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| THIS IS AN ANIME ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS THE MANGA BEYOND THIS EPISODE. ---------------------------------------- What did you think of it? Best anime movie in a long time imo. :) The sword fights, the pacing everything was just right. |
| Yeah it was a great movie, really entertaining. The music gave it a nice feeling as well, and it had very good action scenes. It gets 9/10 from me. |
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| i really enjoyed it too. the fights were great, and damn, nanashi is cool. 9/10 from me as well. :] |
| I don't know karate, but I know karazy |
| A good movie 8/10 from me |
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| 9/10 from me. Generic story but the treatment of visuals and sound...best in many years. |
"There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unknown, secret place." |
| The last fight was the best sword fight I've seen in anime period. |
kashim said: 9/10 from me. Generic story but the treatment of visuals and sound...best in many years. Story reminded me of Serei no Moribito somehow, and well yes, not so original. But everytime the music started to play, shivers ran down my spine. Westlo said: The last fight was the best sword fight I've seen in anime period. Definitely. Well-animated, great perspectives and fighting moves I've never seen before. I'll give it a 9 out of 10. |
| Wow. I loved this. It's one of the best films I've seen in quite some time. Excellent animation, awesome sword fighting scenes and I loved the music. I can always count on Bones. |
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| Wow, I'm going to be the unpopular guy here who thinks it was "okay." Pros: -Best sword fight ever probably, but just a bit unrealistic. -Excellent ending, and I mean the final scene. -Several key events are not predictable. -Good character interaction, especially with the dog. Cons: -Story...bad. The middle was too predictable and confusing, more than it should be. -The storyline is too cliché...random expert fighter meets young, helpless boy, who is somehow the key ingredient to something magical. -Too many people die. When you try to be unique, you don't have to go to the other extreme. -Music was inconsistent. For the first 2/3 of the movie, there was literally no background music. For the second 1/3, it played the same melody over and over again--a good melody, but the only melody. -Too many deus ex machina. Two people are having a fight then someone gets shot, okay. At the end, I don't like the "let's have a fair fight" thing; it kills the climax. There are many ways to initiate a good sword fight, and killing your own comrade isn't one of them. -Poor coordination. There were what, one sword fight? The plot makes Nanashi unable to draw his sword until the very end, but except from the beginning fight against the guy with the whip, every other fight is uneventful. The story was too drawn out without equal development of the characters, especially the people leading the attempted charge. Most of the story was focused on these people in red but did not develop them. They're obviously powerful, but aside from the different weapons they use, they're the same people. So basically, it is a story with several good moments and memorable moments, most of them with the dog, but the plot is disconnected and the story makes little sense. It was still somewhat enjoyable and the ending makes up for it. 6/10, "Good." |
| Finally had time to watch this. Not a bad movie. I liked some of the fights and the music. I found myself bored a few times though. Gets a 6 from me. |
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| Not quite sure why this is so highly overrated, very strange. Nothing notably remarkable except a few action scenes. This film could have been so much more with a better story and better characters. |
DunkyMar 7, 2013 2:25 PM
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| it was a really good movie in my opinion the movie was slightly boring at parts but the animation was pretty sexy XP, the action scenes left me in awe and it was interesting to see the chinese interpretation in this (the chinese that they spoke was pretty good) so all in all: two thumbs up XP |
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| I could tell right off the bat that the musical director had to be the same guy in charge of of E7's sound track. Simply beautiful. The story itself is fairly generic, but the animation, fight choreography, sound track, and characters blended together wonderfully and I never found myself bored. 9/10 for now, might drop to an 8 when the rush has worn off. |
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| I feel like we need a higher favorite quota, so that I can add this wonderful crafted movie. I would also like to say, for all of you claiming that the story line was "too generic", and that's what took some points off for you... I have to quote from South Park: Ahem... " Simpsons did it". Remember when Butters couldn't come up with a plan for Professor Chaos get revenge on the town - for being ridiculed and used. Every idea was shot down by General Disarray -bka Dougie- because "The Simpsons already did it." Point is, while yes; wandering Samurai saving Boy A or Girl/Hime C is "generic" The class, style, and execution all plays a factor, in whether this genre of wandering Samurai was elevated, by this movie having being made. Simply put: Yes, yes it was. Plus it came as a pleasant surprise, that they didn't wrap up the story with a neat little bow. Having them settle in some farm country, with Kotarou growing up as a "normal boy", would have been a typical ending. But this ending made it seem so vast... With the world for them too travel... They seem to have a freedom quite enviable... This is in a class apart... A world a part from the others in this generic Samurai flick... 10/10 |
