The sequel to 2003’s Azumi, Death or Love has a lot of death, and not a whole lot love going on. There’s a suggestive romance, but in reality, the subtitle is a bit of lie. There’s no choice, but if you’re a fan of death, there’s plenty of it in this action packed, brainless sequel.

A “by the numbers” sequel that takes everything from Azumi, and recycles it for 2005 and slapped with a new title is what Death Or Love really is. It’s a case of one action sequence to the next action sequence, followed by incredibly long and dull deaths. There’s no imagination or inspiration to be seen here.

Azumi and her colleague are the last of the team remaining from the previous outing, and therefore are determined to carry out their mission to kill the last Tokoyumi head Saneda. Saneda, however, has enlisted the assistance of some hardcore villains who will try to take out the assassins first.

There’s some farty little love story too, some obvious betrayal and treason (made more obvious by sinister eyes backed by sinsiter music – a dead giveaway), and inexplicably some of the actors from the first film that died return to take on their roles as new characters, completely ignoring the reality that they’re already dead. It’s painfully obvious too, even with the make up and costumes. But this reality is ignored, and we’re provided with a contrived reason for only one of them coming back from the literal dead.

Action wise, it’s a far better example than it’s original sibling. Still, Azumi’s character gets ample time to prance around posing and switching the sword in the time it takes to make a cup of tea, while everyone else fights in fifth gear. I know she’s the lead, but please, at least be consistent.

It’s still as unconvincing as the first film, where the bloodless bodies and swords still show no signs of disappearing. The gore factor has also been raised a little, but in all it’s around the same level. There’s also another gargantuan “army vs Azumi” battle, where she takes on an uncountable number of men ready to kill.

Aside from the obvious and mysterious actor resurrections, there’s also the question of consistency. Where, for example, does Azumi get her cape from the first film, when the only thing she ever carried was a blood sword and the clothes she is wearing? Why is it that a scene will have several enemies or allies on screen, and then inexplicably it doubles or triples in number from out of nowhere? There are other flaws, but I’m too bored to care.

Acting is still plank-like with no reason to like anyone on screen. It’s a more palatable number than the first film, but it’s lacking new ideas or any progression in the story. Whereas there were some interesting moments in the first film, the most interesting thing in this film is how ridiculous some of the logic is in the film. Again, however, I will refrain from pointing out the quite obvious, because it may insult your intelligence.

I liked the opening of the film, with the wide angle swooping shots of Japan’s vast forests, which offers an view and really makes you appreciate the green in the world.

Then of course we end up with a fight pracically immediatley which dulls the senses and we’re back from great cinemtography to poor direction, and lazy script writing. Azumi 2 at least follows the common tradition of sequels being worse than originals. This sequel doesn’t change that stereotype.

Verdict: Patchy sequel at best, tired and formulaic at worst.