Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972, Director: Kenji Misumi, other titles: [Kozure Ōkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma,子連れ狼　死に風に向う乳母車], also released later in English dub with the title: Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death)

The third part of the "Lone Wolf and Cub" film series and the last one directed by Kenji Mizumi.

 

Ogami Itto (played by Tomisaburo Wakayama), a former revered Shogunate's executioner, is now making a living for himself and his son by taking assassination jobs.

He travels constantly, carrying his little son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) in a baby cart, looking for employment.

In this film, father and son face a great number of enemies. On top of that, the assassination job they took brings them against a whole army.

 Our opinion: 

• This movie, as the first two of the series is a must see.

 Highlinghts:

• The meeting with Kanbei, a former samurai who in the face of Itto finds an opponent he respects
• Itto saves a young woman from prostitution
• The big battle
• Itto vs Kanbei

Why should you see it:

• Because it's a classic
• Because it is visually appealing from the begining untill the end
• Because you've missed the old type heroes
• For the little cute bastard
• Because at this moment the baby cart is just one step away from batmobile
• Epic Battle
• To find out what "Buri Buri" is

This movie is part of a series of six films

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972, Director: Kenji Misumi, other titles: [Kozure Ōkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma, 子連れ狼 三途の川の乳母車])

The second part of the "Lone Wolf and Cub" film series.

Ogami Itto (played by Tomisaburo Wakayama) used to be an official executioner

for the Shogunate, but now is reduced to being a Ronin and taking assassination jobs in 

order to provide a living for him and his baby son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa).

Together father and son move from town to town seeking jobs, being always alert, because those

 who caused the destruction of their family are always a step behind them.

Our opinion: 

• This movie, as the first of the series is a must see.

 Highlinghts:

• The Akari Yagyū (a female clan of assassins) literary hacking to pieces a male shinobi in order to prove they are up to the task of killing Ogami
• The Akari Yagyū attacking Ogami
• Ogami fighting the three Hidari brothers

Why should you see it:

• Because it's a classic
• Because it is visually appealing from the begining untill the end
• Because you've missed the old type heroes
• For the little cute bastard (I love this kid)
• For the v2.0 baby cart (yes even more pimped out than the first)
• Two words: Killer Radishes (daikon)

Awkward moments: 

• The hero finds himself with a naked woman in his arms, and yes, he does so to save her life, again.
• Little Daigoro comparing the breasts of his father to those of the lovely naked lady.

This movie is part of a series of six films

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972, Director: Kenji Misumi, other titles: [Kozure Ōkami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru, Wolf with Child in Tow: Child and Expertise for Rent,子連れ狼 子を貸し腕貸しつかまつる])

The first of six chapters, deals with how Ogami Itto became a Ronin.

Ogami Itto (played by Tomisaburo Wakayama), used to be a samurai executioner

 under the orders of the Shogunate, but he ends up being framed and his wife killed.

The unjust attack against his house makes him seek vengeance and it is at the start 

of his journey that he lets his infant son Daigoro chose his own destiny.

 The child is placed by his father before two items, a blade and

a beautiful ball, the item that the child will chose will determine 

its fate: Follow his father on a blood covered path or the bliss

of death and the reunion with his dead mother.

Our opinion: 

• This movie is a must see, if you haven't already seen it, you should.

 Highlinghts:

• The execution at the start of the film
• Ogami fighting his way out of his house with his son in his arms
• The final fight

Why should you see it:

• Because it's a classic
• Because it is visually appealing from the begining untill the end
• Because you've missed the old type heroes
• For the little cute bastard ( I love this kid)
• For the "pimped out" baby cart

Awkward momment: 

• The hero has to "make love" to a beautiful lady in order to save her life
  (now that's what we call "self sacrifice")

This movie is part of a series of six films

Film series: Lone Wolf and Cub

This film series was chosen to be featured in the first post as one of the most popular in the Japanese film industry.

The "Lone Wolf and Cub" series is based on the also popular homonymous  manga series.

The original name of the series is "Kozure Ōkami", but can also be found as the "Sword of Vengeance" or the "Baby Cart" series.

The main characters are Ogami Itto and his baby son Daigoro. Ogami Itto, used to be a venerable executioner of the Shogunate, but a plot and an attack against his house forces him on the path of vengeance together with his son, the only other survivor of his family.

The original series, consists of six films

 

1. Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance  

 

2. Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx

3. Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades

4. Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril

5. Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons

6. Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell

Later on, in the early 80's, followed a release for the American audience in the English language,

under the title: "Shogun Assasin". The English version had only five films, the first one

being a compilation of the first two original movies. Each one of the rest of the sequels, corresponds to one original film.

"Lone Wolf and Cub" was so succesful, that it is possible that you've already seen references, or parody cameos, in other films or even anime. 

Our opinion: 

• A must see, if you haven't already seen these films, you should.

Why should you see it:

• Because it's a classic
• Because you want to be able to catch the pun next time you see a reference to these films
• Because you've missed the old type heroes
• For the little cute bastard (I love this kid)
• For the "pimped out" baby cart
• Because you understand single, working parents

Last but not least: I couldn't help myself, consider it a tribute...

Bonus: