Eko Eko Azarak II: Birth of the Wizard (1996)

Wow! Such a good movie.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

With 'Eko Eko Azarak II', we're offered a prequel this time, learning us (in a subplot) how Misa got acquainted with witchcraft and developed her powers. The rest of the plot is *very* much inspired by the first 'The Terminator' movie. Only replace Arnold Schwarzenegger by an ancient evil witch, jumping from body to body, constantly chasing the young Misa and her protector. The pace of events is higher this time than was the case with the first film. The occasional blood & splatter is still there. The story is interesting enough. And the effects are about as good as they could get for a 1996 modest-budget Japanese horror effort. It does slow down a bit too much just before the third act, but other than that, it's pretty much a fun ride with a great climax. Worth hunting down a copy of it.

I thought this film featuring Misa was a bit better than the previous film. It just made little sense, the one thing I would tell anyone watching these films is to start with this one first and then watch the first film. It will clear up a couple of things anyway, though there are still a lot of things about the first one that made absolutely no sense and I am guessing you have to have read the comics upon which these films are based to really get it. This one shows Misa as a girl who is alone. Something is tracking her down and it is not to long before she is running for her life with the aid of this guy who practices magic. Misa does a bit more in this film than the last one, cause in that one her magic was rendered ineffective for most of the movie which makes that film seem like a strange way to begin the series. The sexual aspect that was present in the first film is nonexistent in this one, which does not hurt this one all that much as it really has some good kills to make up for the sex, and quite frankly the sex seemed kind of out of place in that film anyways. The film sort of reminds me of Terminator 2 a bit as they have to keep running from this seemingly unstoppable foe. Really quite action packed right out of the gate, however it does get slower as things are revealed about the strange man aiding Misa and about Misa herself. However, this was welcome as it cleared up some stuff which the first film did not clear up anything. This one has a plot you can follow a lot easier than in the first film. I am hoping the third film brings it all together, but as it is this is a much easier to follow sequel that is a prequel, it also looks more like a movie than the first film. So a step in the right direction.

I have never read the 70's manga by Shinichi Koga, so I cannot say how well the film follows its source.STORY: This film is a prequel to the first one. This time around, Misa Kuroi is just a normal schoolgirl hanging out at her parent-less house (they're abroad). She's drinking with her friends, totally unaware of her powers, when tragedy comes into her life and she is mercilessly hunted by an evil witch desiring her power. Her friends are killed by a body jumping unstoppable force (think "The Hidden", but with a resurrected witch substituted for the alien life-force) and she must go on the run while she is endlessly pursued. A wizard tells her of a village of witches that was slaughtered back in the 1880's and informs her of her occult powers and the reason she is being hunted by this evil resurrected witch as he tries to protect her (against both her pursuer and her own flawed judgment).Like EEA: Wizard of Darkness, EEA II: Birth of the Wizard it is still a relationship film with horror/occult elements, but this is quite a bit more action-packed and involves many more location shoots than its predecessor despite a limited budget. There is also a lot more spell casting involved this time and some decent FX considering the budget. Kimika Yoshino returned in the role and director Shimako Sato returns as well for a film that I found more entertaining than the first installment. I also thought the lack of any lesbian schoolgirl subplot this time around helped remove the cheesy sleaze element and let us concentrate on the story better.***SPOILER WARNING*** It was interesting to see Misa before she becomes the powerful yet somewhat inept witch. After watching all 3 films, I have to say that Misa Kuroi seems to be the type of character who triumphs over evil…once everyone else around her is already dead. I wonder if the manga was the same way. Sure, it keeps the story going longer, but doesn't give you too much confidence in her abilities to help others, now does it?

Somewhat of a letdown after the exceptional "Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard Of Darkness", but if you like the genre, it's still worth checking out. Our favorite high school witch, Misa Kuroi, is being pursued by a nasty demon who keeps jumping from one host body to the next (like "The Hidden"). She is forcefully protected by a mysterious stranger (like Kyle Reese in "The Terminator"), and together the two of them find love and courage, and face the demon. As a sci-fi/horror film it's rather plodding and unremarkable, but what it does succeed at is creating an interesting character study of the melancholic plight of Japanese teenage girls. The entire film just looks and feels like shojo manga. Tragically beautiful Kimika Yoshino has matured as both an actress and a woman, and seems more confident in her abilities and more convincing in her role as Misa. The movie shares the same high production values and gory special effects as the first film, but without the sexual content.