Azumi

TV Guide Ken Fox

Features more than enough thrilling wirework, slow and agonizing deaths, and blood-spattered faces to please even the most discriminating fans of the genre.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

As a moody drama, it falls short, but as lightweight escapism, it sets off sporadic but irresistible explosions of pure cinematic delight.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

A movie of such cheerful craziness and nonstop ferocity that you can't take it seriously for a second.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

The tone is bleak and the comic-book violence relentless, but the wirework and Yuta Morokaji's stunt choreography are impressive, culminating in a breathless showdown between the title character (Aya Ueto) and 200 foes.

Film Threat Eric Campos

A little boring and extremely long for what it is, all that Azumi really has going for it are several eye-popping battle sequences, including the climax which is a totally delicious celebration of graphic violence, and some nice camera work.

Variety Ronnie Scheib

Inevitable comparisons to Quentin Tarentino's femme-centered carnage extravaganza "Kill Bill" are not unwarranted insofar as both films featurefeature an abstract, self-conscious, and decidedly post-modern approach to a moribund genre.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

It's a bad idea to get too fond of any character, no matter how worthy he (or she) may appear.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Unfortunately, the film itself -- though it contains some superbly staged and highly lavish action sequences -- lacks the tautness of its heroine.

Los Angeles Times Mark Olsen

An uneven effort overall that when it is working has a strange, engaging energy that is often overturned by an uncertain staidness.

San Francisco Chronicle G. Allen Johnson

It is probably Kitamura's best film.

LA Weekly James C. Taylor

Failing in its attempts at Zhang Yimou–like poetry, Azumi calls to mind a long, blood-splattered director's cut of a Power Rangers episode.

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

The director, Ryuhei Kitamura, whose earlier films include the cult film "Versus," brings nothing new to the samurai-swordsman game other than some styling shorts for the whelps and a miniskirt for Azumi.

New York Post V.A. Musetto

The story is superficial at best. And the movie is too long.

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

If you're considering the scenario via Japan's ubiquitous pedo-porn tendencies, you're too educated for this exhaustive, manga-based bloodbath, which trails after these angsty teenyboppers on a scorched-fake-earth path through hundreds of growling baddies of every genre size and type.