Entering a movie without any expectations, I find, is the best way to watch a film. Knowing nothing about the movie allows for no preconceived ideas before you've sat down with your bucket of popcorn. However, this never happens as there are always previews and advertising to give you an idea of what the movie is about. And expectations are always what makes it difficult for sequels to outdo the first flick.
Having read a number of reviews regarding "Azumi", I was met with a mix of opinions. Some saying it rivals the action of "Kill Bill" while others saying it was a complete waste of time. As a result, when I went to see "Azumi" I had quite a number of varying expectations running through my mind before I got comfy in my seat. The end result being I saw both the good qualities and flaws in the film.
By the end I had come to the conclusion that how well you receive "Azumi" is based centrally on how you look at it.
If you go in expecting some serious "Seven Samurai"-like fare and being told this movie rivals the great Kurosawa films then you'll be sorely disappointed. Looking at "Azumi" in this light will make every scene look ridiculous the acting, the script, the plot, the cinematography, the effects, the costumes, the camera work, the direction all of it will have Kurosawa fans walking out within the first 15 minutes.
By contrast if you go in expecting a movie based on a manga comic book (and this is key to understanding why the film is the way it is) then you'll receive an enjoyable ride of samurai mayhem based on comic book storytelling. And there lies the crux to the film. Having not read the manga comic but being a huge fan of the manga industry (and having quite a collection myself), I have to say that the movie is very much a manga comic brought to life. In that respect, the movie receives top marks. The characters are all way over the top, none of them (especially the central players who are meant to be "terminator"-like assassins) are remotely realistic. But in terms of manga it's spot on and that's what the fans like.
This is where the core of the debate lies. Translating a manga comic into a real life movie accurately will result in a movie like "Azumi". It is flawed in so many ways but that's not the point. The point is just to have insane, over the top, Japanese manga style fun and in that respect it does very well indeed. So put your brain in neutral and enjoy the ride. 6/10
Having read a number of reviews regarding "Azumi", I was met with a mix of opinions. Some saying it rivals the action of "Kill Bill" while others saying it was a complete waste of time. As a result, when I went to see "Azumi" I had quite a number of varying expectations running through my mind before I got comfy in my seat. The end result being I saw both the good qualities and flaws in the film.
By the end I had come to the conclusion that how well you receive "Azumi" is based centrally on how you look at it.
If you go in expecting some serious "Seven Samurai"-like fare and being told this movie rivals the great Kurosawa films then you'll be sorely disappointed. Looking at "Azumi" in this light will make every scene look ridiculous the acting, the script, the plot, the cinematography, the effects, the costumes, the camera work, the direction all of it will have Kurosawa fans walking out within the first 15 minutes.
By contrast if you go in expecting a movie based on a manga comic book (and this is key to understanding why the film is the way it is) then you'll receive an enjoyable ride of samurai mayhem based on comic book storytelling. And there lies the crux to the film. Having not read the manga comic but being a huge fan of the manga industry (and having quite a collection myself), I have to say that the movie is very much a manga comic brought to life. In that respect, the movie receives top marks. The characters are all way over the top, none of them (especially the central players who are meant to be "terminator"-like assassins) are remotely realistic. But in terms of manga it's spot on and that's what the fans like.
This is where the core of the debate lies. Translating a manga comic into a real life movie accurately will result in a movie like "Azumi". It is flawed in so many ways but that's not the point. The point is just to have insane, over the top, Japanese manga style fun and in that respect it does very well indeed. So put your brain in neutral and enjoy the ride. 6/10