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| That...was...awesome! The best Movie since Tokikake. As AnimusNathan said: The generic plot is generic, but the story itself is very unique. When you don't know what we are talking about watch it again. You'll notice it yourself. I don't want to praise the story. It's nothing THAT special, would give it a 6 or 7, but it's good. The thing that made me go like "Wooooo wtf Oo!?!?" was the art and the action. The art is just beatiful <3, and the action ends in the best Samuraiswordfight in Anime-history. Afterall I have to say that I really enjoyed this movie 9/10 8GaugeBrett I could tell right off the bat that the musical director had to be the same guy in charge of of E7's sound track. Simply beautiful. Yeah it's Naoki Sato, he's a genius. He was also responsible for the X-TV Soundtrack (Sadame is his best track). |
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| great movie, loved the fight scenes and the story. nanashi kinda reminds me of kenshin from samurai sword x with his red hair and how he disappeared after thier "victory". i give it a 10/10 |
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| Just finished this. Great movie. Best I've seen in a long time. Bones never fails to disappoint. The fight scenes were excellent. Like someone pointed out above, the overall plot may have been "generic" but the story was hardly that. Loved this movie. 10/10. |
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| Well, I rather enjoyed the movie. While the story and characterisation weren't the best, the fight scenes (especially that last one, my god.) were nothing short of amazing, and during the entire last third or so, I was almost cheering for anime characters. (however, it didn't measure up to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, where I actually did cheer for them.) It got a 8/10 from me, one of the few things I've given a high rating based on pure enjoyment and/or coolness factor. Actually, I randomly compared it to Fullmetal Alchemist (actually, it's not really random since they're both Bones) and thought to myself that FMA at least gave an attempt at being thoughtful and deep, whereas Stranger did not. While I enjoyed Stranger's fights much more than Fullmetal Alchemist's, it at least had a unique plot. Oh well, 7/10 still isn't bad. |
qtipMay 22, 2008 12:16 AM
| 5/5 haven't seen one of these masterpieces for a while ^__^ reminds me of Princess Mononoke |
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| I just finished it. The animation/sound was amazing. It's been a while since I've seen a movie like this. The plot was pretty generic and cliche but the animation/sound made up for it. 9/10. |
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| Awesome movie as far as the animation/art/music are concerned. The characters were pretty interesting too even if a bit too cliché, but what really hurts it is the lack of a credible script and interesting themes. A great movie if you're looking only at the technical side but that obviously lacks depth (reminds me of Blood The Last Vampire some years ago, but a bit better). 8/10 KamiTe said: Yeah it's Naoki Sato, he's a genius. He was also responsible for the X-TV Soundtrack (Sadame is his best track). Can't agree more, Sadame must be the best main theme I have ever heard. Still his score for Stranger was not as wonderful as the Eureka or X ones imo. |
JacutMay 25, 2008 2:09 PM
 In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same. |
| It has a lot of historic references to "barbarian" (i.e. foreigners). During the Ming dynasty, a lot of foreigners came to China while Japan remained very remote and closed to foreigners. That is why Luo Lang has that weird foreigner accent that makes me lol when he speaks Chinese.... In China during Ming dynasty, the power and government is more centralized, resulting in the importance of order and loyalty. However, at that time, it was Sengoku in Japan (literally warring countries). Provinces appears and falls like flies. That explains the remark made by the Chinese regarding how the soldiers betrayed their regional lord so easily (because the whole country is in turmoil, there are no laws and no everyone is left to themselves) It's only after that Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and finally Ieyasu came....Similar period of history also happened many times in Chinese history as well, with unification/peaceful/civilized periods intertwined in between chaotic/barbaric/warring periods.... Of course, the foreigners don't give a **** about this. That is why, IRONICALLY, the foreigner are called "barbarians" simply because they do not embrace the east-asian culture of that time. ***************** Sidenote: By the way, this movie is only PG12 in Japan, which makes me wonder.... |
wakka9caJun 1, 2008 2:52 PM
bla bla bla The endless debate between fans and haters. At one point, after spending a lot of time on MAL, you just realize it's totally pointless.Niko-kun said: On MAL, everyone who has used the lame rating system becomes a critic and an intellectual by default, haven't you heard? |
| i like the way the action scenes were done in this movie, the details to different moves were splendid. especially so for the last fight, together with the music, it sent chills down my spine. |
