The first of the Crimson Bat films was an okay time waster but nothing overly memorable either. As a little girl, Oichi was abandoned by her mother (ran off with a lover) and then blinded in a lightning strike. She was taken in by an old man who one day was murdered by a gang of criminals because he could identify their leader. Oichi was saved by a swordsman who taught her the weapon. Within what appears to be all of six months, Oichi became a master of the sword and was on her own.
In this first adventure, Oichi was trying to protect an old man with a price on her head who wanted to see the daughter he gave up years ago. Said daughter's adopted family are poor farmers who have no choice but to sell the girl to a local brothel ran by a hard-as-nails madam.
Much of this first Crimson Bat film felt familiar. There were few surprises in the plot. The action was just okay and not very plentiful. The best thing about the film was the character of Obun, a female croupier that Oichi upsets, but that plot point remained underused.
In this first adventure, Oichi was trying to protect an old man with a price on her head who wanted to see the daughter he gave up years ago. Said daughter's adopted family are poor farmers who have no choice but to sell the girl to a local brothel ran by a hard-as-nails madam.
Much of this first Crimson Bat film felt familiar. There were few surprises in the plot. The action was just okay and not very plentiful. The best thing about the film was the character of Obun, a female croupier that Oichi upsets, but that plot point remained underused.