Reviews

This is the third DVD of the second of third saga. It starts out with Saito and Kenshin entering Shishio's mansion and then Kenshin fights Senkaku, of course defeating him, then Sojiro, which in the process, Kenshin's reverse-blade sword is cut in half, which leaves Kenshin no choice but to hunt down the creator of it so he can continue his fight with Shishio and the Jupogottona. I don't want to spoil anything else, but this is one must-get DVD. Enjoy!!!!!

Vol. 9 is full of action and even a little humor. Both Kenshin Himura and Hajme Saitoh face off with Makoto Shishio. However Kenshin is about to get the surprise of his life as he faces off with the boy swordsmen Soujirou Seta. The boy has skills and speed that Kenshin has never seen. Can Kenshin over come this new foe. You'll just have to watch to find out.

To be honest,I dont hav the dvd or vhs for this,but I hav seen all the episode for it. Its not the best action pack kenshin but it did explain alot to me. And for all the people who r les familier with kenshin,the second reviewer guys is rite, suijiro was not part of the shinsangumi. If he was then he would hav fought kenshin with his left and he would probably look much older. Anyway these five eps. has a lot of info that u need to no for u to understand the rest of the series. A lot of comical sence like the with saito havin a wife(lol) or the shishio joke about eh hotspring(also very funny) and it keeps u hooked with the ending of the last two eps. which Im not giving away.

This is yet another humorous/exciting Rurouni Kenshin, there really isnt much to say without spoilers, the biggest thing that happens here is the Sakubatou gets broken and Kenshin needs a new sword for most of the whole DVD, the rest of the time is spent introducing us to the rest of the Oniwabanshu (very comedic) and Kenshin attempting to find the maker of the sakubatou.....too bad I can't say anymore, buy it and find out for yourself!

There really isn't much to say without causing a spiolier. Kenshin is just a pretty cool series. I'm afraid to say it's better than Neon Gensis Evangelion. All I have to say is this is the best anime series ever. Better than the rest with an original setting. Don't plan on getting this... well if your reading this your already sucked into the series and you will buy this. So there's no holding back now until it's over.

Reviews

Not my favorite anime I've watched lately. But it was at least decent. If I had to choose between Ninja Cadets! and Samurai: Hunt for the Sword, I'd choose Samurai. If I had to choose between Samurai: Hunt for the Sword and Wrath of Ninja, I'd choose Wrath. If I were rich and had my way, I'd probably go with Ninja Scroll The Movie & The Series - Ultimate Collection. But, for what it's worth, I liked Samurai: Hunt for the Sword. I thought it was a pretty decent movie/show. I don't regret the purchase. Unlike Harmagedon, which I'd avoid if given a second chance.

In all fairness, this one is not one of the favorites in my collection. But it is still pretty good, and I do not regret buying it. The characters are not precisely memorable, but they don't put me to sleep either. And the story is there at least, which is more than I can say for some anime I've seen. The animation looks good, which is always a plus. ^_^I am also unsure if this was meant to be a series or just this dvd. Perhaps it is like Angel Sanctuary--meaning that the company with the rights to it just has not finished the rest of the show yet. In any case, what we get is good, but I feel more could have been done with it.All in all, it comes down to this--If you own it, you either like it or hate it, and I'm not going to change your mind. However, if you have never seen it, I urge you to at least give it a chance before you dismiss it altogether.

This Anime is really a good one, but the only thing is that its way too short. It left open a lot of things, like what happens to Shinjiro after the duel, do all the girls keep fighting over him???? And what happened at his fathers duel??? I really wanted to know that to know end. Another 30 min to an hour would have been really nice.

Originally titled: Kai Toh Ran Ma-The Animation, Samura: Hunt For The Sword is a 2-episode OVA based on a Japanese video game. It takes place during the shogun days of Japan. A young swordsman named Shinjuro, who is the heir to a prestigous dojo, takes charge of his father's duties while he is off on a mysterious mission. But the quiet place soons turns into an episode of TENCHI with two cute girls quarreling over him. Then, it is revealed that some ninjas are causing mayhem in the city, but its a cover up for their attempt to start a revolution against the government by stealing a magical sword. The leader of the revolution challenges Shinjiro to a fight with the opposing magical sword that his father is searching for. All this while the true identity of one of the ninjas is really a shrine maiden that Shinjiro has the hots for. There are some funny moments in this and some decent action. Check it out!

