Kozure Ôkami: Meifumadô (1973)

Director:

Kenji Misumi

Writers:

Kazuo Koike (writer)
Tsutomu Nakamura (writer)

Release Date:

24 August 2005 (France)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Once he agrees to kill, nothing can stand in his way.

Plot:

Fifth film in the Lone Wolf & Cub Series. 5 warriors challenge Ogami to duels. Each has 1/5th of Ogami's...

Plot Keywords:

Warrior | Based On Comic | Dark Hero | Samurai Warrior | Sword

Cast

Tomisaburo Wakayama	...	Ogami Itto
Michiyo Ookusu	...	Shiranui (as Michiyo Yasuda)
Akihiro Tomikawa	...	Daigoro
Shingo Yamashiro	...	Lord Kurdoa Naritaka
Tomomi Sato	...	Quick Change Oyô
Akira Yamauchi	...	Ayabe Ukon, messenger #1
Hideji Ôtaki	...	Mogami Shusuke, messenger #2
Taketoshi Naitô	...	Mawatara Hachiro, messenger #3
Fujio Suga	...	Kikuchi Yamon, messenger #4
Rokko Toura	...	Sazare Kanbei, messenger #5
Yoshi Katô
Ritsu Ishiyama
Hiroshi Tanaka
Michima Otabe
Koji Fujiyama	...	Tomekichi the moll

Also Known As:

Baby Cart at the River Styx (USA) (video title)
Baby Cart in the Land of Demons
Crossroads to Hell (literal English title)
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Land of Demons
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (USA) (DVD title)
Shogun Assassin 4: Five Fistfuls of Gold (USA) (DVD box title)
Sword of Vengeance V

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated | Australia:MA

Company:

Toho Company

Movie Connections:

Follows Kozure Ôkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma (1972)

The fifth and probably the best entry into the Lone Wolf and Cub series

I love the Lone Wolf and Cub series, they are the greatest series of action movies ever made! Tomisaburo Wakayama is my favourite samurai (well, technically ronin) of all time and Daigoro is the greatest "sidekick." I love every one of these movies but this has got to be my favourite for many reasons.

The swordplay in this one is amazing and relentless. There is barely a minute without some sort of fight and none are repetitive. There always seems to be a new way to off someone with plenty of blood. The story is particularly in-depth in this one, with an interesting plot about deceit and betrayal within the Kuroda clan. Of particular note is the focus on the relationship between Itto and Daigoro, which in this entry is very unique and moving. The cinematography is as usual stunning, it really showcases Japan's beautiful countryside.

Be sure not to miss this entry into this amazing series.

5/5