Lone Wolf And Cub: The Final Conflict (Japan 1992)

Rating: ***
Cast: Masakazu Tamura, Yushi Shoda

1992's retelling of the "Lone Wolf And Cub" story is a beautifully filmed tear-jerker (!) that replaces the sex, blood, and violence of the original series with stunning cinematography and a touching score. Additionally, the film leaves out such essentials as the baby cart and the crucial "knife vs. ball" sequence where Daigoro chooses his fate. The actor playing Ogami Itto gives a strong and sensitive performance but lacks the intensity, ferocity, and presence of the original actor (Tomisaburo Wakayama). The same could be said for little Daigoro, but at the very end he gets pretty intense.