This one has the potential to be a really good series but unfortunately is way too short. With only a running time of 60 minutes they try and throw together the story as quickly as possible. You barely have time to get to know the characters before the main baddie and the protaganist fight their final duel. I say this is a frustrating anime because you can see where they might have taken this in a interesting direction. The characters are interesting and the women have a tendency to squabble of the main character in the same classic Dual!/Tenchi fashion. Of course, there is no time for any of this to be developed. I was just left saying-- is that it? The artwork is good, the characters are loveable and though the story line wasn't anything new I enjoyed it. It is simply too short. I would say rent it--it is worth seeing-- but you will probably end up frustrated like me.

Reviews

Absolutely breathtaking. I thought it was a bit too violent, a bit too sexual, and a little weird. But all of these things only added to the experience. This is a movie truly for comic book fans. But then again, I like serious movies that are extremely violent and well, it looks like I am watching the right type of stuff. I got a version distributed by red sun but it has the animeego logo all over the menu screen. An anime company rerleasing real movies, I wasn't sure about this. But I thought the liner notes were an awesome extra as it took me about 15 minutes to read it all before I watched the movie. Now the story is so captivating, it is the first time in a while that I was watching an asian film and was really excited, but patiently waited and watched with great interest as the story unfolded. The final battle of the movie was great and really has you saying, "man, I hope this story continues". And ALL of the characters are wonderful as they are bursting with character in their appearence. The acting is also superb. The version I got from red sun is anamorphically widescreened amd the picture is remastered very well. The sound cuts out a few times in the movie, but it happens a couple of times early on and doesn't end up making a big difference. And overall the sound is very good.

Ogami Itto, the official executioner to the Shogun, is falsely accused of treason and ordered to commit ritual suicide. Yet, this man who holds the harsh code of Bushido above all else, refuses and goes on a quest, a journey, to get revenge. Not only for his lost honor and position but for the murder of his wife. But he is not alone, for his tiny son must take the same path of honor and death. A ronin and his son. Lone Wolf And Cub. Both are for hire. The movie is faithful to the manga because the manga was designed to be easily transfered to the big screen. Actors and actresses were perfect for their parts. Lots of violence, nudity and sex scenes - what more can you want? Runs about 83 minutes and the plot moves well, so you never feel bored or feel like there is dead space. A must for any Samurai library.

