Azumi 2: Death or Love

Wow, now that's some neat action. Azumi is back and this movie turned out to be really great for being a follow up. I agree with many people in that the first piece is better than this one, but this one is still great. I felt that this piece really tied up the plot well, by adding this one together with the first movie. Here we get the pleasure to meet a bunch of new character, but they've also chosen to keep the same actors from the first movie - which came as a great surprise to me as too many plots which develops into series have a vital problem with keeping the actors from the first movie. If you like the first Azumi movie you will definitely like this one, and if you're yet not an Azumi fan you will most likely be one in the near future if you choose to experience the series. A warning though, you should really see the first movie first because I can't imagine myself even getting half of the plot here if I wouldn't have seen the first one before. Azumi to the bone! 7/10!

The girls is cute, but it just lacks really good action scenes and realistic story. You will be see a lot of conversation in this movie. Action senses is pretty short and the ending just sucks. The boss is really weak at the ending. I thought the first movie was much better, more bloody and better story line. The first movie contain challenges that Azumi and her friends got to go to through. My favorite enemy in the first movie was the crazy guy that in the white kimono. He just plain crazy and kill everything in his way. This second movie seem to focus more one story or try to. Sure, there is one good fight seen in the bamboo forest with Azumi versus bear ninja guy(use claws and wire as weapon). The second attempt of this movie made probably to sell the cute actresses. Don't get me wrong, I'll go and watch the cute ninja girls in action, but for action and story line. It just plain triable. I don't mind of having female as a warrior. Just watch it yourself and decide if it good or bad.

Some people might say that the first Azumi is a straight action flick which can and should be seen for its dazzling displays of sword play, but, and that's a big but, what glued the visuals together in the first installment was the characters: The little group of young assassins who went out on their mission. Azumi 2 really, really miss this little group. Our doe eyed heroine is even missing her famous smile and the reason for this - a seemingly ghost from the past - unfortunately leaves her with a facial expression, not unlike those who c's her draw her sword, but ain't quite sure if they're to die or not. That apart, Azumi 2 is worth watching: Especially if you dig the action scenes in the first one, and this time, a trio of really cool opponents has been thrown in, which kind of reminded me of the trio of deadly assassins in sword of vengeance, so if you liked them, check out Azumi 2! But, the bottom line is that Azumi 2 is missing something in order to be as good as the first one: Maybe it has been cut, and maybe some day a directors cut version will surface to set the record straight, but until then: you will love it if you're in it for the action, but if you're like me, you will only like it, cause swords are not enough!

Azumi was one of the best in recent samurai movies in the last few years. This sequel, while not hitting the high points of that movie, is still a good follow-up. As Azumi and Nagara continue their hunt for the last lord, they meet up with a group of bandits, one of whom looks very familiar.....

The original had a plot that was more simple and straight forwards. Here there is actually more going on, and as a result, with a number of new characters introduced sometimes Azumi and Nagara are lost in the mix.

Having said that however, the action, while not quite as good as in the first movie, is still very impressive. But what has also been added is a bit more of an emotional, even love story with the character of Ginkaku. Loking exactly like Nachi (someone Azumi liked, possibly loved and had to kill in the first movie), it gives Azumi a possible chance of love, but as is always the case in movies like this, things never go to plan.

As in the first movie, Aya Ueto gives a strong performance in the lead role. The rest of the cast are just as good too. Shusuke Kaneko taking over the direction handles it well.

It may not be as action packed as the first, but it is a very worthy sequel.

Azumi left off on a cliffhanger, but at the same time we could have gone without seeing a sequel. This sequel is rather bad. The first one had great manga style action, this one barely has any of the cool action in the first one. Also they decide to recast all the dead actors from the first movie, and have them play a different role. It just doesn't work and creates a huge mess of a film.

The story suddenly becomes a love story, instead of an assassin story like the first one. In the first one, Azumi and her team had one simple goal, kill the men who will eventually start wars in Japan. This movie does have a cool fight scene at the end, but it is short and the way they end this movie is really underwhelming.

I guess fans should watch the sequel just to see what happens to Azumi, but after watching this movie, they should only stick with the first one.