Diagonaldi Very well executed

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Woodyanders Director Robert Houston and producer David Weisman do a surprisingly solid and enjoyable job with making a down'n'dirty exploitation composite version of the first two Lone Wolf and Cub films: We've got lots of exciting sword fights, loads of blood-spurting violence, a taut and engrossing story that unfolds at a breathless brisk pace, acceptable dubbing, funky-throbbing music which hits the get-down groovy spot, and an astronomical body count, all of which probably delighted audience members at seedy dive theaters and sleazy drive-ins across America back in the day. Moreover, having disgraced samurai turned maverick itinerant hired assassin Lone Wolf's son Daigoro (adorable Akihiro Tomikawa) narrate the movie rates as an especially inspired and effective touch. While lacking the depth and poignancy of the original individual films, this spirited Reader's Digest take on the series nonetheless still satisfies as a gory good time just the same.

Viva_Chiba Shogun Assassin is a combination of the first 2 movies of the "Lone Wolf and Cub" saga, this "adaptation" was intended for the American grind house circuit and British cienemas, but probably it got a release in other western countries too.Just the fact that this movie is just an adaptation, you would expect something dreadful and horrible....but it's not ! The dubbing is great, but sometimes it gets hilarious, the soundtrack is awesome and it was composed especially for the Shogun Assassin edit, not for the original movies ! The action is cool and well choreographed, with lots of sword fighting and lots of blood, including lots of bloody sword slashings, some finger chopping and decapitations ! The movie is not boring at all, check it out !

winner55 This is neither as a good a film as some reviewers claim, nor is it as bad as others remark.The "Lone Wolf and Cub" chambara (sword fight) films have a strong cult following. The first I saw was "Kozure Ôkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma", on an English-dub VHS with the ridiculously redundant title "Lupine Wolf" (a Latinate-Germanic bastardization which properly translates as "Wolfly Wolf"?!); I couldn't tell whether to laugh or feel shocked. These are indeed rather odd films, because the film-makers have not failed to include every cliché of the genre they could, and yet boldly include wild innovations that are completely anachronistic, having absolutely nothing to do with the Chambara tradition, nor with the older tradition of samurai-folklore. In that respect, they paved the way for many of the fantasy ninja and samurai films that followed, and which constitute most of the "B-movie" entries in the Japanese cinema of the past ten years. While the anachronisms most noticeable are the gimmicky weapons (packed inside the baby-cart, no less), what may truly offend a traditionalist here (and I guess I'm one of these) are the personalities of the characters involved, who talk and act like 1960s street yakusa pretending to be samurai.But what makes these anachronisms striking is that they are presented in films that take themselves just SO seriously, there is hardly ever a moment's humor, and rarely does any character even smile. And to be sure, the Japan depicted in these films is so dark, so filled with vile corruptions - physical, legal, spiritual - that it's difficult to understand why all these characters just don't commit seppuku and get it over with.This particular film has recently been re-released on DVD. It is actually a re-edit of the first two films. The DVD costs less than half the price of any of the original films, and is more widely available than any of them (I got my copy at Wal-Mart). Consequently, it will probably be the first of these films younger American viewers are likely to see. Is it faithful to the original series? Not quite. The story tends to get lost among the action scenes, and the original films actually have strong, if rather complicated, story-lines. And most confusing of all is the loss of the sense of anachronism which was the special gift this series made to the Japanese action film.Still, it is a film entertaining in its own violent way; and at the price, it may be worth viewing as a sampler, to get the taste of the original series.I should warn the reader that every review concerning the violence in this film (and in the original series) is completely true. The violence in these films is graphic almost beyond belief; Lone Wolf cultists are clearly impressed with it, others may feel it is so overdone it borders on self-parody. (For comparison, check out the final Katsu "Zatoichi" film, which has a shattering final sword-fight that uses touches of wit here and there without losing any of its credibility.) Not to every taste, not even among chambara fans, but it may be to yours.

drgonzo212 This movie is crap. Basically a mesh of 6 really cool samurai movies mixed into one film that is utter trash and totally lacks the feel of the originals. Ignore the rave reviews of the people who just don't know any better. Robert Houston, "The director" is actually a washed up actor from the 70's. Ugh! Another example of Hollywood taking something great and regurgitating onto movie screens for retarded mass audiences to lap up. I noticed most people who remember watching this movie in the 80's are over rating this movie big time! I think perhaps they are not putting aside childhood nostalgia and voting based on that. I watched this in the 80's and I wasn't really impressed. However, when I saw the originals from the 1970's -I was blown away! That's also when I noticed that the English dubbed voices are horrid! Itto Ogami's voice/dialog in Shogun assassin is simply ridiculous. Look at the voice over cast -Sandra Bernhard??????? Jeez! What nonsense! The real voice of Tomisaburo Wakayama is powerful and his laugh is haunting and scary at the same time. I also love how the super hacks David Weisman and Robert Houston credit themselves as "writers". That makes me sick. Skip right over this mess and watch the Kozure Ôkami series instead!