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| It was pretty original to put some mandarin in the movie. |
| As others have said, I did find the plot generic, with an anti-hero becoming a hero, in this case a wandering ex-samurai who has forsworn violence (reminiscent of Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai Deeper Kyo, etc.) coming across this kid in need. Even Kotaro's surliness and mistrust were typical, lol. However, the execution of these common concepts was perfected in this anime with important little details such as the detailed fight scenes, the Mings and the genuine Chinese in the film. As Chinese warfare was really varied and very lethal at the time, the fight scenes are more credible, and as someone else mentioned, rulers chasing after immortality in one form or another is well-known throughout history. I thought the creators were trying to gear this toward a broader audience, young and adult, hence the rating and the somewhat cartoonish art vs. the subdued colors. There weren't really any controversial points because of this fact as well, but as an all-around good action movie with likeable protagonists (go Nanashi!) and excellent fight scenes, it accomplishes its goal. That's a credit to Bones. When they set out to do something, they put forth a supreme effort. I'd like to see those kinds of fight scenes in action series. I found the music all right except it was somewhat below the music director's ability. When I saw Naoki Sato's name, I expected more. I liked his work in X better. I give this an 8/10. |
| damn i shouldnt have read these comments, too much critisism, it ruined the great mood i was in after watching this movie I loved it to pieces.so im not gonna bother discussing various aspects 10/10 |
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| Not even critisism could ruin this movie for me. I came in wanting to see a action packed movie and thats what i got. It was actually much better than i was expecting and the battle coriagraphy was exeptional. I especially liked the end where Kotarou was riding the hores with Nameless on the back. Although there wasn't enough character development as there could have been from this type of movie the characters still developed nicely. 9/10 |
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Ketuekigami said: Not even critisism could ruin this movie for me. I came in wanting to see a action packed movie and thats what i got. Same here. A friend turned me on to Sword of the Stranger and billed it as a classic samurai movie very well made. And it delivered. 9/10 for me as well. |
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| That was awesome. The plot... well, eh. I'm guessing the Chinese are Sengoku's version of "terrorists" (inherently evil, crazy, and only vaguely reminiscent of reality), but at least it was a plot that could be followed. But the action... oh baby. I wanted to see a samurai flick, and I think that more than qualified. 9/10 |
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| yeah the plot was a bit cliche but great movie nonetheless @_@ and the fight scenes were AWESOME. something keeps bothering me about the chinese warriors though...they seemed like they were ripped straight of of dynasty warriors(yeah the game). in dynasty warriors, the characters were heroes that could topple whole armies and that's what was shown here. |
corrodedJul 4, 2008 1:40 AM
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Brian333 said: mui said: it was a really good movie in my opinion the movie was slightly boring at parts but the animation was pretty sexy XP, the action scenes left me in awe and it was interesting to see the chinese interpretation in this (the chinese that they spoke was pretty good) so all in all: two thumbs up XP The chinese was horrible... LOL yeah I could barely tell it was Chinese. D: Depiction of Ming-era Chinese also was pretty fail. |
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| 9/10 My only complaint is that the story wasn't all that great and the characters weren't terribly original. My biggest plus is the dog. The fighting was great, the art was great but the dog was the best. I don't think I've ever seen such a smart and useful, more or less, normal animal in an anime before. Lasie aint got nothing Tobimaru. |
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| Awesome movie 10/10 The final battle ranks as one of the greatest ever. Can't wait for the DVD. |
| I loved it, I would 10/10 right after seeing it because I saw it in HD on a 30 foot screen at a convention with like 600 people in the room. So I went down to 9/10 so I don't feel funny. The crowd cheered twice, at the end of the last fight and when Tobimaru ripped that guy's throat out. Epic. The dub is painful. I'm going to buy the DVD, but never listen to the dub, ever again. The characters sounded like Disney voice actors or something and it felt like a gory Disney movie. I couldn't stand to hear the kid say Tobimaru with his straight English, it sounded so stupid. |
| 10/10 might drop to a 9/10 over time however, as this should be more around 9.4/10. I wanna know if he dies or not in the end T_T |
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| I really liked it... maybe because I have never seen other movie with samurais or around this time [samurai]... But... |
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| great movie 8/10 |
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| One of the best anime movies I have ever seen... 10/10 |
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