Again I watched this movie because Oguri Shun is here too. Well this time he lasted more than 30 minutes in the movie. *sigh*
The movie is a continuation of the first movie. Azumi (Aya Ueto) and Nagara (Ishigaki Yuma) are on the run against Kanbei, Kato’s right hand soldier. They got cornered and managed to escape. But Nagara was hit. They rested and while Nagara was regaining his strength, Azumi went to a store where a group of bandits attacked asking for money. There she met Ginkaku (Oguri Shun) an exact look a like of Nachi. Though Ginkaku’s allies wanted her to join them because she got the right attitude and kawaii (cute) but Ginkaku let her go. When she went back to Nagara, Priest Tenkai’s soldiers are there to accompany them. Priest Tenkai wanted to let his soldiers finish their mission but Azumi and Nagara felt that they should finish what they are ordered to do for their fallen comrades, Tenkai let them continue with the mission. Gozue (Kuriyama Chiaki), one of Tenkai’s soldiers, voluntarily joined but she seemed to have strange intention towards Azumi and Nagara. Meanwhile, Ginkaku and his friends joined Kanbei’s men promising more money after they kill a couple of assassins. After realizing that they have to face Azumi they immediately switch side and supported Azumi.
Though Ginkaku’s friends think that fighting in the war is useless, Ginkaku and some men willingly joined Azumi’s quest to stop the impending war. Now that Azumi’s allies are growing they are going to face Sanada’s stronger forces but this is not going to be easy. Kanbei offered his strength to Sanada so he can avenge his master’s death. Not only that, Sanada hired a notorious group of ninja assassins called Uenokogasho.
When I was watching this I was getting slightly nervous for Azumi, cause as the story progressed she is realizing the consequences of being an assassin. The ending well it’s kinda sad for me though she completed her mission (I can only give this much okie).
As for the subtitle Death or Love, I actually don’t get it. In the span of the story Azumi only remembers her love for Nachi and when she saw Ginkaku she never once thought of joining Ginkaku [ok maybe a little] and still prefers to complete her mission, although Nagara abandoned her and left her with Ginkaku.
Facts:
~ Nagara played by Ishigaki Yuma can also be seen in Gokusen 1 as Minami and his also one of the members of Wild Seven in Battle Royale 2 (refer to Battle Royale 2 picture).
~ Gozue played by Kuriyama Chiaki also stared in Battle Royale 1 and her most notable role is when she played Gogo Yubari in Kill Bill no.1
originally posted: July 20, 2007
