In war-torn Japan, the Tokugawa Shogun, desperate to restore peace to his people, orders the assassination of the hostile warlords. A beautiful young woman is raised from birth with nine other orphans, to become an assassin. Her name is Azumi, the ultimate assassin.
Practical Effects
Actual sword choreography, not CGI nonsense
Production
Comic panel framing that knows its manga roots
Acting
Aya Ueto's dead-eyed resolve sells the absurdity

Director
Ryuhei Kitamura
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Aya Ueto was 18 and had never held a sword; she trained for six months straight.
Director Kitamura made this hot off Versus, and the manga fans hated the melodrama additions.