Product Details

• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009TRRN0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,558 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

LANGUAGE(S): ENGLISH The first two films in the original Japanese Lone Wolf And Cub series (also known as Baby Cart and Sword Of Vengeance) were edited together in 1980 to make this film. Astonishingly violent - SHOGUN ASSASSIN tells the story of Lone Wolf, a powerful and feared Masterless Samurai who lives a peaceful existence with his wife and his son. When he refuses to swear allegiance to Kurando, the most vicious Shogun in Japanese history, Kurando orders the death of Lone Wolfs wife, Azame. Blinded by rage, Lone Wolf vows to avenge her death, taking his son Tizuro with him on the path to darkness and retribution. Soon Lone Wolfs sword of vengeance is unleashed upon the evil Shoguns sons, the legendary Masters of Death and finally the Shogun himself. Watch out for junior as he releases the blades from the wheels of his rickety wooden cart... STARRING: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Ohki, Akiji Kobayashi (Shoji Kobayashi), Shin Kishida, Masahiro Tomikawa DIRECTOR(S): Robert Houston, Kenji Misumi PRODUCER(S): Shintaro Katsu, Hisaharu Matsubara, David Weisman RUNNING TIME: 81 mins. (approx.) DTS: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround SPECIAL FEATURES: Picture Gallery; Trailer Region Coding: All-Region Format: NTSC (playable in USA)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swords flash and blood flies in this Samaurai classic, June 12, 2005

By 

J. Himel (New Iberia, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shogun Assassin (DVD)

"Shogun Assassin" is actually a combining of two Japanese movies for American release that bring to the screen a story that has long been very popular in Japan (aka "Lone Wolf and Cub").
Some may recognize the title "Shogun Assassin" from the movie "Kill Bill Vol. 2". In that story, it is the movie that mother and daughter watch together at bedtime. How sweet. Tarantino is, no doubt, both making a joke and giving a nod to what is one of the bloodiest of all Samaurai movies, a genre known for its high splatter factor.
I first saw this movie in the 80's and am happy it is now available on DVD. I recommend it highly to any fan of Samaurai movies for its clever story line, customized baby carriage and over-the-top sword fighting sequences. It may not be high-brow, but it is must-see!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie/Terrible DVD, November 1, 2005

By 

D. Reed - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shogun Assassin (DVD)

Shogun Assasin is a great Samurai movie on its own merit, the Lone Wolf and Cub Movies are better, but this one is a violent combinations of the first two in that series. However, the DVD is crap. Non-Anamorphic picture and the print looks like a thirty year old video tape. Save your money and wait for a U.S. release.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Samurai classic...but the print blows, May 30, 2006

By 

danger ex machina (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shogun Assassin (DVD)

Roger Corman is legendary for dubbing and editing foreign films together for the American market. His company, New World, outdid themselves on this one. Unleashed on unsuspecting stateside audiences in 1980, Shogun Assassin has gained a mythic stature of it's own. Backed with a killer soundtrack by ex-Raider Mark Lindsay, this puppy is the sort of grindhouse picture that simply doesn't exist anymore. Cobbled together from the first two Lone Wolf & Cub movies, "Assassin" is the story of a renegade samurai in ancient Japan, travelling with his son, cutting down the Shogun's ninja spies who murdered his wife. The Shogun's men hunt them at every turn. Extraordinarily graphic stuff. Check out the Master of Death who praises The Wolf's technique even as a bloody mist sprays from his slit throat! Decapitations, impalations, heads cut in half, you name it, it's here. But...there's one big problem, kemosabe. This print looks atrocious, squeezed into the middle third of the screen by artifical letterboxes. Definitely get the two disc version that should be arriving in a few weeks. GZA fans NEED to see this movie. "Liquid Swords" samples it continously.