AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION
March 16th 2010 19:42
Category: Videos
Created by: Takashi Okazaki.
Director: Fuminori Kizaki.
Story by: Takashi Okazaki & Fuminori Kizaki
Screenplay by: Yasuyuki Mutou, Leo Chu & Eric Garcia (English Version)
Producers: Yuji Hori & Kenichi Hayashi
Starring: Samuel L Jackson (Afro/Ninja Ninja), Lucy Liu (Sio), Yuri Lowenthal (Jinno), Mark Hamil (Bin/Oden shop master), Liam O’Brien (Shinchigoro), Greg Eagles (Afro’s Father). S Scott Bullock (Professor Dharman/Takimoto), Kevin Michael Richardson (Blacksmith), Grey Delilsle (Tomoe/Ogin), Steve Blum (Man A/Assassin), Dave Wittenberg (Adolescent/Fencing Brother), Jeff Glen Bennett (Brother 3), The RZA (DJ), Zachary Gordon (Kotaro), Phil LaMarr (Young Afro) & Ariel Winter (Young Sio)
Released by: Madman Entertainment.
Running Time: 96 minutes. Rating: MA 15 .
You know I had heard about this second instalment in the whole Afro Samurai phenomena that was a big thing a while back but hadn’t actually seen a copy of the DVD anywhere…until now. This volume I picked up at my local video shop for a decent price and once the purchase had been made, a bit of chat made with the person manning the till about various things I headed back to my trusty abode to see what this work would reveal once exposed to the viridian vigilant gaze of the Green Lantern. The original Afro Samurai was a finely crafted work of anime that deserved the kudos it received, though more for the fact that it was finely crafted rather than its use of samurais with cell phones and hip hop music. So what about Afro Samurai: Resurrection, does it live up to the reputation of its predecessor, is it a worthy successor to it?
Certainly it ticks a lot of the boxes in regards to it being as finely tuned and action packed as the previous feature, it has that interesting dichotomy of modern day technology mixed with Japanese samurai era styles and artefacts, it has a lively, eclectic soundtrack once again provided by the subtle and intuitive artistry of the RZA, there is action and carnage aplenty and there is a world full of tragedy, sorrow and woe (not whoa). If we were to look at these aspects alone then this flick more than lives up to the standards set up by its predecessor. Strangely though where it does fall down is the fact that the story in this particular incarnation is complex, in fact it doesn’t work well as it should as a standalone feature. In my opinion it’s probably best to which the first flick before watching this one, you’ll be able to slide into a lot easier than just watching Resurrection by itself. If you just watch this then you will find yourself slightly confused by what is going on in this movie.
But at the end of the day no doubt you are curious as to just what the heck is going in this flick, when am I going to get to the meat of the matter, or the truth of this film as I am often fond of saying. Ah yes the truth, the essence of this particular anime well it certainly keeps up with the element of tragedy that was to my mind a major theme within the first film although this time the aspect of this tragedy has changed. Whereas in Afro Samurai we saw the cost Afro’s quest for vengeance against his father’s killer exerted upon him in Resurrection we see the consequences of his success, and the fact that all of his chickens as they say are coming home to roost.
A big feature of the whole Afro Samurai universe are these two mythical headbands, each of them with a red sun and a numeral emblazoned on them; 1 or 2. The meaning of these headbands is this; the wearer of the number one is the greatest warrior in the world and can only be challenged by the wearer of the number two headband. Thus the number two headband wearer is the second greatest warrior in the world, but he or she, can literally be challenged by every Tom, Dick, Sakura and Kabuto who feels the deserve that piece of exotic headgear. Makes you wonder if this isn’t some scheme concocted by a mad cartel of haberdasheries to further some sinister agenda. Afro manages to get the number two headband in order to challenge the wearer of the number one who killed his father; he then cuts a literal swathe of carnage to achieve this and ends up with the number one in the close of the first film.
When this film opens we find Afro having achieved his vengeance pretty much all washed up and living out in the sticks like a hobo seemingly just wasting away. He doesn’t bother wearing the number one headband; in fact it’s used as a decoration along with his trusty blade for his father’s grave. Essentially for his years he has let vengeance drive him and now that his vengeance has been achieved he has no real purpose in life, no goals, aim or ambitions just a desire to waste away or so it seems. Of course he has no realisation that in his quest he has become like Justice the man who killed his father, he has killed others near and dear to them and they also seek revenge…on him. It is strange though that the one individual who seeks revenge is a person whose life has only been indirectly affected by his actions, the sinister woman Sio, the blood sister of Afro’s former friend and comrade Jinno.
Sio isn’t just after the death of Afro, no her hatred runs deep and her desire for revenge demands that she not only seek to physically break Afro but to shatter him on a spiritual level as well. To this end she defiles the grave of Afro’s father whilst giving him a pasting, takes his father’s remains and tells him he is going to suffer like no one else will have suffered before…cue dramatic music and thunder and lightning. Her mad scheme involves bringing the dead back to life, Afro’s father will be resurrected and made to fight his son. Talk about a twisted and convoluted scheme, still it is often said that hatred clouds one judgment and reasoning. What was it that wizened green Jedi master used to say “…hatred leads to the dark side, hmmm.” Sio has well and truly left the path of light and justice, despite the wishes of her three augmented former family retainers there is no real hope for her redemption as she lost it in embarking upon her quest for vengeance.
Once again the makers behind this feature have given their audience an anime that is a masterpiece, a work of Shakespearean tragedy filled with pop culture and historical elements neatly wrapped into a worthy story that could possibly be just a part of a larger whole if remarks made by Afro’s creator, Takashi Okazaki are anything to go by. It certainly seems to be a film and character who has attracted a large audience for a variety of reasons. Although like I said previously, if you do watch this film make sure its after the first, it’ll make it a lot easier to get into the overall story and pick up on certain elements a lot easier.
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