After the heart pounding final fight in The Trail of Blood, The Fearless Avenger (part 2 of the Mikogami Trilogy) drops us right into more fights and more turmoil for our wandering Samurai Jokichi. Running at an all to brief 80 minutes The Fearless Avenger leaves little time for story and gets us straight into some entertaining fights including a very ballsy confrontation with "Boss Thunder" and the entire Yakuza Boss Squad during a night of gambling and partying.
For the most part little is here in the way of story and that is fine as we already know the situation going into this movie. If not there is a brief summary in the beginning of the prior film's events. What story we do have that is new is that Boss Thunder has hired Jokichi to bring his runaway daughter home and in return he will give him information on where 2 of the bosses he is hunting are hiding. Not to spoil anything but things do not go as planned for Jokichi as more fights and attacks occur throughout.
What I've really liked so far about the series is that the character of Jokichi. I like that even though his character is to be that of an untouchable Samurai warrior he needs help and makes mistakes along the way. It is refreshing to see a character such as Jokichi and his code of the Samurai fail and to see what recourse is taken by not just those around him but himself as well.
Saying that, if you were not a fan of The Trail of Blood, The Fearless Avenger will probably not sway you either. It is more of the same thing, Jokichi on the hunt for more Yakuza baddies for what they did to his wife and child. Again like, The Trail of Blood, other than 2 or 3 cases the kills are of the standard splatter-less variety. The best splat is probably toward the beginning when he hacks off a guy's hand and the geyser action of that time frame kicks in all to briefly. Again the violence is there and the action sequences are nice but like the first I would have liked to have seen more gruel.
In the end it is another nice entry in the 70's Samurai scene but is best viewed after seeing The Trail of Blood. Fans of that film will find more of the same here which will lead you into the finale of the trilogy, Slaughter in the Snow.
Score: 7/10: Good, Short running time aside this is another solid 70's Samurai Flick that is good on its own but better coupled together with The Trail of Blood. I recommend watching both to get the full effect.
Both films are out now by AnimEigo DVD who have once again done a nice job of bring us another example of fine 70's Samurai action!!!
For the most part little is here in the way of story and that is fine as we already know the situation going into this movie. If not there is a brief summary in the beginning of the prior film's events. What story we do have that is new is that Boss Thunder has hired Jokichi to bring his runaway daughter home and in return he will give him information on where 2 of the bosses he is hunting are hiding. Not to spoil anything but things do not go as planned for Jokichi as more fights and attacks occur throughout.
What I've really liked so far about the series is that the character of Jokichi. I like that even though his character is to be that of an untouchable Samurai warrior he needs help and makes mistakes along the way. It is refreshing to see a character such as Jokichi and his code of the Samurai fail and to see what recourse is taken by not just those around him but himself as well.
Saying that, if you were not a fan of The Trail of Blood, The Fearless Avenger will probably not sway you either. It is more of the same thing, Jokichi on the hunt for more Yakuza baddies for what they did to his wife and child. Again like, The Trail of Blood, other than 2 or 3 cases the kills are of the standard splatter-less variety. The best splat is probably toward the beginning when he hacks off a guy's hand and the geyser action of that time frame kicks in all to briefly. Again the violence is there and the action sequences are nice but like the first I would have liked to have seen more gruel.
In the end it is another nice entry in the 70's Samurai scene but is best viewed after seeing The Trail of Blood. Fans of that film will find more of the same here which will lead you into the finale of the trilogy, Slaughter in the Snow.
Score: 7/10: Good, Short running time aside this is another solid 70's Samurai Flick that is good on its own but better coupled together with The Trail of Blood. I recommend watching both to get the full effect.
Both films are out now by AnimEigo DVD who have once again done a nice job of bring us another example of fine 70's Samurai action!!!