Lone Wolf and Cub 6 disk box set

[Brian Brazier]

When I first encountered this series it was in the form of Shogun Assassin, which is really the US version of Lone Wolf and Cub 1 & 2 cut down to make one movie. If you are a fan of Shogun Assassin it is a must to own the LW&C box set. I was really surprised at how much different LW&C 1&2 were compared to Shogun Assassin, it is like a whole new storyline. By the 6th disk the movies can get a little repetitive, but they are all very entertaining. Obviously not for children, there is allot of blood, lost limbs, and nudity in every movie. I would suggest anyone that is interested in owning this series buy the box set byAnimeigo, it will save you money in the long run, it is available from Overstock for $84 http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-6-Disc-Set-DVD/1631636/product.html

[Dotanuki]

That is a good price from overstock, that's what I like best about Brian's reviews, he tells us where to buy at the best price, if you are interested.

Yes, the first of the series is quite different from Shogun Assassin, what threw me though was how different the soundtrack [music] was. That made it seem even more different. Great series though, well worth the money.

[Brian Brazier]

Thanks Dotanuki I appreciate the compliment, what suprised me most about the Shogun Assassin was that they changed the leader of the Yagu into the Shogun, that and the part about Dotanuki making Ogami Itto's sword

[Dotanuki]

Brian,
Don't forget the part where Ogami stabs Lord Yagyu in the eye![later movies] At least Yagyu didn't lose his eye by hitting a stainless steel sword on the table.[joking];)
I always thought Retsudo Yagyu was one of the top villains ever, [if you perceive him as a villain] right up there with Darth Vader. I always considered him more as the ultimate adversary.

[69NINJA]

As far as ordering this box set from Overtstock ( or any thing else i suppose ) today-Oct. 31- is the last day of their $1 shipping sale, you might want to take advantage.



Whoops um.... nevermind, "excludes books,movies,music and games"! so... uh... yeah forget i said anything.


HAPPY HALLOWEEN THOUGH!!!!!!!!!

[bobO]

Brian,I have the whole baby cart series coming,what do you suggest after them.bobO

[Brian Brazier]

If you like the over the top violence of the Babycart Series, I would get the Shadow Hunters I and II, they are high action, and over the top violence. If you are in the mood for a more traditional movie, you can't go wrong with Harakiri

[bobO]

I agree with you about harakiri that was a great movie.I just watched Death Trance and that was as bad as versus.But yeah I like what I call "up" movies,want to see shot up, blown up, cut up, etc.

[Brian Brazier]

Then you can't go wrong with Shadow Hunters, it has the same style of gore and violence as the Babycart (or Shogun Assassin) series. For a more comic book samurai movie, Azumi is also very entertaining

[bobO]

Thanks Brian,I'm going to go with your suggestions.If you know the real stinkers we could use a heads up on them.I seem to always find them.

[tanukimario]

Sorry, this is kind of offtopic, but I'm a fan of the Lone Wolf and Cub series. A while back I had finished the 6th movie, and in it, he never killed Retsudo Yagyu. Was there ever a 7th one made and does he ever kill him..? In the manga I believe Okami does kill him, or atleast this is what my friend told me who has read the entire series.

[Dotanuki]

There was only six movies made, for them to even get close to the final battle they would have had to of made another twenty movies [similar to Zatoichi series of films].
The 'Lone Wolf and Cub' manga books consists of short stories set in 28 volumes [really quite big]. It probably took me over 25 years [of collecting books] to find out how this story ends. The final battle is an epic one that probably runs over six of the last volumes, I personally think it is 'THE' greatest swordfight in all of fantasy. By the end of the books, Retsudo Yagyu no longer seems to be a villain, rather he and Ogami are the different sides of the same coin. Both embody everything the martial arts stand for. During a break in their fight, Ogami and Daigoro actually stay with Yagyu as quests. [displaying true warrior etiquette and courtesy]
I am almost loathe to tell you the ending, because this story became something that touched my soul.
At the end, Retsudo Yagyu had virtually threw [over a period of time] the entire Yagyu clan, at Ogami, who in turn, promptly slays them all [at the cost of his health]. The final battle lasts for days, and is eventually witnessed by the forces of shogunate [which hear of the fight after a couple of days]. Ogami is half dead from his previous fights, he fakes dieing standing up, but Yagyu notices Daigoro isn't upset [he has been watching them for days], which exposes the subterfuge. They keep on fighting, Ogami goes for a head strike which Yagyu catches, as Ogami forces the sword down on Yagyu, Ogami dies standing up [this time for real]. Yagyu lets go of the sword, and Ogami is standing there, dead. As Yagyu stands there watching the dead Ogami, Daigoro picks up Yagyu's broken spear, runs up to him and stabs him [Yagyu lets him]. Yagyu then holds Daigoro, like he was his own, standing there while he bleeds to death with the entire shogunate looking on. The story ends with Yagyu standing there holding Daigoro, bleeding to death. Crying, Yagyu's last words are "Grandson........of my heart"

[mancosbob]

There was only six movies made <snip> I am almost loathe to tell you the ending

Oh man, I am glad you did share the ending! I was never so dissapointed in my life as I was watching Retsudo get away after all the hurt he caused. I would get the boxed set of DVD's, but don't know if I can watch that ending again....

Still, this series was just a joy to watch, even with the unfinished ending. I used to think all that limb and torso cutting stuff was a fairy tail, until I used a modern version sword to do some cutting....

(That avatar of mine is a picture of me after my first Katana adventure) LOL!:tequila:

[Dotanuki]

Welcome aboard Mancosbob!

To say it took me over 25 years to find out how that story ended is no exageration, after awhile I believe it actually became an obsession.
At one point I was buying Japanese Manga [written in Japanese!] trying to find out how it ended. Then Dark Horse comics finally published them in a paperback graphic novel version. 28 volumes, published one per month, it still took me over two years before the the last one to find out how it ended.
And what an ending! I don't believe any novel or book or story has ever effected me emotionally as much as this story, a true modern epic.

[tanukimario]

Man, after I saw the 6th movie, I was going crazy and asking myself, where's the next one?? I searched everywhere for it until I found out that there were only six made... Why did they stop at the 6th one? Also, i've read some of the Lone Wolf manga and my friend also told me how it ends which kinda spoiled it for me, but at the same time I was glad to know that it had an ending! :>

[Brian Brazier]

There was also a Lone Wolf and Cub TV series, though it is super hard to find on DVD, and if you do it isn't cheap