I decided to watch it one night not really knowing anything about the story or plot. It had been hanging around for a bit and I never gave it much thought, so I went in not having any expectations.
From the very first scene I suddenly found myself thinking, "Wow...this is going to be good!". I have a strong love for samurai movies and shows, which is why I picked this up in the first place. I do believe this movie has escalated to be one of my favourite samurai genre animations ever.
This isn't a romanticized depiction of the sengoku era. Many shows choose to gloss over a lot of the gritty details and truths surrounding the violent period that this was. Not to say I mind that, but I have a certain affection for shows that don't hold back. This movie has all the blood and gore you could expect of intense battles between sword masters.
Speaking of the fights, they were probably the best aspect of this whole movie. The choreography was amazing, everything was fast and fluid. They really blew me away, probably some of the best swordsmanship and martial arts I've seen.
The animation is absolutely stunning. This was a high budget movie, and it really shows. The level of detail is so realistic. You notice the smallest things like the way a piece of bamboo splinters apart. Even things happening in the background or out of the line of focus are shown in this same quality.
The music is definitely a feature worth mentioning. It made your pulse quicken during the more intense scenes, and really set the mood for the somber ones. Many time I don't recall music in movies, it just sort of stays as part of the background and memory skips over it. This soundtrack was far from that though, I clearly remember how well the music complemented each and every scene.
I'll be honest, the plot itself wasn't anything drastically new or exciting. I still found it engaging, but don't expect anything phenomenal. I believe this movie is purely about the action, and you will not be disappointed by that factor.
I thought the characters were really outstanding for the length of time the movie had to familiarize us with them. Although it's only 1 hour and 45 minutes, you really get into the main characters and can fully sympathize with them all.
If you're looking for an intense, action-packed movie, then give Sword of the Stranger a chance. I don't think anyone could dislike this movie.