This series of films have been among my absolute favorite since I first saw them more than 30 years ago. I can remember my first experience with Kozure Ohkami as a young Japanese American youth in early 1970s Los Angeles. One day my friend's dad piled a bunch of us young "JAs" into a Mercury Montego and took us to see the fourth movie in the series, Baby Cart In Peril at the long gone Toho LaBrea Theater. One thing nice about growing up in LA in the '60s and '70s is that we got to see a lot of movies unavailable to many people outside of Japanese American communities during the pre-VCR days. While I grew up watching The Man From UNCLE and Gilligan's Island like all my friends, I also had the bonus of being able to enjoy the exploits of Ogami Itto, Zatoichi and a host of Mifune and Nakadai movies. During my high school years, my friends and I eagerly awaited each pending showing at the Toho. Parts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 were in heavy rotation during the mid to late '70s, but a part 3 was never shown. It wasn't until the mid '90s when AnimEigo released the series on VHS and laserdisc that I was sure that part 3 was in fact Lightning Swords of Death which was released as a dubbed movie for the mass American public in 1975 during the height of the martial arts craze. When Toho closed down in the late '70s and became a Korean church Itto, Daigoro and the cart-o-fun moved to the Kokusai in West LA. And when Kokusai closed its doors in the late 1980s, the movies were being shown at Little Tokyo Cinema in downtown LA. By then the prints being shown were completely trashed and it was obvious that for years it was the same prints being circulated for 20 years. One second, amidst a smoking overcast field Itto would be facing Yagyu Gunbei, then the next he would be sitting with Daigoro in front of a cooking pot. Three great fight scenes and about 30 minutes of film had been permanently lost. During the late 1980s I met a fellow at the Japan Expo who had secured the rights to release the Zatoichi series in the US. I asked him if the Sword of Vengeance series would ever become available. Every year I went back to the Expo and asked him the same question, and every year he told me the same thing. He said he was working on it, but since Katsu Shintaro's [Zatoichi himself] company had gone bust, ownership of the 6 Baby Cart films had been dispersed and it would be difficult to gain the rights to all of them. He said he couldn't just go to one person, but had to deal with many different people. Well imagine my joy when AnimEigo began making these available. During the mid nineties they were released one episode at a time about every two to three months. When the DVDs were released not too long ago I noticed they appeared very different from the laserdiscs. A scene I had mentioned earlier in which Itto fights assassins in a shrine looks entirely different from VHS and laserdisc to DVD. The VHS and laserdisc depict this scene as being very dark. The interior is dimly lit as one would expect of a musty, little used indoor temple. The people are difficult to make out which adds an air of uncertainty and desperation to the fight sequence. However, on the DVD this same scene is extremely bright and well lit. Blood stains that appeared like dark crimson smears on the laserdisc are bright glowing red on the DVD. It struck me as being artificial looking. To be honest, it has been so long since I saw the original in the theaters, I can't remember which is correct. It's probably somewhere in between. But I will say I greatly prefer watching these movies on laserdisc. They appear more film-like, while the DVDs in spots seem overly contrasty and bright. I wonder if this was done intentionally during mastering. Were certain scenes color adjusted just for the DVD? I also noticed that the English translation is different from the theatrical versions to those released by AnimEigo. I had my father, who was born, raised and educated in Japan watch a series of scenes where I remembered the original theatrical subtitles. We then compared them to the subtitles in the current releases. In the instances I could remember the old subtitles, my dad felt the new releases had the more accurate translation. Some reviewers on this site have commented that these films don't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with greats like Seven Samurai or even deserve a 5 star rating. I can certainly understand that viewpoint, but I choose to rate films on how they affect me and what they mean to me, not in the overall scheme of movie history. So with that in mind can you imagine the lasting impression a close up of Oyuki's beautiful tattoed breasts made on a young lad in the midst of puberty? Or the shock and repulsion of seeing Retsudo behead his loyal quick change artist and the gushing fountain of blood that ensued. Scenes like that would convince anyone that Japanese have the highest blood pressure of any ethnic group around. I love it! These films are a look into the morals and trials of Samurai bound to the codes of Bushido during 17th century Japan albeit with a bit of James Bond [especially part 6] mixed in. They're also not too unlike the classic movie Harakiri, in that they focus on the corruptibility of people in high places and the consequences those actions have. Educational and fun! All these films are beautifully photographed, and shot on locations not like the artificial sets of Hong Kong action movies or Japanese Chambara TV serials. Some scenes are unforgettable such as in part 1 when Itto and Kurando face each other in preparation for a duel at sunset in an open field. This scene is also a cinematic example how he who has the advantages of nature does not always prevail in a duel. Another striking image is from part 4. In one scene there's a camera view down on Ogami Itto pushing the cart-of-goodies. The neat thing is that 95% of the screen is filled with a large tiled roof, while Itto and Daigoro only occupy a corner of the frame. On the other hand, action scenes such as when Itto is fighting a large assembly of various Yagyu warriors in a debossed mini maze showcase battlefield swordsmanship in its starkest and most brutal fashion. Many Michael Myers' Halloween techniques are utilized here. In part 1, during a pivotal scene in which Itto and son are seemingly ready to commit seppuku, the subsequent fight is filmed in an eerily silent manner. Ogami Itto runs slently through his house cutting up the Shogun's officials. You hear no foot steps, no screams, no grunts. All you see is the frantic battle and the sound of the blade cutting through flesh. There is some supernatural jumping in these films, but very little flowery swordplay and posing ala Crouching Tiger nor is the fight choreography presented as an effortlessly balletic dance as that of Nakadai Tatsuya's Tsukue Ryunosuke from Sword of Doom. The techniques in Kozure Ohkami are powerful, direct and meant to kill. Instantly. This isn't Kendo. It is a closer to Batto Jutsu which is a modern practice with roots in the battlefield tested techniques of pre-Tokugawa era warriors. Sure there are some flourishes thrown in for effect, but overall the viewer is hit with the powerful and deadly swordplay of Wakayama Tomisaburo. And in that there is great beauty. Even Itto's sword is the famous Dohtanuki which was a beefy, heavy battlefield sword. Definitely not one for the limp-wristed swordsman. I truly believe these movies are a must see for any western foley effects artist not familiar with the way Japanese weaponry sounds. I don't think I've ever seen an American film get the sound of a katana right. As much as I liked The Last Samurai, I cringed every time I heard a sword being drawn in that movie. Japanese swords are in wooden scabbards [saya], so the sound is metal against wood, not metal-on-metal as in movies about medieval Europe. This may seem like nit-picking to many, but to me it would be like watching Roman Holiday with the voice of Fred Flintstone coming from Audrey Hepburn. It just isn't right! It's interesting. Until a few years ago I had no idea these films were originally a manga series. And it is nice to know that the people who are fans of Koike Kazuo's books are pleased with these movies. There was an attempt in the early 1980s to adapt the movies to a weekly television series. The show starred Yorozuya Kinnosuke, but I could never get into them. They had a completely different feel from the movies and lacked the over-the-top charm of the 6 originals. I'm also aware that modern movie versions were made and one even has a conclusion to the series. I bought these versions on Ebay several years ago, but still to this day haven't gotten around to watching them. I think that in itself reveals my devotion and narrow-mindedness where these films are concerned. I hope you enjoy them as well.

