Lone Wolf and Cub: Films vs. Manga
06-24-04, 01:11 AM
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Lone Wolf and Cub: Films vs. Manga
Sorry if this has been disussed before. I searched but most of what I found was either specifically discussing the DVD releases, or was just a brief mention in recommendations threads.
OK, so I recently saw my first Lone Wolf and Cub film (Baby Cart in Peril) and wanted to see how people think it stacks up to the other films in the series, as I was considering picking some discs up in the DDD sale. I know this wasn't the best place to enter the series, and that is my fault for having it in my rental queue in the wrong place.
While there are some things I liked about the film, there are some things I did not like and did not feel it captured as well as the manga. I am wondering what other people who both read the manga and seen the films feel about the films overall, as well as each one individually (which are better/worse/etc.)? I figure only having seen one out of six does not give me the full breadth of what they offer so I wanted to hear what other manga readers thought.
OK, so I recently saw my first Lone Wolf and Cub film (Baby Cart in Peril) and wanted to see how people think it stacks up to the other films in the series, as I was considering picking some discs up in the DDD sale. I know this wasn't the best place to enter the series, and that is my fault for having it in my rental queue in the wrong place.
While there are some things I liked about the film, there are some things I did not like and did not feel it captured as well as the manga. I am wondering what other people who both read the manga and seen the films feel about the films overall, as well as each one individually (which are better/worse/etc.)? I figure only having seen one out of six does not give me the full breadth of what they offer so I wanted to hear what other manga readers thought.
06-24-04, 02:20 AM
#2
I've seen 4 of the 6 films and have only browsed through two volumes of the manga series. "Peril" and "White Heaven in Hell" are the 2 that I haven't viewed yet, so I'm sorry that I can't compare to how that one you saw stacks up to the rest.
Like I said, I've only browsed through the books at a bookstore so I'm not big on how well they translate on screen. But both do have their share of violence and nudity. So you gotta give credit to the filmmakers for not copping out for a "comic book" series!
It's kind of hard to rank which movie is better, so I'll just go in choronogical order of release.
1-Sword of Vengeance shows the origin and feels like the longest one I've seen yet. It's got the meanest bad guys if you ask me.
2-Babycart at River Styx is light on story but VERY heavy on action. And the action really delivers!
3-The rape sequences in Babycart to Hades might turn one off, but if you stick around you might appreciate this episode as soon as it ends. Features a great subplot involving a ronin.
4-Babycart/Peril:Haven't seen it, but I did catch the memorable opening sequence online.
5-I heard that Babycart/Land of Demons was said to be the best of the series, but I was left underwhelmed. The plot is a bit hard to follow and the action is quite passive.
6-I've heard that White Heaven in Hell is the strangest, but I hope it's fun in a goofy way.
Like I said, I've only browsed through the books at a bookstore so I'm not big on how well they translate on screen. But both do have their share of violence and nudity. So you gotta give credit to the filmmakers for not copping out for a "comic book" series!
It's kind of hard to rank which movie is better, so I'll just go in choronogical order of release.
1-Sword of Vengeance shows the origin and feels like the longest one I've seen yet. It's got the meanest bad guys if you ask me.
2-Babycart at River Styx is light on story but VERY heavy on action. And the action really delivers!
3-The rape sequences in Babycart to Hades might turn one off, but if you stick around you might appreciate this episode as soon as it ends. Features a great subplot involving a ronin.
4-Babycart/Peril:Haven't seen it, but I did catch the memorable opening sequence online.
5-I heard that Babycart/Land of Demons was said to be the best of the series, but I was left underwhelmed. The plot is a bit hard to follow and the action is quite passive.
6-I've heard that White Heaven in Hell is the strangest, but I hope it's fun in a goofy way.
Last edited by Mondo Kane; 06-24-04 at 02:34 AM.
06-24-04, 11:08 AM
#3
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First off, the actor who plays Ogami Itto barely resembles the sleek, lean Ogami Itto of the manga. What's up with the stocky frame and the jowls? But what you get past that, he channels the spirit of Ogami quite well.
And Daigoro is significantly older in the films than he is in the comic.
But if not picture perfect adaptations of the manga, the films are quite entertaining in their own right. I highly recommend that anyone who has enjoyed the films check out the books. They're available in 28 separate volumes from Dark Horse Comics.
Better than fruit cup!
And Daigoro is significantly older in the films than he is in the comic.
But if not picture perfect adaptations of the manga, the films are quite entertaining in their own right. I highly recommend that anyone who has enjoyed the films check out the books. They're available in 28 separate volumes from Dark Horse Comics.
Better than fruit cup!
