Wow, they sure cranked out the Lone Wolf and Cub films--this is the fourth one and all were made in about a one year period. This one is very similar to the rest and includes the usual rape scene (why this has been in all of the films so far is beyond me--and a bit disturbing),tons of violence and blood (especially for 1972) and exceptional action. However, I think this installment is a bit talkier (actually A LOT talkier) and has a more confusing plot than the previous three. Now this is not to say it's a bad film--I just think it's a bit weaker because it was a bit tough to follow who was being killed and why. Also it is different in that I might term this one the 'severed limb' episode, as there are more arms and legs chopped off than ever before--and the exact number is staggering. There is only one problem--in a few cases you can pretty clearly see the actors hiding the real limbs inside the robes. But, in the funniest and sickest scene in the film, I laughed out loud as our anti-hero fights a group of gray ninjas and dismembers them all. Then, as these guys are writhing about, one is crawling after Itto and begins trying to chew on him!! Talk about tenacious!! A good but far from great installment.

Former executioner Ogami Itto and his son Daigoro roam the land as sword for hire. Oyuki is a tattooed female bodyguard with expertise in the short sword. Itto is hired to end her after she turned into a raging mass killer for unknown reasons. Meanwhile, Lone Wolf and Cub are being hunted by longtime rival Yagyu Gunbei.

The Face/Off is weird. I'm not sure about doing that premise for this series but it's not a big deal. The bigger deal is Oyuki. She's the star attraction in this sequel. She's got a great story. I would have prefer to leave her last. Her fight may be the shortest but it is the most compelling in the entire movie.

I don't know the history behind it but it seems quite odd that for this movie they picked a new director, Buichi Saito, while the first till third movie got all directed by Kenji Misumi, as did the following fifth movie. Perhaps it had something to do with his health, since Kenji Misumi died quite young, in 1975.

But whatever the reasons were, it's a choice that worked out great for this particular movie. Its definitely a change of style. It's a more snappy a fast going movie than any of its predecessors. It's edited greatly and also has some nice little tricks in it. The movie is more Hollywood like and less Japanese like, if you will. This is not always a good thing but for this particular movie, its concept and story, it does work out well.

Its fight sequences are often spectacular, though they are also certainly less bloody than was still the case in the previous movies. Its faster editing and camera-work and fresh style of directing keeps it all great to watch. It also all helps to make the movie incredibly entertaining to watch.

I also liked how this movie handled the lone wolf and cub relationship. The whole father son relationship plays quite an essential role within this movie, more so than ever had been the case in the previous movies. It makes the movie quite 'cute' and also emotionally stronger. It also seems like Tomisaburo Wakayama's acting is stronger than ever before. In all of the previous movies he was mostly exchanging hard long looks with his foes but in this movie he seems to have more lines and also shows more emotions and expressions in his face.

Another thing that keeps playing an essential role within this movie are its wonderful looking environments. The natural environments are great and this movie takes us to some wonderful places, to all add to the movie its adventurous feeling.

Such perfect fun to watch!

9/10

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