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blaxter101@iprimus.com.au
Reviews
Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005)
I loved Azumi, but Azumi 2 deserves a quick death
I loved watching the original Azumi with its mix of live action manga, compelling storyline, cool soundtrack, directing (Kitamura rocks!), editing, and not to mention the beautiful Aya Ueto who filled the part perfectly. So I was really looking forward to seeing Azumi 2, but after finally seeing it I felt like i had won the lotto and lost the ticket:( Azumi 2 picks up where Azumi left off, however these are completely 2 different movies. The pace is a lot slower, the action is not as exciting and as well choreographed and there is not a lot of character development. This was apparently directed by the same guy responsible for further reducing the value of the TOHO monster franchise (if that is possible!). I agree with some other past reviewers who say that this was a lost opportunity. If only Ryuhei Kitamura continued with this installment. There is however some beautiful Japanese forest scenery to look at while the slow action unfolds and we are introduced all too briefly to bit characters who quickly get killed off. Even the real bad guys, get killed off too easily without too much of a fight. The fight with the Spider guy (straight out of an episode of Monkey!) in the bamboo forest was about the only memorable fight scene. Wheras in Azumi 1 we had a climactic fight scene with barrel camera effects, Azumi 2 brought us the Azumi cape cam!! Azumi's rampage at the end was unconvincing, but Aya still does an okay job. She looks great in the cape...but where did she get it from? I don't think i will be watching this one over and over again! ...what a pity.
The Magic Sword (1962)
Classic Camp Classic
I just got this DVD copy of 'The magic sword' (Control Productions) for $5 and have found this to be a classic camp classic gem! *Warning spoilers*
The DVD was pretty bland on extra features, having only a chapter search and some screen credits. The end titles did not seem to have been mastered properly. The special effects may seem pretty pathetic today, but I guess in 1962 they would have seemed to have been as good as the 'Matrix'!!
The basic premise of the story is of a young farmboy George (Garry Lockwood) who has been raised by the good witch Sybil (his noble parents died), upon reaching his 21st birthday finds out about his past and is given some magical gifts. One of these being a magic sword, magic armour, a white horse (which can appear to run swiftly when the film is sped up). He also has 6 snap frozen good knights brought out of slumber to help him rescue the beautiful Princess Helene, who was stolen by the evil sorceror Lodac (Basil Rathbone), who apart from wanting to exchange her for a certain Magical ring needs her as Dragon food. Well George visits Helene's father the king, with his 6 international knights (who each behave and speak sterotypical accents), and along with the evil Sir Branton (who has eyes on Helene and his own deal with Lodac) sets off on a quest to rescue the Princess from Lodac's castle. But Lodac has protected the way with 7 curses which George and his friends must defeat. Suffice to say his mates get picked off one by one, thanks to Sir Branton's treachery and the curses. But anyway without spoiling the middle bit, George defeats Lodac (thanks to Sybil and of course the Magic Sword), gets the girl and through magic, all his dead mates are brought back to life!!...aaah what a nice ending.
The dialogue is like a school Pantomime but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to follow the plot.
Other funny things I have noted: Richard Kiel who played Jaws in the James Bond movies is apparently one of Lodac's cone headed henchmen if you can see him.
One possible goof: The French Knight: Sir Dennis refers to Sir Branton as 'Senor Branton' in the cottage.
Anyway save this for a laugh with your kids:-)