06-24-04, 12:22 PM
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I think you hit the nail on the head.
I read some of the books several years ago (the ones with the intro by Frank Miller, books 1 to ~ 13) and really enjoyed them. They are a little hazy in my mind though.
I saw 2 of the films three months ago (#2 & #6). Like most, I didn't care for White Heaven in Hell but loved River Styx.
However, I agree that there were some aspects of the books that were not captured. First, as mentioned the actor seemed a little round for the part, based on the comic.BUT I got over that pretty quick and enjoyed him (except when he's shooting machine guns with infinite ammo!).
One of the images I remember from the comic was when a hired assassin was watching Daigoro do something impressive that I can't recall (I THINK he was taking care of himself in the middle of a forest fire). And the killer was amazed at the boy's power, warrior sprit, whatever, and knew he was no match for Daigoro and didn’t even try.
(Could be wrong, like I said it’s been a while)
That was something not utilized in the film. Movie Daigoro seemed to be played for laughs or cuteness and didn’t display the “street smarts” comic Daigoro had picked up while traveling with daddy.
That being said, if the other films are like River Styx, I’m looking forward to seeing them.
I read some of the books several years ago (the ones with the intro by Frank Miller, books 1 to ~ 13) and really enjoyed them. They are a little hazy in my mind though.
I saw 2 of the films three months ago (#2 & #6). Like most, I didn't care for White Heaven in Hell but loved River Styx.
However, I agree that there were some aspects of the books that were not captured. First, as mentioned the actor seemed a little round for the part, based on the comic.BUT I got over that pretty quick and enjoyed him (except when he's shooting machine guns with infinite ammo!).
One of the images I remember from the comic was when a hired assassin was watching Daigoro do something impressive that I can't recall (I THINK he was taking care of himself in the middle of a forest fire). And the killer was amazed at the boy's power, warrior sprit, whatever, and knew he was no match for Daigoro and didn’t even try.
(Could be wrong, like I said it’s been a while)
That was something not utilized in the film. Movie Daigoro seemed to be played for laughs or cuteness and didn’t display the “street smarts” comic Daigoro had picked up while traveling with daddy.
That being said, if the other films are like River Styx, I’m looking forward to seeing them.
06-24-04, 01:02 PM
#5
Oh yeah. Forgot about the physical difference between the drawn Ogami Itto and the live action one. If Riki Takeuchi had been acting in the 70's, he may have been the perfect choice.
But there's a review site where I read about the movie series that points out something crucial. Wakayama just looks like he's on the road to hell. And you can notice in the 1st film that Wakayama shows more expression as a different character before he declared himself and his son as demons in the flashback sequences.
But there's a review site where I read about the movie series that points out something crucial. Wakayama just looks like he's on the road to hell. And you can notice in the 1st film that Wakayama shows more expression as a different character before he declared himself and his son as demons in the flashback sequences.
06-24-04, 02:17 PM
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Thanks for the responses so far.
Some of choices for actors was one thing that bothered me. Not only Ogami, but Retusudo as well. I got used to Ogami a bit, although every time he flipped through the air looked odd because he does not have the look of someone that could. Retsudo however does not look like the noble, cold villian he is in the comics, more like a crazy street urchin. Of course, maybe earlier in the series he looks better.
I do like how several of the manga stories are woven together though, which was a nice surprise. Without the narration of the manga though, I was just afraid some of those stories might lose some of emotion, power, etc. behind them. I even caught one story in 'Peril' that casts Ogami in a weak light even, which is not how the manga unfolded, which I didn't like.
I understand films and their sources will never be the same, so I don't mind too much, just was curious how the other five movies stood up.
Some of choices for actors was one thing that bothered me. Not only Ogami, but Retusudo as well. I got used to Ogami a bit, although every time he flipped through the air looked odd because he does not have the look of someone that could. Retsudo however does not look like the noble, cold villian he is in the comics, more like a crazy street urchin. Of course, maybe earlier in the series he looks better.
I do like how several of the manga stories are woven together though, which was a nice surprise. Without the narration of the manga though, I was just afraid some of those stories might lose some of emotion, power, etc. behind them. I even caught one story in 'Peril' that casts Ogami in a weak light even, which is not how the manga unfolded, which I didn't like.
I understand films and their sources will never be the same, so I don't mind too much, just was curious how the other five movies stood up.
06-24-04, 05:36 PM
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I've seen all the movies and like them all. I read the entire manga series (years ago) and feel that the films capture the essence of the manga quite well. Of course there are some differences and some liberties taken, but thats usually unavoidable when you try to adapt one artform to another. I highly recommend the manga to fans of the films as well. They are classics.
