I very rarely write reviews on IMDb but I've just watched Sword Of The Stranger (subbed. Always subbed.) for the 3rd time and I feel like this has the potential to be a classic example of great Japanese animation, but somehow hasn't attained the popularity.
I'm not going to write a massive in-depth review. I will simply say that if you enjoy samurai action anime films, you will absolutely love this. Visually and aurally, this film blew me away. I cannot begin to describe how artistically beautiful it is, and how full of tiny details which enrich the entire viewing experience. The characters are very clichéd, and the story itself contains little that you haven't seen elsewhere, but the details in the characterisation still make this movie feel totally fresh.
The boy's relationship to his dog, Tobimaru, is particularly touching, and is rendered beautiful by one scene in particular which has the boy getting water from a river to give to his sick dog. Keep an eye out for those 5 seconds, because they contain unnecessary detail which just brings the whole film to life. Every character has its quirks which just makes the whole experience so much more dramatic, as if you're watching great acting on screen rather than flat drawings, and this really lends the movie a Disney-esquire sense of magic to it. At no point do you doubt the existence of the world you're watching, and it's authenticity just sucks you completely in to the experience.
It goes almost without saying that the fighting in this film is superb. Easily the best action scenes I've ever seen in an anime, and very reminiscent in feel and technical accuracy to Samurai Champloo's fight scenes. Every move here is perfectly choreographed, and you won't find an attack which doesn't feel like it has weight behind it. The film's antagonist is a fantastic character who, of course, rivals our ronin hero in skill, resulting in an epic climax...you really need to see it for yourself!
Bottom line is that if you have any interest in animated films, Japanese or otherwise, see this movie. I would compare it tonally more to a Disney film than to a stablemate such as Ninja Scroll, in that the characters feel real and the world has such a beautiful, almost nostalgic feel to it. Yet be aware that when the swords are drawn, you are gonna get action like you've rarely seen before, and it is quite a bloody film. Definitely not for kids.
If the story were just a little more original I'd give it a perfect 10, but as it stands it gets a 9. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I'm not going to write a massive in-depth review. I will simply say that if you enjoy samurai action anime films, you will absolutely love this. Visually and aurally, this film blew me away. I cannot begin to describe how artistically beautiful it is, and how full of tiny details which enrich the entire viewing experience. The characters are very clichéd, and the story itself contains little that you haven't seen elsewhere, but the details in the characterisation still make this movie feel totally fresh.
The boy's relationship to his dog, Tobimaru, is particularly touching, and is rendered beautiful by one scene in particular which has the boy getting water from a river to give to his sick dog. Keep an eye out for those 5 seconds, because they contain unnecessary detail which just brings the whole film to life. Every character has its quirks which just makes the whole experience so much more dramatic, as if you're watching great acting on screen rather than flat drawings, and this really lends the movie a Disney-esquire sense of magic to it. At no point do you doubt the existence of the world you're watching, and it's authenticity just sucks you completely in to the experience.
It goes almost without saying that the fighting in this film is superb. Easily the best action scenes I've ever seen in an anime, and very reminiscent in feel and technical accuracy to Samurai Champloo's fight scenes. Every move here is perfectly choreographed, and you won't find an attack which doesn't feel like it has weight behind it. The film's antagonist is a fantastic character who, of course, rivals our ronin hero in skill, resulting in an epic climax...you really need to see it for yourself!
Bottom line is that if you have any interest in animated films, Japanese or otherwise, see this movie. I would compare it tonally more to a Disney film than to a stablemate such as Ninja Scroll, in that the characters feel real and the world has such a beautiful, almost nostalgic feel to it. Yet be aware that when the swords are drawn, you are gonna get action like you've rarely seen before, and it is quite a bloody film. Definitely not for kids.
If the story were just a little more original I'd give it a perfect 10, but as it stands it gets a 9. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED