Cheap 0 Lone Wolf and Cub - A Pack of Wolves (Video) (Lone Wolf & Cub) Price

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Customer Reviews of 0 Lone Wolf and Cub - A Pack of Wolves

This ain't the balletic fantasy of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; our hero is SWORD fighting, and that must have been messy indeed. One of his favorite techniques is to swoop low severing his opponent below the knees, chopping him down like a sapling. These filmakers are also fond of the arterial spray, where chest and neck wounds spurt blood like burst water pipes. There are numerous decapitations, lopped limbs, split heads etc. There is also rape and frequent nudity (one segment has a female assassin who fights topless). So, these are not films for the kiddies.

Taking place in 17th Century Japan, the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate, this is the story of Ogami Itto, the Shogun's Executioner whose job is to Second (assist,i.e., behead) those the Shogun has ordered to commit Seppuku (ritual suicide). We learn how harsh this world is in the opening segment of the 1st film (Sword of Vengeance) when the clan leader Ogami is to "assist" is shown to be a child.

A treacherous clan, the Yagu's, murder Ogami's wife and set him up as a traitor to the Shogunate, desiring his own Seppuka in order for the clan to gain his position as Shogun Executioner. Ogami, instead, outfoxes them, swears vengeance and renounces everything, hits the road with his infant son, Daigoro, and becomes a "demon, bound by no rules" and an assassin for hire while he pursues and dispatches as many Yagyu clansmen as he can find, all the while searching for their leader, Lord Retsudo.

Over the course of the 6 films, Ogami has many side adventures as he is hired as an assassin or is drawn into the plight of others. Starring Wakayam Tomisaburo, he is not a Hollywood hero by any stretch. Middle-aged, a wee bit paunchy, he ain't pretty, but he be bad. A master of the Souiyu technique of swordsmanship, Itto has all the right moves.

Apparently based on a famous traditional Japanese comic book, the action in the series is both real and fantastic. Each film is roughly 90 minutes or less, so they move quickly, but they are packed with detail and action.

This attention to detail is impressive and the adherence to and understanding of the codes of behavior and rituals involved fascinating.The films come with very detailed Liner Notes that help the viewer unravel this complex world of manner & custom.

While the different entries in the series vary in their complete success, I give the overall series 5 stars, because, quite frankly, it is all done well and it is quite unique. However, it certainly will not appeal to all tastes.

Best Martial arts series ever seen
Best of the Best if your talking about a series - The Wong Fei Hung series goes 2nd and Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman isn't a series for say but indivdual movies. the Matrix series hasn't been made yet and these could be very well made but I sure the Holywood infections will take hold and send those out of the #1 spot.

Greatest Set of Movies Ever Made
As a whole, this is the greatest set of movies ever made. I've seen 7 Samurai and Yojimbo and that type of Japanese movies and they're great but there's just something really unique about the Lone Wolf Series. Once you start watching, you just can't stop. It's a shame that Tomisaburo didn't make more of these.