Episode 57. Samurai Swordplay: Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance

Holy, Shogun Assassin, Ronin, it's Samurai Swordplay Month-ish at
Fully Operational! We're delving into some samurai classics and
deep cuts (get it?), starting with the Rza/Wu-Tang Clan approved,
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance. But before we start
slicing off legs at the mid-calf, we have to talk about what we
watched this week.

Dre continued his spaghetti western pilgrimage with Il Mercenario
(or The Mercenary), starring Franco Nero, Tony Musante and Jack
Palance as Curly (way before he was Curly in City Slickers), and
the samurai-adjacent classic, Ugetsu. (He also officially
finished Formula 1: Drive to Survive.)

While, Goodman, on the other hand, continued his Step Up
danceathon with Step Up Revolution, a movie that posits, can
flash mob protest dancing change the world? And, more
importantly, will Moose show up in this one?

Then it's time to sever some limbs with the Shogun's executioner,
turned ronin, turned baby cart pusher, Itto Ogami—played with a
patient, furious fortitude by Tomisaburō Wakayama. We get into
the cast (not much), the quotes (none), the trivia (some) and a
whole lot of other stuff (definitely).

Then, join us next week in the weeds (technically miscanthus
or Japanese silver grass, known in Japan as susuki), for a hell
of a samurai time with Onibaba.
SONG CREDITS:
Theme music: "70s Funk" by Frank Cogliano
Closing music: "This is My Jam" by Will Van De Crommert