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Editorial Reviews
The LONE WOLF AND CUB series chronicles the adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro, who sell their services to people in need while traveling the countryside in search of revenge against the hit squad who killed Itto's wife. All six parts of the martial arts-based drama are included here. In the first film of the series, SWORD OF VENGEANCE, Ogami escapes with his son in a wooden baby cart after an assassination attempt on his family. The second film, BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX, sees Ogami stalked by a deadly female ninja as he attempts to assassinate a spy from the Shogunate. The journey continues in BABY CART TO HADES, with Ogami coming to the aid of a prostitute who killed her pimp. But he has to undergo torture to win back her freedom. In the follow-up, BABY CART IN PERIL, Ogami must battle a female martial arts master and defend his son from an assassination attempt by an enemy clan. The fifth film in the saga, BABY CART IN THE LAND OF DEMONS, features a duel between Ogami and five warriors who hold not only his assassin's fee, but vital information he needs to hunt down his enemies. Then, in the sixth and final installment in the LONE WOLF series, titled WHITE HEAVEN IN HELL, Ogami faces his ultimate challenge when all remaining members of the enemy Retsudo clan band together for a face-off on a snowy battlefield.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
77 of 82 people found the following review helpful
By amster
Format:DVD
For pure, unadulterated, visceral entertainment, the "Lone Wolf and Cub" series can't be beat. The acting, directing, the screenplays, and the cinematography are all top notch. The action sequences have to be seen to be believed. Each and every film feature loads of "money shots". Fans of Tarantino will immediately see where he drew much of his inspiration for the "Kill Bill" series. I suspect that these movies were an influence on "Mighty Python and the Holy Grail" as well. Another little known fact is that the manga that this is based upon was also the inspiration for "Road to Perdition".
People with no experience with Japanese cinema will probably find these movies to be very bizarre the first time they see them. They depict a culture whose morals and values are quite different from Western standards. Its not uncommon in these movies for someone to kill, or commit suicide, for reasons not easily comprehended. Examples: in Volume 2, a cult of female ninjas brutally dismember and kill one of their allies, just to prove a point (that they're superior fighters). In volume 6, one thug after another joyfully sacrifice their lives in order to help a princess perfect her killing technique. In volume 3, following a brutal rape and murder, a Samurai attempts to help the criminals cover up their atrocity. His actions are depicted as honorable behavior.
The main character, Ogami Itto, can only be described as an anti-hero. An assassin by trade, he describes himself as evil, a demon, "one who walks along the crossroads of Hell". He will kill anyone for 500 pieces of gold, even women and children. The opening scene in the first film sets the tone of the series, when Ogami, the official executioner of the Shogun, brutally decapitates a toddler. Even so, he is portayed throughout the series as a very sympathetic, honorable character. You will find yourself rooting for him and his son.
I can't say enough good things about these movies. They are so satisfying on every level. You'll get a rush at the over-the-top scenes of violence. You may even begin to question your Westernized notions of morality. Be cautioned though: these movies are not for the squeamish. Volume 1 and 3, in particular, feature very disturbing depictions of rape and murder. Don't say I didn't warn you.
People with no experience with Japanese cinema will probably find these movies to be very bizarre the first time they see them. They depict a culture whose morals and values are quite different from Western standards. Its not uncommon in these movies for someone to kill, or commit suicide, for reasons not easily comprehended. Examples: in Volume 2, a cult of female ninjas brutally dismember and kill one of their allies, just to prove a point (that they're superior fighters). In volume 6, one thug after another joyfully sacrifice their lives in order to help a princess perfect her killing technique. In volume 3, following a brutal rape and murder, a Samurai attempts to help the criminals cover up their atrocity. His actions are depicted as honorable behavior.
The main character, Ogami Itto, can only be described as an anti-hero. An assassin by trade, he describes himself as evil, a demon, "one who walks along the crossroads of Hell". He will kill anyone for 500 pieces of gold, even women and children. The opening scene in the first film sets the tone of the series, when Ogami, the official executioner of the Shogun, brutally decapitates a toddler. Even so, he is portayed throughout the series as a very sympathetic, honorable character. You will find yourself rooting for him and his son.
I can't say enough good things about these movies. They are so satisfying on every level. You'll get a rush at the over-the-top scenes of violence. You may even begin to question your Westernized notions of morality. Be cautioned though: these movies are not for the squeamish. Volume 1 and 3, in particular, feature very disturbing depictions of rape and murder. Don't say I didn't warn you.
