Reviews

Let's not kid ourselves; a movie called "Sword of the Stranger" isn't likely to transcend the accoutrements of its fast-paced, steel-flashing samurai genre. There's a story, sort of, but it's poorly explained and the major antagonists (although there are two of them) lack motivation and depth. You get these vague descriptions of distant emperors, government politics, and immortality potions; a valiant attempt at forging an interesting plot, but there just wasn't enough screentime to stuff it all in, leaving the viewer more confused and puzzled than anything else. There are a couple of main characters, but any semblance of development is entirely scripted and predictable. The nameless ronin with a mysterious past, wandering Japan to simultaneously escape it and seek redemption. The smart-ass kid whose brash exterior belies the insecurities and fears of his age. We've seen this all before. The dog is pretty sweet though.

Fortunately the creaky narrative's punctuated by gorgeous set-piece fight scenes. By the first 10 minutes you can tell where 90% of the budget went into. I had the opportunity to see this when it premiered in New York, and the fights absolutely explode off the movie screen. It's hyperrealistic yet incredibly stylized; think Quentin Tarantino meets John Woo with katanas. The animation is crisp and smooth and little details like the condensation on a cold blade only heighten the atmosphere.

The movie saves the best for last; the scene near the end when the ronin finally unleashes his sword in the midst of the chaos and decapitates the poor guy standing in his way is an incredible moment of catharsis. This is quickly followed by an electric final duel between the hero and the villain. As the snow softly falls around them and blankets over the blood and ashes, a last clash of steel erupts, serenaded by a medley of swelling strings and horns, and the movie hurtles towards its inexorable conclusion (which itself is unsurprising but ultimately satisfying). Well worth your time.