Adapted from the manga by Yu Koyama, directed by Ryuhei "Versus" Kitamura, and starring the ultra cute Aya Ueto in the title role, Azumi is a highly enjoyable period/fantasy samurai epic. The story follows a group of assassins whose mission is to eliminate the evil warlords who are pushing the country closer to civil war. It's a simple plot, but it gets the job done. On the whole, some might find the movie to be a bit too formulaic. Some of the plot devices are also a bit crude. But the movie is helped by Ryuhei Kitamura's trademark frenetic action, the above average choreography, the gorgeous landscape, and the gorgeous Aya Ueto. She may be a pop star, but this kunoichi looks confident with a sword, and she knows how to use it. Comparisons can legitimately be made to the recent Hong Kong blockbuster "The Twins Effect" starring the unbelievably popular pop duo TWINS (Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung). Both films are vehicles for their respective pop stars, but The Twins Effect was made with tongue firmly in cheek. Azumi takes itself much more seriously, and, for the most part, it works.
It's nice to see that Kitamura is now getting a modest budget for his film, as this looks noticeably better than the somewhat juvenile "Versus". Still, some of the effects are extremely noticeable and look unfinished, but Kitamura never dwells on them long enough for the viewer to really care. While we're on the subject of comparisons, Azumi does feature some instances of strong violence (including some nice arterial sprays), but not near as graphic as those in Versus. The filmmakers were no doubt trying to appeal to Aya Ueto's fan base by toning the violence down somewhat. On a final note, this movie delivers the goods in a big way. Great performances, great action, great everything. Enjoy it for what it is and have a good time.
It's nice to see that Kitamura is now getting a modest budget for his film, as this looks noticeably better than the somewhat juvenile "Versus". Still, some of the effects are extremely noticeable and look unfinished, but Kitamura never dwells on them long enough for the viewer to really care. While we're on the subject of comparisons, Azumi does feature some instances of strong violence (including some nice arterial sprays), but not near as graphic as those in Versus. The filmmakers were no doubt trying to appeal to Aya Ueto's fan base by toning the violence down somewhat. On a final note, this movie delivers the goods in a big way. Great performances, great action, great everything. Enjoy it for what it is and have a good time.