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Lone Wolf and Cub is a series of films from 1970s Japan.
The story goes that Ogami Itto is Second to the Shogunate. He falls from grace due to some backstabbing and plotting. As his wife has been killed, he offers his son the option of joining his mother, or joining him in his path to Hell. His son, a toddler, takes the latter. Ogami becomes an assassin for hire, and as he has his son with him, they are the Lone Wolf and Cub.
You can read more about the movies themselves on the Internet. All you need to know for this review is that there are 6 films in total and you get all six in this set on 2 Blu Ray discs.
Video-
This is... a bit of a mixed bag. The transfer, overall, is very crisp and clean from what I can tell. The issue comes in with what is known as DNR (Digital Noise Reduction). Animeigo has made the decision to tweak the quality levels using DNR and as a result, some of the finer details are lost. Over all it doesn't seem TOO over used, but it IS used and there are occasions when it is noticeable if you know what to look for.
The video is n 1080p HD, of course. And it looks good, but could have been "better," in my opinion, had they left out the DNR or dialed it down a little. In comparison to the DVD, which is obviously SD, there is still a lot of extra quality in the Blu Ray.
Audio-
LPCM. Completely uncompressd audio taken from the source. You won't find a better sounding version of LWC's films.
It also needs to be noted, in case there is confusion, that this is in Japanese language ONLY. There is NO OPTION for spoken English language. There are, of course, English subtitles are obviously provided and, if you so choose, can be turned off. However, the subtitles can ONLY be controlled through the remote - there is no subtitle option for on the menus.
If you want spoken English and don't mind the films being edited together, check out the Shogun Assassin - 5 Film Collector's Edition [Blu-ray] set instead. The edited films are the reason you can't have spoken English with this set.
Menus -
Uhm... what menus? When you put the discs in, you see the Animeigo logo, a disclaimer that if you want subtitles on/off you have to use the remote and then... you're presented with a still shot of Ogami with a menu along the bottom with a choice of which of the 3 films you would like to watch. The option under each film is for chapter selection and an option to look at liner notes about each film.
I guess you don't need menus, really, since the films are what matters.
Packaging-
Kind of lame, but I think this has more to do with the age of the film and lack of more materials.
You have the image on the front, shown on the Amazon page, and a few screen shots on the back. A short description is included as well.
Final thoughts-
These are some of the finest Samurai films ever produced. Animeigo has done a good job with the Blu Ray transfer, though the extra DNR caused me to drop the ranking to 4 stars instead of 5. If you don't care about DNR or won't notice it, then this is a 5 star release.
The story goes that Ogami Itto is Second to the Shogunate. He falls from grace due to some backstabbing and plotting. As his wife has been killed, he offers his son the option of joining his mother, or joining him in his path to Hell. His son, a toddler, takes the latter. Ogami becomes an assassin for hire, and as he has his son with him, they are the Lone Wolf and Cub.
You can read more about the movies themselves on the Internet. All you need to know for this review is that there are 6 films in total and you get all six in this set on 2 Blu Ray discs.
Video-
This is... a bit of a mixed bag. The transfer, overall, is very crisp and clean from what I can tell. The issue comes in with what is known as DNR (Digital Noise Reduction). Animeigo has made the decision to tweak the quality levels using DNR and as a result, some of the finer details are lost. Over all it doesn't seem TOO over used, but it IS used and there are occasions when it is noticeable if you know what to look for.
The video is n 1080p HD, of course. And it looks good, but could have been "better," in my opinion, had they left out the DNR or dialed it down a little. In comparison to the DVD, which is obviously SD, there is still a lot of extra quality in the Blu Ray.
Audio-
LPCM. Completely uncompressd audio taken from the source. You won't find a better sounding version of LWC's films.
It also needs to be noted, in case there is confusion, that this is in Japanese language ONLY. There is NO OPTION for spoken English language. There are, of course, English subtitles are obviously provided and, if you so choose, can be turned off. However, the subtitles can ONLY be controlled through the remote - there is no subtitle option for on the menus.
If you want spoken English and don't mind the films being edited together, check out the Shogun Assassin - 5 Film Collector's Edition [Blu-ray] set instead. The edited films are the reason you can't have spoken English with this set.
Menus -
Uhm... what menus? When you put the discs in, you see the Animeigo logo, a disclaimer that if you want subtitles on/off you have to use the remote and then... you're presented with a still shot of Ogami with a menu along the bottom with a choice of which of the 3 films you would like to watch. The option under each film is for chapter selection and an option to look at liner notes about each film.
