Azumi 2

Involving another director in the sequel to a film that has aroused rather dubious reactions from me seems to me to be a very smart move. Azumi 2: Death or Love feels much more "Japanese" than its predecessor. Although some of the issues have been reduced, they haven't disappeared entirely. The rapid editing of fight scenes remains, and the blood now sprays everywhere, not just occasionally. However, the story has been given a clear beginning and end, making it more cohesive. Unfortunately, the plot may appear more extravagant at first glance, but in reality, the screenwriters once again made something out of nothing, while relying heavily on elements left by the first installment. Many unnecessary flashbacks, dream sequences, and endlessly convoluted dialogues once again needlessly extend the runtime to an (un)bearable length of 2 hours. The film still does feature beautiful camera work, and interesting music (although I personally would have appreciated it more in a PC game), and the set design appears less cheap than in the first film. But even though Azumi 2: Death or Love has a few more positives than its predecessor, the impression at the end is still bland. (12/08/2005)

This isn't a great movie either, but I have to say I liked it more than the first installment. Perhaps also because this is more B-grade, it isn't taken too seriously, and thanks to that, it works as a relaxing watch, which I appreciate because I wouldn't expect anything else from a similar movie. Plus, it's got a story. (23/06/2016)