The Lone Wolf and his son are back again, and greater than ever! The entire "Kozure Ôkami" aka. "Lone Wolf And Cub" cycle is exceptionally brilliant, and the fifth entry to the series, "Kozure Ôkami: Meifumadô" aka. "Baby Cart In The Land Of Demons" is (alongside the second) my personal favorite of the six films. After another director, Buichi Saito, had directed the (impressive) fourth part, original director Kenji Misumi returns with brilliance. Out of all six films, this one has the most intriguing storyline, and the film is brilliant beyond comparison in so many aspects that I can hardly find the right words to praise it adequately.
Ogami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama), the former Kaishakunin of the Shogunate, has been traveling through Japan with his only son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) ever since he fell victim to a conspiracy by the powerful and sneaky Yagyu-clan. He is now killing for 500 ryu as the assassin 'Lone Wolf with Child', walking on the 'path to hell', for vengeance and to clear his name... The beginning of the fifth Ôkami film is already ingenious: Ogami Itto is challenged by five messengers, each of which has 100 Ryu (one-fifth his reward) and one-fifth of the information he requires in order to know whom to assassinate... I do not want to give away more than necessary, but I can assure that "Baby Cart In The Land Of Demons" is exceptional in all regards. Ogami Itto is my personal favorite (anti-)hero character ever, and his son Daigoro, who keeps growing to be more and more self-reliant throughout the films, is equally great. This fifth part has an ingenious subplot featuring Daigoro as the main protagonist. This subplot is one of the greatest parts of the entire series, and the mere fact that Daigoro has his biggest role here makes the film an absolute favorite. This film has everything that is brilliant about the cycle: The swordplay and carnage are once again exceptionally stylish and brilliantly blood-soaked, the camera-work and locations are impressive, the film is outstanding both in plot and action, and there's a special focus on the father-son relationship between Itto Ogami and Daigoro. Additionally, this fifth part has the most intriguing story of all six films, a beginning that is unmatched in its brilliance, and a subplot that delivers some of the most ingenious moments in the series. I could watch the entire brilliant Lone Wolf and Cub film series over and over again, and the fifth part is one of the best of them all. A personal favorite of mine, brilliant and essential Chanbaracinema that has yet to find an equal! 10/10.
Ogami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama), the former Kaishakunin of the Shogunate, has been traveling through Japan with his only son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) ever since he fell victim to a conspiracy by the powerful and sneaky Yagyu-clan. He is now killing for 500 ryu as the assassin 'Lone Wolf with Child', walking on the 'path to hell', for vengeance and to clear his name... The beginning of the fifth Ôkami film is already ingenious: Ogami Itto is challenged by five messengers, each of which has 100 Ryu (one-fifth his reward) and one-fifth of the information he requires in order to know whom to assassinate... I do not want to give away more than necessary, but I can assure that "Baby Cart In The Land Of Demons" is exceptional in all regards. Ogami Itto is my personal favorite (anti-)hero character ever, and his son Daigoro, who keeps growing to be more and more self-reliant throughout the films, is equally great. This fifth part has an ingenious subplot featuring Daigoro as the main protagonist. This subplot is one of the greatest parts of the entire series, and the mere fact that Daigoro has his biggest role here makes the film an absolute favorite. This film has everything that is brilliant about the cycle: The swordplay and carnage are once again exceptionally stylish and brilliantly blood-soaked, the camera-work and locations are impressive, the film is outstanding both in plot and action, and there's a special focus on the father-son relationship between Itto Ogami and Daigoro. Additionally, this fifth part has the most intriguing story of all six films, a beginning that is unmatched in its brilliance, and a subplot that delivers some of the most ingenious moments in the series. I could watch the entire brilliant Lone Wolf and Cub film series over and over again, and the fifth part is one of the best of them all. A personal favorite of mine, brilliant and essential Chanbaracinema that has yet to find an equal! 10/10.