Not recommended only for gorehounds and cult movie fanatics--if your piece of cake lies more in traditional samurai cinema, be sure to give this set a spin. Sure it's heavily surreal, even trippy, and graphic compared to any works of Kurosawa, Kobayashi or Okamoto--actually it's a bit like what could've happened if any of those three had collaborated with Luis Bunuel and had a huge dose of LSD before scripiting. But it also has all the classic story elements of honour and glory, as well as loads of visual beauty.

Whacked, off the wall, exciting, entertaining, worth many viewings--in case I didn't make myself clear already, I love every second of this set. Heartily recommended.

Some people (wrongly) view them as exploitation films, and I just don't get that! It is probably due to the nudity and rape scenes. But all those scenes have meaning and lead to some plot point or twist. They serve the story and are not tacked on to sell tickets to pervs!

You could argue that the excessive blood spraying has an exploitive feel to it, but again, that was the style, and it's not like they go out of their way to make it look authentic!

I also think the series has a lot of heart and humanity, especially in the scenes with Ogami and Daigoro! He might slice twenty people up in front of his small son, but he also bathes him, keeps him warm, tucks him in, and finds some leaves for Daigoro to wipe his ass on when taking a dump in the woods! It is those little affectionate throw-away moments between father and son that make this more than hack and slash exploitation to me!

I also find the stories interesting, and every movie serves up some new colorful characters and villains. The sets and locations are beautiful. The costumes feel authentic, the music is just right, and the cinematography is innovative and way beyond what you find in so-called exploitation films. In short, these movies are must-haves.