This is a 1972 film from director Misumi Kenji starring Wakayama Tomisaburo as the assassin Ogami Itto. This the third in the series of six LW&C films.
Ogami Itto, disgraced former executioner for the shogun, is hired by the Chief Chamberlain of the Kakegawa Clan to kill Governor Sawatari, who arranged the death of the rightful Lord of the Kakegawa and stole the Kakegawa fief. Sawatari himself offers to hire Ogami, but when Ogami refuses, Sawatari realizes that he is Ogami's target, and decides to trap the "Lone Wolf and Cub".
As would be expected, there are some pretty sick scenes in this film, the tongue being bitten off being one of them. Ogami endures some pretty brutal buri-buri (waterboarding) torture at the hands of some yakuza and later shows his incredible jumping ability, especially for a chunky assassin, as he does a flip over an attacker on horseback. The end of the movie has Ogami essentially taking on a small army. All in all it was an entertaining movie.
it's strange that i've never seen any of the lone wolf and cub movies. i have all the comics.
ReplyDeletei have heard that the films are pretty bloody. but the books don't shy from gore either. excellent reads. you'd love them.
I'll have to see if I can find the comic. I think I can. If you don't mind some bloody sword fighting then I recommend these movies.
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