Plot: What’s it about?
He once held a position of immense power, but now Ogami Itto (Wakayama Tomisburo) walks the path of a shunned soul. His wife was murdered and he was accused of disgracing his order, so he was ordered to take his own life. Instead, he took his young son and set out on a dark path, one as a hired assassin. Now he is consumed by wrath and is determined to exact his revenge on the Yagyu clan, the ones who shattered his life. Ogami and his son Daigoro have been hired to kill a clan defector. The man is headed to the city of Edo, where he is going to reveal the secrets of his clan to the Shogunate. This is bad news for his old clan, as the dye-making trade is what provides them with resources, but once the Shogunate learns the secrets, they will be run out of business. In order to prevent that, Ogami is charged to track the defector and make sure he never arrives in Edo, at least not while he’s still alive. But the defector has some protection, in the form of The Gods of Death, three skilled warriors who instill fear in almost everyone, including the Shogunate. Ogami isn’t shaken however, so he pushes forward to complete his assignment. At the same time, the Yagyu clan has dispatched a band of female ninjas to murder Ogami. Can he survive the onslaught of the female Yagyu ninjas, fend off the dreaded Gods of Death, and assassinate the defector in time, or is this too much even for Ogami?
The second volume in the excellent Lone Wolf and Cub series has arrived, as Animeigo has released Baby Cart at the River Styx. The first installment, Sword of Vengeance served as a kind of introduction and laid out the storyline, but with Baby Cart at the River Styx, the series kicks into hyperdrive and starts to unload. As the bulk of the exposition has been delivered, we’re taken deeper into the world of our characters and in the end, that allows for a more rich, satisfying experience. I do like Sword of Vengeance a lot, but Baby Cart at the River Styx bumps things up a couple notches and is a total blast. The storyline is a great one and it is well executed, with a brisk pace and a good amount of character development. I loved the inclusion of a band of female ninjas, as well as The Gods of Death, as they bring some freshness to the series and allow for some very, very cool sequences. As was the case with Sword of Vengeance, Baby Cart at the River Styx is a highly violent picture and in truth, the bloodshed is increased in this second volume, so be prepared for tons of carnage in this one. But the action and gore aren’t senseless, as the storyline demands those elements to be present. This movie is flat out awesome and thanks to Animeigo’s excellent transfer, this release is highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Baby Cart at the River Styx is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is the kind visual effort I wish all studios would push out, as Animeigo has spent a lot of time and resources to ensure this movie looks excellent. If you’ve seen previous editions of this movie, you’ll be blown away by how superb the material looks here. The image has been restored and remastered, so the print is cleaner than ever. A lot of grain and debris was removed, though some minor instances remain behind at times. Even so, this is a much cleaner presentation than expected and without question, the best looking home video release out there. The colors are well handled also, with bright and consistent hues throughout. No troubles with contrast either, as black levels come off as accurate and well balanced also. This is simply a phenomenal visual presentation, as Animeigo has outdone themselves with this release.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Japanese language track is preserved here, via a stable, more than acceptable soundtrack. The audio is always solid in this release, but it never moves beyond the basics, so don’t expect much. The atmosphere is thin, which is a shame, as some scenes offer great potential, but that’s the shakes. This movie is over three decades old, so even with a new full on surround mix, I doubt it would sound that dynamic. The music is clean and sound effects are reasonable, with no real signs of age related defects I could detect. I found dialogue to be clean, with no errors of any kind to mention here. This disc also includes optional English subtitles, just in case you’re not up to speed on your Japanese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
