TheFearlessAvenger

The Fearless Avenger (1972)

This is the second of the movies in the Mikogami trilogy. It is preceded in the series by The Trail of Blood and followed by Slaughter in the Snow. After briefly recapping the deeds of the 3 Yakuza bosses that have set our hero, Jokichi of Mikogami on his quest for vengeance the movie jumps right into the action. His next target, Boss Chuji, is attending a big meeting and Jokichi goes after him right there in front of all the other bosses, including Banker Thunder. He fails to get Chuji, but is spared from being killed right there by the intervention of Banker Thunder. Later Jokichi is hired by another boss to return Thunder’s wayward daughter back to him. But along the way his enemies, thinking that Thunder will kill Jokichi for failing, kill her. Instead he sends him away with the location of Chuji. After a few more twists and turns Jokichi finishes Boss Chuji and heads off after the last man on the list.

This is another solid samurai movie. As I mentioned in my review for the Trail of Blood the plot is very simple and straightforward. There aren’t any concepts of honor or courtly wrong doing for a Western audience to struggle with. Nope Jokichi is after the men who killed his family, plain and simple. The Fearless Avenger is even a bit faster flick since it handles the back story with a quick flashback and gets right to the swordplay. The movie does take some time establishing a few new characters, but then most of them are done away with. One of my favorite things about The Fearless Avenger is the reaction of Banker Thunder to Jokichi showing up after failing to protect his daughter. He even asks him why he didn’t run away, especially since he hasn’t gotten revenge for the death of his family. It is very subtle, but it is here that the story is establishing that in spite of his rough exterior Jokichi has far more honor than revered bosses his is pursuing. That is why Banker Thunder lets him go. God I love these samurai movies.

Not only does there seem to be much more action here than in the first movie, but the fights are even bigger. From the first time Jokichi unsuccessfully attacks the meeting of bosses to the final battle at the river the limbs are flying and the arterial spray is shooting every which way. The fight choreography is way over the top with Jokichi taking on a ridiculous amount of henchmen again and again. But then when I sit down to watch one of these Samurai movies that is what I want to see. The Fearless Avenger makes use of the same groovy soundtrack as the first movie in the series did and that is a good thing. If it isn’t broke don’t fix it!

What can I say about The Fearless Avenger other than it delivers the goods and is a great way to spend an evening. If you are looking for an accessible and entertaining Samurai movie then look no further than The Fearless Avenger. I recommend that everyone check it out. For more information on this movie and the rest from the series head over to the AnimEigo website at http://www.animeigo.com/

3 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer