movie is part of Tenkai's assassins. There is a girl ninja in Tenkai's troop named Kozue (Chiaki Kurihara) who joins Azumi, and Nagara. Together they take off to assassinate Masayuki Sanada (Mikijiro Hira). On their way, they meet a group of bandits. One of them named Ginkaku (Shun Oguri) looks exactly like Azumi's first love Nachi. Kozue tells Nagara that Azumi secretly wants to defect with Ginkaku and live a peaceful life. In order to help Azumi realize her dream, Nagara suggests to go separate ways sending Azumi on a wild goose chase. Nagara, and Kozue then heads out to assassinate Masayuki Sanada. On their way, Kozue shows her true color as Masayuki's double agent. In the mean time, Masayuki decides to mount a preemptive strike on Tenkai's troops, and leaves his castle to assassinate them. Just when this seems to succeed, Azumi and the bandits shows up and defeats Masayuki's first wave of attack. Masayuki's main troop plans for another attack, this time with ninja Tsuchigumo (Taku Sakaguchi), and Kuunyo (Reiko Takashima). In the mean time, Kozue shows up at Tenkai's camp, and tells she got separated from Nagara. Then she moves to assassinate Tenkai, but is cut down by Azumi. On her way to kill Masayuki, Azumi encounters Tsuchigumo, and is nearly defeated by his steel wire attack. She survives, but now Kuunyo stands in her way. Drugged and nearly unconscious, Azumi can't fend for her life. Just when Kuunyo is about to give the finishing blow, Ginkaku shows up and stabs Kuunyo, but also gets fatally wounded by Kuunyo's lance. Azumi continues to Masayuki's camp, and Masayuki furious of Azumi killing Kuunyo, and his other henchmen, moves to a duel with Azumi.

Unlike the first Azumi which was mostly based on Kill Bill like action, this version is more poetic, and story driven. There's sadness to the whole story, and makes you wonder how Azumi's life will be like in the future. Ironically, director Shunsuke Kaneko who was a big fan of Kill Bill Vol 1 hired actress Chiaki Kuriyama who played Go Go in Kill Bill to play the role of Kozue on this film. Aya Ueto is more mature and pretty as ever. This is one lady who best of Hollywood beauties will have hard time competing with, and she can act to boot.

Bitter sweet saga that begs for a sequel, but probably wouldn't happen due to Aya Ueto's current age.

Some people might say that the first Azumi is a straight action flick which can and should be seen for its dazzling displays of sword play, but, and that's a big but, what glued the visuals together in the first installment was the characters: The little group of young assassins who went out on their mission. Azumi 2 really, really miss this little group. Our doe eyed heroine is even missing her famous smile and the reason for this - a seemingly ghost from the past - unfortunately leaves her with a facial expression, not unlike those who c's her draw her sword, but ain't quite sure if they're to die or not. That apart, Azumi 2 is worth watching: Especially if you dig the action scenes in the first one, and this time, a trio of really cool opponents has been thrown in, which kind of reminded me of the trio of deadly assassins in sword of vengeance, so if you liked them, check out Azumi 2! But, the bottom line is that Azumi 2 is missing something in order to be as good as the first one: Maybe it has been cut, and maybe some day a directors cut version will surface to set the record straight, but until then: you will love it if you're in it for the action, but if you're like me, you will only like it, cause swords are not enough!

When ı heard miss Kuriyama has won the MTV award a few years ago ı was so happy because she has some Allah given talent. But the award was surprisingly categorised "the best fight". Honestly there are better fights in films. Yes she is an awesome fighter but her character role playing is better then her fighting. She is nearly the number one evil girl character to me.

And miss Ueto had given a stunning performance in the first film displaying a strong hearted young woman. But somehow in this film she is weaker (ı mean Azumi) fight scenes are less convincing.

Overall this is a successful Japanese film to watch with family. The best of it is "love" is given without sex scenes. That makes the audience spectrum larger.