Mature (May contain sex, drugs, and extreme graphic violence)
Vintage:
July 18, 2008
Status:
Completed
Summary:
Hunted by the Mings from China, young Kotaro and his dog meet a nameless samurai ("Nanashi") who is constantly being haunted by dreams of the past which lead him to seal his sword. Among the Mings is a fiercesome Western fighter named Rarou, who desires only to find a worthy opponent. When both groups clash with a Sengoku-era feudal lord, a proud general, and monks torn between faith and survival, the reason behind the Mings' pursuit tests the bond between Kotaro and Nanashi.
Written by stevodevo on August 22, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Overall Rating
Excellent
Story: 5
Dialogue: 5
Animation: 5
Entertainment: 5
When I see BONES, I know it's going to be a quality release, and Sword of the Stranger does not disappoint!
I've just uploaded a 720p, dual audio BD rip, under 500mb so hopefully it will be accepted. You really need to view this in as high resolution as possible to appreciate the fantastic visuals and the stunning fight scenes.
Sword of the Stranger is an example of what a good movie should be - not just great anime, but a great movie.
Technically, it has amazing visuals with extremely fluid action scenes that are probably the best fight scenes I've ever seen. The camera angles aren't chopped up showing you bits and pieces but follows the action so you get to watch the entire fight unfold. The background audio is tight and the music is more a traditional flavour which really adds to the presentation as well as the mood of the story.
The characters have background and personality - even the antagonists - which allows you to really immerse yourself in the story. While it does play up the 'I must protect everyone' plotline to a point, it's not overly exaggerated or without meaning. The relationship between Kotarou and the nameless swordsman progresses throughout the movie, including some humorous moments, which provided a great emotional hook.
Storywise, Sword of the Stranger comes through with a well laid out plot and enough background info via dialog and flashbacks to tell a complete tale... it's feels like a brief chapter in what must be a larger backdrop of political intrigue and violence but also gives details into the lives of those affected by it. Overall it was a satisfying story, with a great ending, that left me feeling I'd just witnessed something amazing.
One word of caution - it does contain graphic violence. So be warned if you're at all squeamish. But if there were a way I could give this 6/5 for entertainment - i would do it in a heartbeat. It's just that good.
