Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005)

Young assassins Azumi and Nagara continue their mission to prevent a civil war. In their hunt for Masayuki Sanada, who is protected by both an army and a dangerous clan, they meet Ginkaku, a person who shows a remarking resemblance with former friend Nachi.

Director:

Shûsuke Kaneko

Writers:

Yû Koyama (manga), Mataichirô Yamamoto (screenplay),

Stars:

Aya Ueto, Yûma Ishigaki, Chiaki Kuriyama

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aya Ueto	...	Azumi
Yûma Ishigaki	...	Nagara
Chiaki Kuriyama	...	Kozue
Shun Oguri	...	Ginkaku / Nachi
Kazuki Kitamura	...	Kanbê Inoue
Ken'ichi Endô	...	Kinkaku
Kai Shishido	...	Hanzô
Tak Sakaguchi	...	Tsuchigumo (as Taku Sakaguchi)
Kengo	...	Roppa
Shôichirô Masumoto	...	Saburôta
Shun Itô	...	Kijimaru
Kenji Takechi	...	Kiheita
Shunta Fuchino	...	Shintarô
Eugene Nomura	...	Samurai Z (as Yûjin Nomura)
Ai Maeda	...	Chiyo

Storyline

Young assassins Azumi and Nagara continue their mission to prevent a civil war. In their hunt for Masayuki Sanada, who is protected by both an army and a dangerous clan, they meet Ginkaku, a person who shows a remarking resemblance with former friend Nachi.

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Plot Keywords:

heroic bloodshed | blood | evil man | martial arts | based on comic | 

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Taglines:

Love or duty... An assassin must choose.

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Genres:

Action

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

12 March 2005 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Azumi 2

Filming Locations:

Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$216,480 (Japan) (11 March 2005)

Gross:

$216,480 (Japan) (11 March 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nippon Herald Films, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Shogakukan

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The amount of blood on Azumi's sword in the final fight scene changes.

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Quotes

Azumi: Why the hell is it always like this?

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Connections

Follows Azumi (2003)

User Reviews

Azumi refined

This can't be considered a separate film, it's just part 2. It starts exactly where it left off, without any explanations or flashbacks on how it starts. I can only imagine how confused someone can be watching this movie without seeing part 1. The actors are the same, the extras are the same (to the ridiculous point of having a friendly swordsman be interpreted by the same actor that played a killed foe in the first part of the movie AND being credited in the cast with the same character name).

However, the plot is more refined, it gets into the psychology of the people involved, the fights are more realistic, the directing is slightly better. In a few words it's exactly how Azumi 1 should have been. Of course, this doesn't make it a masterpiece. The same lame excuses for action and the same Japanese clichés are met all over the place. The only thing new to this part is the implementation of a rival clan of assassins, each specialized in a certain way, thus entering the more popular arena of super-strong ninja fighters. Also guns are used more, but with the same insane inefficiency as in the first part.

Oh, and for people reading this without seeing part 1 OR reading my super cool comment on the first part :) this is a movie about a cute diminutive young girl who is the best assassin ever, but still manages to have a conscience, dreams, friends, like any other normal human being. Sorta like Santa.