Baby Walkure: Naisu Deizu

The good news is that, in this oddball series, this is the best entry so far. The bad news is, depending our your personal checklist of criteria for a watchable movie, that may or may not be enough. Have pointed out in other reviews that, while all cultures are unique, Japan has a particular mindset that sets it apart from every other nation on the planet. Often their quirky hi-concept projects cross the line into fetishism in a way that would make even American creators uncomfortable. This "buddy" series, about two young female killers trying to decide which pack of noodles to open, definitely felt refreshed in this iteration -- where our heroes encounter agents of a rival assassination bureau -- but overall the bar is still set pretty low. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

This movie ups the stake of the previous ones in the franchise. Sometimes when a movie is bigger it doesn't necessarily make it better but in this case, it is better than the previous films. The fight scenes are great as usual. It might even be better than the previous movies. The choreography is very creative and the actors do a great job at making the fights look real and entertaining. Saori Izawa is an amazing stuntwoman, she really brings the physicality to the role. She can pull off like insane stunts. Akari Takaishi who plays Chisato also had a noticeable improvement in her martial arts and action scenes. I really love how they blend martial arts styles like boxing, BJJ and wrestling with like a bit of karate. There was a fight against an assassin who uses like animal kung fu or praying mantis style which I especially liked. Once again Saori and Akari's chemistry is good like in the previous films.

The introduction of Sosuke Ikematsu's character is the best thing this franchise has done. He plays an assassin who's just as deadly if not even more deadly than the girls. At first you really see that they have met their match and feel how big of a threat he is. Sosuke is an amazing actor and can do the fight choreography really well too. The other cast of characters like Riku and Iruka were good too. Iruka surprisingly had a good amount of character development. This movie is fast paced and never did I felt bored or that it really slowed down.

Chisato and Mahiro are back and that is not really a good thing. The first movie was quirky and fun about two sociopaths who work as assassins Albeit uneven it had some great ideas and scenes. Then the sequel came and lacked everything that made the first movie fun. After reading reviews for this one, i was optimistic, too optimistic actually. Although the bad guy Kaede is a cut above other antagonists in this franchise, it does not help this movie enough to be recommended. Chisato and Miharo are more annoying than usual and as these movies have been progressing you really start to wonder if not luck has been the main factor instead of skill that the girls have succeeded so far. Their fighting skills are not efficient nor effective, and their skills never improved either. Also the plot of the movie was really nonsensical to say the least. They start of to kill a target but during the movie try to save and keep the target alive, only to shoot him during the last five minutes of the movie.

I know there is also a series now, and will I watch it? No, i have learned my lesson.

Don't Miss Baby Assassins 3. Baby Assassins 3 is the latest release from Well Go USA Entertainment to come out of the Japanese market, and it is fast and fun conclusion of the Baby Assassins trilogy.

We wrote in our review for the sequel to the original Baby Assassins, "Akari Takaishi and Saori Izawa continue to delight as the young assassins who are faced with trying to balance "normal" lives with their careers as professional assassins". This continues to be true in this powerful installment in a unique and memorable martial arts and action trilogy.

In this installment we find the Assassins faced with silencing a sociopathic, freelance killer that proves to be a formidable opponent. To compound their troubles, the ladies are now under the strict supervision of two senior, highly skilled members of their agency, making their unorthodox style and behavior, potentially, a career ending liability.

One of the strengths of this movie is that it defies a strictly formulation approach to a beloved and successful franchise. Many similar vehicles simply recycle the same old gags and tropes, with a slightly altered plot, to capitalize on a successful history. Baby Assassins 3 does not do this. The third installment successfully breaks new ground in several areas.

This film is far more serious and gritty than its predecessors. Not that it doesn't have the signature "joy" that only the Baby Assassin duo can bring to the screen; it does. However, it has more than that as the nature of their foe and the subject matter has become more mature, as they have. While this was a risk on the part of the filmmakers; it pays off. The tone of this film is really engaging.

Additionally, the film raises a point that was never really explored in the first two installments, "What is the difference between these hired assassins and an ordinary murderer?" The characters are so likable and the execution so much fun that the viewer may get lost to the fact that they are hired killers. In Baby Assassins 3, the girls come face to face with someone who does what they do, but does it with a sadistic pleasure. The film, right or wrongly, draws the distinction between two professionals that are in the business of killing, and someone who is killing to fill a depraved void. We see, in some of the film's deeper moments, that, particularly Saori Izawa, is pondering this very question. This self-reflection works well with the film's more somber tone.

The film's Direction, by Yugo Sakamoto; its tight editing, and unique cinematography really work in this one. The fight choreography continues to be unique and highly watchable, with Akari Takaishi, taking on more hand to hand action in this installment. The final fight choreography by Sonomura Kensuke is as good as you will see in a martial arts and action film. I would venture to guess the final fight scene between Saori Izawa and Sôsuke Ikematsu will make our best fight scenes list for 2025.

You do not have to have seen the first two installments to enjoy this movie; however, I highly encourage watching them. They are terrific films.

If the filmmakers are going to continue the franchise I hope they are as thoughtful in their approach to the characters and storyline. Nothing worse than filmmakers simply recycling content with no regard for the sensibility of their core audience.

Note: Baby Assassins 3 was formerly titled Baby Assassins: Nice Days

I highly recommend this film.

The film is subtitled.