Rating: 
Summary: Little things make a difference
Review: People who have read the other reviews already know if this film is for them or not! But I want to give kudos to AnimEigo for a great job on the little things that would be missed by non-Japanese speakers. First - the use of different colors in the subtitles during conversations made it really easy to understand who is saying what! Second - the translation of many of the signs (i.e. the baby carriage banner) helped make sense of what was going on. And last, but not least, the additional translations of martial arts styles (Seagull, etc) and other Japanesecentric terms was nice, even though I knew much of them (i.e. sepuku). None of these makes or breaks the film but having them on the DVD makes the watching that much better! Having seen how good the first DVD was done I have already ordered and preordered the rest!
Rating:
Summary: Little things make a difference
Review: People who have read the other reviews already know if this film is for them or not! But I want to give kudos to AnimEigo for a great job on the little things that would be missed by non-Japanese speakers. First - the use of different colors in the subtitles during conversations made it really easy to understand who is saying what! Second - the translation of many of the signs (i.e. the baby carriage banner) helped make sense of what was going on. And last, but not least, the additional translations of martial arts styles (Seagull, etc) and other Japanesecentric terms was nice, even though I knew much of them (i.e. sepuku). None of these makes or breaks the film but having them on the DVD makes the watching that much better! Having seen how good the first DVD was done I have already ordered and preordered the rest!
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: Sword of Vengance as it stands alone from the graphic novel series is a good film. I gave it 4 stars because I was really into the graphic novel and in comparison to the graphic novel the film does not match up in some areas. I was surprised how good the quality is for the dvd seeing as how the film is old. If you've never read the lone wolf and cub series but just like martial arts films you should pick it up. Of course if you are a fan of the series you should have this. Its a good movie.
Rating:
Summary: He Ain't Purty...But He Bad!
Review: The 1st film in the 6 film Series "Lone Wolf & Cub" we are introduced to the Shogun's Executioner, Ogami Itto, whose job is to Second (assist, i.e., behead) those the Shogun has ordered to commit Seppuku (ritual suicide). We learn from the first frame that we aren't in Kansas anymore Toto, when we see that the Clan leader Ogami is to "assist" is a child.This is 17th Century Japan, and life is hard. You're a sumarai or your dirt. Various Clans are constantly scheming and intriguing for power and Ogami Itto's life is overthrown when his wife is murdered and he is set up as a traitor by the Yagyu Clan who want and get the Shogun to order Itto to commit Seppuku in order to put one of their own in the Shogun's Executioner office. But Itto oufoxes them and has vengeance in mind. He first sets up a choice for his infant son: choose a ball & he will dispatch him to join his mother in the "other world" or choose his sword and he will join Ogami Itto as a "demon, without rules", a ronin wandering assassin for hire, which will be Ogami's sideline as he hunts and kills as many Yagyu clansmen as he can find, with their leader, Lord Retsudo, his ultimate goal. Be forewarned, this is bloody stuff indeed. No doubt sword fighting was a messy affair, and these filmakers have opted to show arterial spray with blood gushing like broken water mains from chest & neck wounds, decapitations, lopped limbs, and an Itto specialty, chopping his opponent down by severing his legs below the knees. There is also rape & nudity. Our hero isn't a Hollywood hunk. Leaning toward middle-age, a wee bit portly, he nonetheless can wield a sword like a maniac and has a certain real gravity that anchors the series and let's you accept the more fantastic elements in the stories. Both graphic & fantastic, the series is detailed, beautifully photographed, fast & action-packed, and intelligent. Itto wandering around various Japanese locales with his son in the baby-cart (that of the many weapons) dispatching dozens of villains is something else! The films come with detailed Liner Notes that help the viewer understand the strict codes and customs these people lived by. Great fun if you've a mind for it. Certainly not for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: The film is excellent, the DVD transfer is...brilliant!
