Is Abarenbo Shogun II – New Year’s Special Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1985)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Abarenbo Shogun II – New Year’s Special (1985), audiences are invited back into the world of Action, Comedy, History. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "When the seventh shogun, Ietsugu died, shogunate officials chose Yoshimune, Lord of Kishu, to succeed him. Since then Yoshimune has led a double life.In court he remains a dedicated leader, but outside he travels incognito as a wandering swordsman, seeking out crime and corruption. With his trusted friends and his ninja, he’ll expose anyone who perverts the shogun’s justice and oppresses his people and he’ll ruthlessly put them down with his lightning-fast sword. But since he became shogun, many high-placed officials look on with jealousy, and long to destroy him. One such man, Lord Owari, tries to unseat Yoshimune by exposing his mother as a practitioner of an outlaw religion, Christianity, an offense punishable by crucifixion!"

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Abarenbo Shogun II – New Year’s Special, even the presence of Ken Matsudaira struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Action. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Abarenbo Shogun II – New Year’s Special worth your time? If you appreciate Action, Comedy, History films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Abarenbo Shogun II – New Year’s Special misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 65 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.