Azumi 2 - Death or Love

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Movie
German title Azumi 2 - Death or Love
Original title あ ず み 2 Death or Love
Country of production Japan
original language Japanese
Publishing year 2005
length 108 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Shusuke Kaneko
script Yoshiaki Kawajiri ,
Mataichiro Yamamoto
production Mataichiro Yamamoto,
Toshiaki Nakazawa
camera Yoshitaka Sakamoto
cut Shuichi Kakesu
occupation
chronology

←  Predecessor
Azumi

Azumi 2 - Death or Love ( Japanese あ ず み 2 Death or Love ) is a Japanese chambara film by director Shusuke Kaneko from 2005, which is based on motifs from the manga series of the same name by Yū Koyama .

The manga adaptation is the second part of the 2003 film Azumi by director Ryūhei Kitamura .

action

Note: the plot follows the first part almost seamlessly ; the assassins Azumi and Nagara plan to murder three daimyos who endanger the Tokugawa rule

The petite Azumi and her loyal companion Nagara, the only survivors of a group of contract killers, roam the war-torn realm in search of the third and last warlord, Sanada Masayuki . The two swordsmen are pursued by a horde of black-clad, masked and well-armed fighters around the relentless samurai Kanbei, who wants to avenge the death of his master and alleged war driver, Prince Katō Kiyomasa . Kanbei succeeds in catching the two assassins and wounding Nagara, but the hunted escape through a ruse. The two hit men find shelter in an abandoned house. While getting food, Azumi meets bandits around the good-natured young Ginkaku, who looks very much like her childhood sweetheart Nachi from the days of her military training. At first she successfully suppresses her memories of this loved one who she had to kill at the time, concentrates on her next mission goal and returns to the injured Nagara.

Samurai Kanbei, meanwhile, travels to Prince Masayuki, exiled to Mount Kudo, who, despite warnings from his son Yukimura , at the urging of his advisor and lover Kuuka forges war plans against the warring and overpowering Prince Tokugawa Ieyasu for supremacy in the empire. Kanbei offers the warring daimyō his services and at the same time warns him of his contract killers - Azumi and Nagara. Furthermore, Sanada secures the help of a feared group of the Nueno Koga clan and recruits entire armies of highly armed mercenaries.

In their hideout Azumi and Nagara is of ninjas of Iga -Clans to Hanzo received them henceforth pledge their help. The young local Kozue, who later reveals herself to be an enemy agent, accompanies the two assassins as a guide to the fortified castle of the aging warlord Masayuki. On the way they are attacked by the prince's mercenaries, including the bandits recruited to the highwayman Ginkaku, who change sides before the fight begins and defeat the host of enemies together with Azumi, Nagara and Kozue. After the fight it is visibly difficult for Azumi to leave Ginkaku, but Nagara insists on the fulfillment of her mission, so they part ways at this point. The trio briefly marches on alone.

Within sight of Mount Kudo, the seedy Kozue divides the two killers. The randomly appearing Ginkaku converts Azumi at the same time and briefly dissuades her from her murderous plan; Conflicts arise. The manipulated Nagara then finally separates from his companion Azumi, but a short time later falls victim to the insidious agent Kozue, who kills him and then flees. Azumi defies her passion for Ginkaku and, driven by the military drill in her childhood and driven by a high degree of conscientiousness, decides to commit her original contract murder.

After further skirmishes with hostile Nueno Koga clan ninjas, as well as collaborated fighters equipped with supernatural powers, Azumi's friends and allies decimate. She succeeds in avenging Nagara's death and killing the traitor Kozue with her katana , but with the unexpected death of Ginkaku, she is left completely alone, deprived of all loved ones. With tears she once again doubts the meaning of her existence and her mission, but faces another battle of the outnumbered Masayuki's soldiers under her commander Samurai Kanbei.

During the chaotic fighting the old prince suddenly appears, stops further aggression and challenges the young, battle-hardened Azumi to a duel, but succumbs to her miserably and dies. With his death, the assassin completes her mission and thus prevents a civil war . The murder victim's son, Young Prince Yukimura, then stops further fighting and offers her safe conduct amid furious protests from Kanbei. At the end of the film, the young warrior marches into the distance on her own.

Reviews

“Far East cineastes can look forward to a little more background and relationship bells and whistles in the otherwise unbroken argumentative and effective second part of the Far Eastern mandatory sword film from last season. Director Shusuke Kaneko ( Pyrokinesis ) knows no less about staging skirmishes than creating a mood, and the participation of Chiaki Kuriyama ( Kill Bill ) as Azumi's intimate enemy on duty guarantees a joyful recognition-hello among violent film freaks. Rating: Appropriate for target groups. "

- Video Week

“Continuation film that is primarily interested in rough fight scenes. The central theme of the fable, the self-assertion and self-discovery of a young woman in a patriarchal society, he loses sight through his showmanship. "

- Lexicon of international film

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cf. Film review on amazon.de
  2. ↑ Azumi 2 - Death or Love. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used