Review: The DVD transfer is trash? Um, yeah...For everyone who owns an old VHS copy of the film, throw it out the window and purchase this version. The movie has NEVER looked and sounded better than it has on this brillant DVD transfer. You can't tell the film was made over 30 years ago. Animeigo did a great job restoring the film. The sound is great, the colors are vibrant, the subtitles are improved and easier to read; complaints do not apply here. You also get trailers for other LWC films and some Zatoichi films. And the liner notes are very long, but informative. You'll learn a lot about the setting of this film from the liner notes. Lone wolf and cub fans need not hesitate to pick this one up. If you've never seen the series before, you're in for a treat. Any lover of samurai films, gorehounds (blood shoots out geyser style), or if you just want to see great action films with a great story and a lot of depth (style AND substance) you need to see these films. Pick it up before the rumored remake is released, although really the film has been "remade" several times ("Shogun Assassin," "Road to Peredition," "Kill Bill" etc.). But nothing beats the original. The "Lone Wolf and Cub" series takes "homage" films like "Kill Bill" to school. (At the time of this writing Amazon doesn't offer the series, so check out Animeigo's website for even more samurai titles.)
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Masterful!
Review: The Premire in the Lone Wolf and Cub Series, Sword of Vengence sets the stage for the following movies. For example, after "Lone Wolf's" wife is killed, he has to decide what to do with his life. Revenge is necessary, but what to do with his infant son? In a truly telling scene, he sets his son (Daigoro) between a brightly colored ball and an unsheathed sword, he tells his son to choose his path carefully. If the son chooses the ball, he will die, and the "Lone Wolf" will be free to exact his vengance from his betrayers, unfettered by familial ties. If he chooses the sword, then he follows in the footsteps of his father - Swordsman. Which does he choose? Watch and find out!
Rating: 
Summary: Subtitles different than the VHS
Review: The subtitles for the DVDs part with all established format for subtitles. The subtitles are placed higher on the screen, in the actual film image (!). On the tapes the subtitles are as they should be, in the black lower portion of the widescreen matte. Also, the subtitles' typeface has black borders, therefore increasing the amount of image intruded upon, and making the subtitles an irritating distraction. For some reason this company has completely trashed their excellent product. The graphic design of the DVD packaging makes the films look like B-movie rubbish.
Rating:
Summary: best swordsman ever period
Review: this is the epitome of the lone existential hero. lone wolf is one of the first heros who walks the thin line between badguy and goodguy. i'd rather say he is just a different degree of bad guy, not as bad as the men he kills. this first episode sets in motion the reason why lone wolf and cub are on the run and his sword is hired out. the sword play is very violent yet efficient. you won't see the long drawn out whimsical dancelike choreography of the wuxia-pan films. every move is meant to kill an opponent. in a scene where lone wolf is talking to a potential client, two men try to sneak up on him, an in one sweeping motion he draws, waves his sword around his head and sheaths it before his assailants hit the ground...damn see this one....
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: This movie reminds me of the 50's movie Horatio Hornbolower staring Gregory Peck in one important way. It proves that only good things come of having the author of the books write the screenplay.
Since this is based on one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) comics series of all time it had a high standard to meet. It followed the books so exactly that the subtitles were almost unneeded.
I don't know how exagerated the bloodletting was but that is the only fault one can find with the picture. The acting is straight,and the story of Ogami walking the assassins road to avenge his wife and clan is classic.
I personally think it could be an excellent hour long TV series on cable if done correctly, until that day I shall make do with pleasure.
I eagerly await my next paycheck to have the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent quality - but not Shogun Assassin
Review: This must be one of the best quality DVD transfers I've ever seen for an "old school" martial arts movie. The picture is crisp and excellent. "Sword of Vengeance" is part one of the "Shogun Assassin" version of the Lone Wolf and Cub movie that was released back in the 1980's and may be the version that most of us are familiar with. Shogun Assassin was dubbed in English, was faster paced, had a nice, energetic soundtrack and was frankly more entertaining. Sword of Vengeance is of course the Japanese original and is a great movie by itself. However, for those of you out there who are hoping to have "Shogun Assassin" on DVD will be disappointed. Sword of Vengeance is much slower paced and I found myself skipping ahead to the fighting scenes. Still a classic and a must have for any martial arts library.
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