Review of Azumi (2003) by Steve W — 09 May 2009

I have to be honest, this film was pretty lame. Its based off a popular japanese manga, and its got a director that likes to focus on gore and action.

This would seem like a fun and action packed ride, but not really. With a high body count and buckets of blood, the movie gets repetitive and tiresome in its killing.

One fight scene consists of 50 badguys jumping at the lead actress, and when they within 3 feet of her they fall down with a gush of real or CG blood. The entire movie is pretty much like this.

The music is terrible. With cool scenes of foreboding and build up before a fight scene, they play with terrible japanese rock that doesn't fit with this movie.

The film does feel like a comic book film, just not done well. Its also very lengthy at just over 2 hours. It needed better editing to tighten the pace.

There is one element that works. The ending battle where Azumi faces off against an entire army of bandits, archers, samurai, and rifle men. She manages to cut down many of them, and then the two different groups turn on each other so she can take a small break.

Then she kills the villain in a lame CGI finish.

Overall, the main actress doesn't really give any performance, which is okay in this type of over the top action movie. But the gore gets repetitive and so does the long pace.

This film is the equivalent of a lame over the top action film done in America.