{"id":89239,"date":"2023-01-11T14:40:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T21:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=89239"},"modified":"2023-01-12T09:16:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T16:16:23","slug":"lightning-swords-of-death-sword-of-vengeance-part-iii-lone-wolf-and-cub-baby-cart-to-hades-1972","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=89239","title":{"rendered":"Lightning Swords of Death \/ Sword of Vengeance: Part III \/ Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Why has a man of your stature become a mercenary?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Baby-Cart-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Baby-Cart-Poster-227x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-89247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Baby-Cart-Poster-227x300.png 227w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Baby-Cart-Poster-97x128.png 97w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Baby-Cart-Poster-204x270.png 204w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Baby-Cart-Poster.png 727w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 227px) 100vw, 227px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA mercenary swordsman (Tomisabur\u00f4 Wakayama) travelling across the countryside with his young son (Masahiro Tomikana) in medieval Japan helps a poor young woman (Yuko Hama) escape from being sold into prostitution, but must deal with the wrath of the madam (Yuko Hamada) who expects payment in exchange.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Father and Child<\/li>\n<li>Japanese Films <\/li>\n<li>Samurai<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary&#8217;s review of this third entry in the &#8220;Lone Wolf and Cub&#8221; cinematic franchise &#8212; based on the popular <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub\">manga series of the same name<\/a> &#8212; refers to it as &#8220;an edited entry&#8221; that &#8220;arrived in the U.S. with the first of the Kung Fu imports,&#8221; and notes that the &#8220;worst thing about the film is the dubbing&#8221;; however, the version I watched for this review is in the original language, and is a discrete film in its own right (albeit part of a longer multi-episode narrative). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1-1024x418.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"261\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1-1024x418.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1-300x122.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1-128x52.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1-768x313.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1-604x246.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Still-1.png 1159w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With that caveat out of the way, I&#8217;ll note that Peary refers to Wakayama as &#8220;the most honorable of men&#8221; (yet someone who is &#8220;willing to use his boy as a decoy&#8221;) &#8212; a man who &#8220;comes to the rescue of a woman sold into prostitution&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling-1024x420.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"263\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling-1024x420.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling-128x52.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling-768x315.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling-604x248.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Falling.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and then &#8220;finds himself in the middle&#8221; of this woman and &#8220;the cruel female who heads a powerful family&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam-1024x440.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"275\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam-1024x440.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam-768x330.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam-604x260.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Madam.png 1059w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; ultimately agreeing &#8220;to kill an evil governor&#8221; and &#8220;fighting a one-man war against both sides.&#8221; Through all this, &#8220;the boy watches the bloodshed without changing expressions.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son-1024x423.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"264\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son-1024x423.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son-300x124.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son-128x53.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son-768x317.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son-1536x635.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son-604x250.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Dad-and-Son.png 1909w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary argues that while the &#8220;film moves along like a turtle with a broken leg,&#8221; there &#8220;are many interruptions for violent swordplay,&#8221; and &#8220;the action scenes are extremely imaginative, well filmed and choreographed.&#8221; A notable &#8220;highlight has him single-handedly shooting, blowing up, and slicing-and-dicing an entire army&#8221; &#8212; but &#8220;more violent [still] are his one-on-one confrontations,&#8221; such as when &#8220;he kills one skilled swordsman by flying over him and pushing his sword directly down through the top of his skull.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying-1024x425.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"266\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying-1024x425.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying-300x124.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying-128x53.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying-768x318.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying-604x250.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Cub-Flying.png 1049w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary concludes by noting that the film &#8220;could do without a rape sequence that has nothing to do with the plot&#8221; (I completely agree) and &#8220;a tasteless bit in which the would-be prostitute bites the tongue from the guy trying to force himself on her&#8221; (I&#8217;m okay with this scene!). While this flick clearly isn&#8217;t for all tastes, it&#8217;s easy to see how and why it would appeal to its cult followers, so I recommend it for one-time viewing just to check it out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> I had never heard of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancient-origins.net\/history-ancient-traditions\/blackened-teeth-traditional-005544\"><em>ohaguro<\/em><\/a> before this film (a married woman painting her teeth black). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exciting action sequences<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords-1024x421.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"263\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords-1024x421.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords-128x53.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords-768x316.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords-1536x632.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords-604x248.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Swords.png 1909w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-Fan.png 1061w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset-1024x420.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"263\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset-1024x420.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset-128x52.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset-768x315.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset-604x248.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lone-Wolf-and-Cub-Sunset.png 1051w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its cult value. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0068817\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3787cart.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=1753\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why has a man of your stature become a mercenary?&#8221; Synopsis: A mercenary swordsman (Tomisabur\u00f4 Wakayama) travelling across the countryside with his young son (Masahiro Tomikana) in medieval Japan helps a poor young woman (Yuko Hama) escape from being sold into prostitution, but must deal with the wrath of the madam (Yuko Hamada) who expects payment in exchange. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Father and Child Japanese Films Samurai Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: Peary&#8217;s review of this third entry in&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=89239\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=89239"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89267,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89239\/revisions\/89267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=89239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=89239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=89239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}