Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- kinetic
- violent
- stylized
- action movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually accomplished in its sword choreography but thin in story and characterization.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Azumi is raised from childhood with orphaned companions to serve as a government assassin.
The film foregrounds elaborate katana fights and rapidly staged combat sequences.
The Tokugawa Shogun orders Azumi and her companions to murder hostile warlords to restore peace.
The adaptation treats war-torn Japan, ninja missions, and mass combat with flamboyant genre stylization.
Films like Azumi, and why
Ninja Assassin
stylized swordplay, youthful assassins, and kinetic ninja action in a historical Japanese setting
Versus
high-energy martial arts choreography, tragic warrior themes, and heightened visual violence
13 Assassins
period Japanese action, disciplined fighters, and emotionally charged sword combat
Blade of the Immortal
manga-derived action spectacle, ensemble fighters, and flamboyant violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Ryuhei Kitamura
- Release Date
- 2003-05-10
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (377)
Cast
- Aya Ueto
- Kenji Kohashi
- Hiroki Narimiya
- Takatoshi Kaneko
- Yuma Ishigaki
- Yasuomi Sano
- Shinji Suzuki
- Eita Nagayama
- Shôgo Yamaguchi
- Shun Oguri
Common questions
- What is Azumi about?
- A young assassin forged by the Tokugawa regime must cut through rival warlords and the bonds that make obedience unbearable.
- What is Azumi like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Azumi as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Azumi violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Azumi as graphic.
- What did critics think of Azumi?
- Critics broadly found the film visually accomplished in its sword choreography but thin in story and characterization.
- Which films are like Azumi?
- Films with a similar feel include Ninja Assassin, Versus, 13 Assassins, and Blade of the Immortal.
- How long is Azumi?
- Azumi runs 128 minutes.
