Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril

Installment #4 in the series comes in at a taut 81 minutes, and while a little undeveloped, it's satisfying nonetheless. Like the other films, unfortunately rape is yet again an element of the plot, and it's cringeworthy how "out of shame" the young woman (Michie Azuma) runs away afterwards and becomes an assassin. She's shown topless at every possible opportunity, with the giant tattoos providing an excuse to do so. It would have been nice had the film expanded her character a little more and made her the final battle, because you see, the lone wolf (Tomisaburo Wakayama) has been tasked with hunting her down. The film has its moments, including all sorts of dismemberment, a man with an improbable ability to mold his face into the shape of another's asked to commit hara-kiri for someone else, and a battle scene with guys who were camouflaged as statues (probably the film's best). The baby is now three years old and capable of wielding the cart's hidden machine guns, which comes in handy, as you'd hate to bring just a sword to a gun fight. The lone wolf has some sense of honor but is still just a mercenary, and moreover, one who isn't invulnerable, which makes him an interesting character, and Wakayama plays the part reasonably well. It's good, campy fun, and a film you wouldn't have had to see the first three to enjoy.