This movie reminds me of the 50's movie Horatio Hornbolower staring Gregory Peck in one important way. It proves that only good things come of having the author of the books write the screenplay. Since this is based on one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) comics series of all time it had a high standard to meet. It followed the books so exactly that the subtitles were almost unneeded. I don't know how exagerated the bloodletting was but that is the only fault one can find with the picture. The acting is straight,and the story of Ogami walking the assassins road to avenge his wife and clan is classic. I personally think it could be an excellent hour long TV series on cable if done correctly, until that day I shall make do with pleasure. I eagerly await my next paycheck to have the next one.

Sword of Vengance as it stands alone from the graphic novel series is a good film. I gave it 4 stars because I was really into the graphic novel and in comparison to the graphic novel the film does not match up in some areas. I was surprised how good the quality is for the dvd seeing as how the film is old. If you've never read the lone wolf and cub series but just like martial arts films you should pick it up. Of course if you are a fan of the series you should have this. Its a good movie.

Reviews

i received a link from the criterion guys on twitter after mentioning Seven Samurai in a tweet. I tweeted that i was so mad because i realized, during a conversation, that i could no longer find my copy. i received the product with in just a few days. very good price as well

In 16th century Japan, protracted feudal wars have created a prevailing sense of lawlessness. Bandits have organized into formidable armies that scavenge the countryside in search of villages to loot. One morning, a band of thieves arrive at the outskirts of a farming community, but is persuaded to delay their attack until the barley has been harvested. A peasant farmer overhears their plan, and summons the villagers for a town meeting. The farmers seek counsel from the village elder (Kuninori Todo) who advises them to hire "hungry samurai" who would protect their village in exchange for meals. But the task of finding formidable samurais who will accept such a meager compensation proves to be a difficult task. One day, the farmers witness a middle-aged ronin (masterless samurai) named Kambei Shimada (Takashi Shimura) single-handedly rescue an abducted child by relying solely on his cunning intelligence and precise technical skill. Kambei has grown weary of fighting, but the plight of the farmers wins his sympathy, and he agrees to take up their seemingly hopeless cause. Kambei's victory also attracts the attention of a young man named Katsushiro Okamoto (Isao Kimura), who asks to become his disciple, and a brash, overconfident drifter (Toshiro Mifune), who is eager to match his skills with the seasoned samurai. Despite the time constraint and lack of reward, Kambei assembles a team of capable, altruistic samurais: a dedicated colleague, Shichiroji (Daisuke Kato), willing to face death for his dear friend; an agile, confident samurai, Gorobei (Yoshio Inaba), touched by Kambei's sincerity and generosity; a cheerful, but average swordsman, Heihachi (Minoru Chiaki), whose experience often involves fleeing from battle; an expert swordsman, Kyuzo (Seiji Miyaguchi), seeking to hone his craft. With the crop harvest imminent, the samurais must fortify the farming village, devise a combat strategy to counter the invasion, and train the peasants for battle. Seven Samurai is an engaging, precisely crafted story of selfless bravery, perseverance, and fraternity. Using medium shots and seamless, slow motion in order to temper the violence of death, Akira Kurosawa succeeds in creating a delicate juxtaposition between the samurais' graceful art of combat and the barbaric reality of war: Kambei's rescue of the abducted child; the fencing challenge in an open field; the arrival of the bandits on horseback for the decisive battle. But the mastery of the film lies beyond the fluid choreography of the battle sequences. Seven Samurai is an equally compelling tale of poverty and despair, redemption and purpose, community and heroism - a sweeping, epic portrait of individual courage and the tenacity of the human soul.

