As far as I am concerned, the entire "Kozure Ôkami" ("Lone Wolf And Cub") film series starring Tomisaburo Wakayama is as magnificent as cinema can get, and it is films like these that make me a cinema lover. The third entry to cycle, "Kozure Ôkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma" aka. "Lone Wolf And Cub: Baby Cart To Hades" is yet another ingenious entry to a brillain series. Apart from the stunning violent bloodshed, fascinating philosophy, beautiful photography and countless other ingenious qualities, the arguably most brilliant aspect of the "Ôkami" films is the portrayal of the father-son relationship between Ôgami Itto and his son Daigoro, and its depiction once again deepens in this film.
Ôgami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama) is still following the 'path to hell' with his only son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) in order to avenge his wife's death and clear his name. On their way through Edo Japan, the father and son are once again confronted with a vast number of enemies (above all the Yagyu-clan), and the 'Lone Wolf with child' is once again hired as an assassin (as always for 500 Ryu). Ôgami Itto, my personal favorite (anti-)hero character EVER in cinema, is, as always, completely fearless and almost invincible. Not only is he fearless in battle, and following a strict moral code when walking his way of vengeance, however. In this third entry to the cycle, he is also more selfless than in the other parts. He voluntarily submits to torture, for example, in order to help out a girl forced into prostitution... His son Daigoro, who is of equal importance to the series, and an equally great character grows a bit with every one of the movies, and occasionally actively engages in battle. The baby cart, in which Daigoro sits most of the time, has even more secret weapons and gadgets than in the foregoing films.
Tomisaburo Wakayama is once again outstanding in his role and so is Akihiro Tomikawa in the role of Daigoro, positively the coolest child-role in motion picture history. The stylish swordplay and battle sequences are once again excessively bloody, and while the first two parts were equally violent in their depiction of blood-soaked carnage, the death toll rises to enormous numbers from the third part forth. The film is once again excellently photographed on beautiful and fascinating locations, the camera-work is simply fantastic and the score is as cool as in all parts. The entire "Kozure Okami"-cycle ranges high among my all-time favorites, and even though this third part is my least favorite entry to this brilliant cycle, it is an absolute must-see! Not to be missed!
Ôgami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama) is still following the 'path to hell' with his only son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) in order to avenge his wife's death and clear his name. On their way through Edo Japan, the father and son are once again confronted with a vast number of enemies (above all the Yagyu-clan), and the 'Lone Wolf with child' is once again hired as an assassin (as always for 500 Ryu). Ôgami Itto, my personal favorite (anti-)hero character EVER in cinema, is, as always, completely fearless and almost invincible. Not only is he fearless in battle, and following a strict moral code when walking his way of vengeance, however. In this third entry to the cycle, he is also more selfless than in the other parts. He voluntarily submits to torture, for example, in order to help out a girl forced into prostitution... His son Daigoro, who is of equal importance to the series, and an equally great character grows a bit with every one of the movies, and occasionally actively engages in battle. The baby cart, in which Daigoro sits most of the time, has even more secret weapons and gadgets than in the foregoing films.
Tomisaburo Wakayama is once again outstanding in his role and so is Akihiro Tomikawa in the role of Daigoro, positively the coolest child-role in motion picture history. The stylish swordplay and battle sequences are once again excessively bloody, and while the first two parts were equally violent in their depiction of blood-soaked carnage, the death toll rises to enormous numbers from the third part forth. The film is once again excellently photographed on beautiful and fascinating locations, the camera-work is simply fantastic and the score is as cool as in all parts. The entire "Kozure Okami"-cycle ranges high among my all-time favorites, and even though this third part is my least favorite entry to this brilliant cycle, it is an absolute must-see! Not to be missed!