I guess you don't need menus, really, since the films are what matters.
Packaging-
Kind of lame, but I think this has more to do with the age of the film and lack of more materials.
You have the image on the front, shown on the Amazon page, and a few screen shots on the back. A short description is included as well.
Final thoughts-
These are some of the finest Samurai films ever produced. Animeigo has done a good job with the Blu Ray transfer, though the extra DNR caused me to drop the ranking to 4 stars instead of 5. If you don't care about DNR or won't notice it, then this is a 5 star release.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
"500 gold pieces can buy his sword, but nothing can buy his honor."
October 29, 2007
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Lone Wolf and Cub" is the pinnacle of Asian grindhouse cinema and the most action-packed and downright cool series of samurai films ever made. The violence is brutal, the sex (both forced and consensual) is plentiful, the characters are memorable, and there is a lot of subtle humor and beautiful Japanese culture to be enjoyed as well. I cannot recommend these six films enough.
Beginning as the Shogun's personal executioner, our anti-hero Ogami Itto is framed by the jealous and ambitious Yagyu clan's shadow ops; his wife murdered in the process. In his rage, Itto takes his young son, Daigoro, and declares them to be demons, apart from the world of men to live as assassins for hire. His primary target: the head of the Shadow Yagyus, a decrepit old warrior known as Retsudo. Along the way he encounters hidden ninja and other Yagyu warriors, deadly kunoichi, clan heads in need of his services, friendly villagers, prostitutes, yakuza, Retsudo's skilled offspring, and many more, most of whom will either be diced up by his sword, or by his enemies'. Thankfully, Lone Wolf and Cub are more than ready for whatever comes their way. Ogami Itto pushes his son around in a modified baby cart that is packed full of hidden surprises for anyone who wishes to take his head. And nobody is his equal with a sword. Nobody. Amusingly, Daigoro manages to rack up a little body count of his own and embarks on his own little adventures from time to time too.
The first film "Sword of Vengeance" focuses on Ogami Itto's first clashes with the Shadow Yagyu clan; playing a bloody game of chess as the disgraced samurai embarks upon his demon's journey by outwitting Retsudo and escaping to the open road. "Baby Cart at the River Styx" is my favorite film of the series and features a deadly band of lady shinobi (kunoichi), and a mission which pits Lone Wolf and Cub against a trio of skilled and honorable warriors with brutal weapons who have been hired to protect his target. "Baby Cart to Hades" (best title ever!) has Itto sacrificing his own body to protect a lowly prostitute in need and features one of the greatest action sequences ever filmed as our (anti)hero single-handedly battles an entire force of Yagyu troopers and kills ever last one. Awesome. "Baby Cart in Peril" features a heroic female samurai with tattoos who fights topless (for distraction, see?). In order to retrieve the information vital to his mission in "Baby Cart in the Land of Demons" Lone Wolf and Cub must past the deadly tests put forth by five of the clans retainers who can appear anywhere at any time. Lastly "White Heaven in Hell" pits Ogami Itto and son against a Yagyu clan desperate to finally avenge their shame by ending their lives. Lord Retsudo orders every person who helps or even speaks to them to be put to death. As Itto flees civilization into the frozen mountains, Retsudo sends his supernaturally-powered ninja to stalk him while the remainder of the clan's army is brought up for the end game. All of these films are must-sees for martial-arts and action fans.
The bonus features include many trailers, particularly for Zatoichi films (Shintaro Katsu -who played the legendary blind swordsman- produced the first three films and cast this brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama, as Ogami Itto). Each disc also features extensive and informative notes about Japanese history and culture to help put some of the events in the films in perspective. Good stuff.
If you're looking for unrelenting action, brutal gore, a protagonist who is an unstoppable bada$#, and a story that has coolness around every corner then this is a series you must look into. It's a great place to start if you're looking to get into samurai films and this set belongs in the DVD library of all professing to be fans of the genre. Buy these films and enter the Crossroads to Hell.
