Sasori: Korosu tenshi (1998) User Reviews

Inanity

[frankgaipa · 3/10 · 21 March 2005]

Grabbed this cheap thinking it a late entry in the over the top, famously if questionably feminist, Female Convict Scorpion series. Seems not to be.

Unlike the nearly mute Sasori in Joshuu sasori: Dai-41 zakkyo-bô, this film's heroine's a professional, a doctor, Nami, who goes to prison for attacking a thuggish patient who may have been responsible for her sister's death. At least on the American release, the story unfolds in two brief films. The first, which IMDb lists as Sasori: Joshuu 701-gô, quickly devolves into women behind bars clichés. Nami escapes, of course, but only to reappear in this second film, hair apparently died and bobbed, still looking to avenge her sister.

The second film's ten minutes shorter, looks like it was edited with butcher knife whether by the director or distributors, but I liked it better. The inanity of the plot -- (spoiler only if you can figure it out) she unwittingly saves her nemesis over, over, and over again -- kept me from ejecting the disk and forgetting about it. The final surprise is completely insane, but carefully telegraphed nonetheless.

Neither half of the story really stands alone. This one depends substantially on the first.

Disappointing sequel, but flesh still on display

[karlpov · 1 April 2002]

Nami Matsushima has escaped from the prison to which she was sentenced in Scorpion, but is now obsessed with tracking down the--don't laugh--one-armed man who murdered her younger sister fifteen years ago. Nami is certainly no great action heroine, and the plot at times makes little sense, climaxing with a coincidence more ridiculous than any Shakespeare ever used. For complicated reasons, Nami uses her medical knowledge to break into a women's prison as staff physician. There, as in the previous movie, the convicts wind up naked awfully frequently.

The rather inept Nami, by the way, is never referred to as Scorpion within the movie; this appellation may be an attempt to evoke a more acclaimed Japanese caged-woman movie from the past, Female Convict Scorpion, to which this movie is, however, unrelated.

Pleasant time-waster if you go in for this sort of thing.

Just not as funny

[ClydeBickle · 1/10 · 14 August 2004]

I found the first Scorpion to be the perfect mst3k movie. That is, its great to make fun of. But Scorpion 2 almost feels like its trying to be a good movie, and instead becomes a below average boring movie that isn't worth watching or possible to laugh at. I liked the ridiculously fake prison beatings of the first film, but here the fighting looks real, which would be great if this was a GOOD film. There is still plenty of prison nudity, but the convoluted plot makes you not even care. There is one big laugh, and that is the final scene on the bridge. I honestly can't recommend this, unless you are a hardcore fan of the first movie (I doubt there are any) and absolutely must know how it ends.

A nonsensical follow up to the Scorpion remake. Not as fun as part one however.

[Captain_Couth · 8/10 · 3 September 2004]

Scorpion, part II (1998) finds Lady Scorpion on the lam. She has a new identity and a new life but she wont give up until she finds out who killed her younger sister. The young lady decides to break into prison to find out some more information. Not just any prison mind you but the very one she just escaped from! She either crazy or stupid (I take a little from column A and a little from column B). Will she finds the answers to her past and will she find closure? Can Lady Scorpion bring the killer or killers back to justice? Is there or isn't their a one armed man? You'll have to find out for yourself. I wont say anymore but it's a real hoot when you find out.

Not as great as part one but it's still entertaining. You can find both films one one disc. What are you waiting for? Go out and get it! Unrated but it has a lot of blood, gore and nudity.

Strongly recommended.