Beginning as the Shogun's personal executioner, our anti-hero Ogami Itto is framed by the jealous and ambitious Yagyu clan's shadow ops; his wife murdered in the process. In his rage, Itto takes his young son, Daigoro, and declares them to be demons, apart from the world of men to live as assassins for hire. His primary target: the head of the Shadow Yagyus, a decrepit old warrior known as Retsudo. Along the way he encounters hidden ninja and other Yagyu warriors, deadly kunoichi, clan heads in need of his services, friendly villagers, prostitutes, yakuza, Retsudo's skilled offspring, and many more, most of whom will either be diced up by his sword, or by his enemies'. Thankfully, Lone Wolf and Cub are more than ready for whatever comes their way. Ogami Itto pushes his son around in a modified baby cart that is packed full of hidden surprises for anyone who wishes to take his head. And nobody is his equal with a sword. Nobody. Amusingly, Daigoro manages to rack up a little body count of his own and embarks on his own little adventures from time to time too.
The first film "Sword of Vengeance" focuses on Ogami Itto's first clashes with the Shadow Yagyu clan; playing a bloody game of chess as the disgraced samurai embarks upon his demon's journey by outwitting Retsudo and escaping to the open road. "Baby Cart at the River Styx" is my favorite film of the series and features a deadly band of lady shinobi (kunoichi), and a mission which pits Lone Wolf and Cub against a trio of skilled and honorable warriors with brutal weapons who have been hired to protect his target. "Baby Cart to Hades" (best title ever!) has Itto sacrificing his own body to protect a lowly prostitute in need and features one of the greatest action sequences ever filmed as our (anti)hero single-handedly battles an entire force of Yagyu troopers and kills ever last one. Awesome. "Baby Cart in Peril" features a heroic female samurai with tattoos who fights topless (for distraction, see?). In order to retrieve the information vital to his mission in "Baby Cart in the Land of Demons" Lone Wolf and Cub must past the deadly tests put forth by five of the clans retainers who can appear anywhere at any time. Lastly "White Heaven in Hell" pits Ogami Itto and son against a Yagyu clan desperate to finally avenge their shame by ending their lives. Lord Retsudo orders every person who helps or even speaks to them to be put to death. As Itto flees civilization into the frozen mountains, Retsudo sends his supernaturally-powered ninja to stalk him while the remainder of the clan's army is brought up for the end game. All of these films are must-sees for martial-arts and action fans.
The bonus features include many trailers, particularly for Zatoichi films (Shintaro Katsu -who played the legendary blind swordsman- produced the first three films and cast this brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama, as Ogami Itto). Each disc also features extensive and informative notes about Japanese history and culture to help put some of the events in the films in perspective. Good stuff.
If you're looking for unrelenting action, brutal gore, a protagonist who is an unstoppable bada$#, and a story that has coolness around every corner then this is a series you must look into. It's a great place to start if you're looking to get into samurai films and this set belongs in the DVD library of all professing to be fans of the genre. Buy these films and enter the Crossroads to Hell.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Samarai
I had this series on VHS tape that i had recorded from broadcast. The quality of these are phenominal in comparison. I only wish the films had finished the Manga series
Published 1 month ago by BIGGWALLY
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific
i remember watching these on TV years ago.i was glad to buy this.they were just as enjoyable to watch as then.
Published 1 month ago by Ed
5.0 out of 5 stars
Visually pleasing and entertaining series
Lone Wolf and Cub is a quintessential Samurai epic that does well at converting comic to live action. The transfer is very straight forward with little enhancement. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Televiper
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very disappointed
None of the nuance, discretion, acting, etc. of Zatoichi. Exactly the opposite in fact. Shoddy and poor quality editing and over the top dialogue and fights.
Published 1 month ago by PorcoBoyo
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Good as it Gets
Although the blu-ray transfer doesn't really add too much clarity to the film, it doesn't matter. These things could be shown on a high school projector in black and white and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Spencer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome (Not family friendly)
I honestly wished that Amazon's rating system could go higher. I'd rate it a 7/5 if I could. The movies present themselves as a live-action anime without all of the crazy moves... Read more
Published 2 months ago by UpstartBrigand
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just for hard core fans of samurai serials
Nothing new for the genre. The films have a more Japanese cultural view than many "western" samurai serials. Read more
Published 2 months ago by SCOTT N CHURCHILL
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bad ass...
Love the movies, love the genre, great set to add to your collection...Shipping arrived quickly so if your a fan of Ogami and D'Aigaro you'll love these as well..
Published 2 months ago by Carlos Montanez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lone Wolf & Cub, Vol. 6
Finally some episodes starting Daigaro (the Cub) as a three year old, being separated from this father (lone Wolf) and his servival.
Published 2 months ago by Ruben R. Villagran
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally!
I've been waiting for the blu-ray for many many years. While there have been complaints that this set uses excessive noise reduction, I think it looks good.
Published 2 months ago by Tan