This highly influential 1954 film can be interpreted in various different ways - as a straightforward action strategy film, an emotional drama, a period piece, and so on. I myself see it primarily as a film about the conflict between the warrior and peasant classes in medieval Japan. Put simply, the story concerns a village under threat from bandits, who hire seven freelance Samurai to protect them. The two main themes of the film concern the Samurai strategy to defend the village, and the interactions between the Samurai and the farmers (often fraught with tension). The villagers, it should be mentioned, lack honour. They are too cowardly to fight the bandits, although they have murdered several lone Samurai in the past. Once the services of the seven warriors are no longer required, they are the ignored by the villagers, no longer part of the community. "The winners are those farmers...not us," says the Samurai leader Kambei, as the camera pans to a burial mound for the dead warriors. Something I found intriguing was the number of different camera angles Kurosawa comes up with to view this small peasant village. Every time we see it, it looks different. Another thing I really liked was the observation that "the deepest friendship often comes about through a chance meeting." Kurosawa was criticised in Japan for being too Western, just as his contemporary Yukio Mishima was - yet both Mishima and Kurosawa were an integral part of the psyche of Japan (the Asian country which most easily assimilates foreign culture, although still maintaining its racial homogeneity). Some viewers may find the three hour length of the movie off-putting, but can always stop for an interval halfway through. Time restraints are no reason to avoid watching a classic.

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is a wonderful piece of work which has inspired great American films from The Magnificent Seven to A Bug's Life. The new remastered version is a much better copy than previous versions.

A cinematic giant, now on DVD. Probably the best movie to ever come from the east, and the basis for some of the great American westerns.

Reviews

Sadly my blu-ray copy had noise coming from the right channel soundtrack on analog mode. This problem was not present on the commentary soundtrack. I think I will buy the standard dvd instead. I do not find the differnce of picture quality of this particular title so great on my tube hdtv screen. Jean

To bad american film makers cannot go back and make film's like this one. just buy it and enjoy it over and over.

If you're a fan of classic Japanese film, this is a must for your collection. The Blu-ray rendention is gorgeous, even projected on my 8-foot HT screen. If you've never seen this film before, you'll love it's classic Japanese themes, beautiful costumes, epic scenes with thousands of extras, and of course, the fantastic Japanese cinematography that you'd expect. As the saying goes, "if this is the sort'a thing you like, you'll REALLY like this."

Bringing writer and director Akira Kurosawa's 1980, three hour epic to the big screen proved to be nearly impossible, for studios were not willing to back the creator of past classics such as YOJIMBO and THE SEVEN SAMURAI for a period piece set during the Warring States period in 16th century Japan. Kurosawa had not directed a film in over five years when he began trying to secure financing for KAGEMUSHA, so the director decided to take brush to paper, creating hundreds of watercolor storyboards of the film as he saw it in his mind. With the unimaginable, but very likely reality that his movie would never get made, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola famously stepped in, lending their names to the project as Executive Producers so that the film would have backing for an international release, and working with 20th Century Fox, helped finance the rest of the budget in conjunction with Toho in Japan. Both Lucas and Coppola were part of a new generation of filmmakers who had found tremendous success in the 1970s and who were heavily influenced by Kurosawa's early body of work that the directors were each introduced to in film school. The project became a passion for the three filmmakers, and allowed Lucas and Coppola to learn first hand the techniques that made Kurosawa a master. The Criterion Collection has now released a completely remastered and restored high-definition edition of the classic film on Blu-ray that is bound to please both Kurosawa fans and cinema aficionados alike. KAGEMUSHA follows the story of a thief who is saved from execution because he bares an uncanny resemblance to the local warlord, Shingen Takeda (Tatsuya Nakadai). The thief is soon employed as Shingen's double, but when Shingen dies, his retainers try to pass the thief off as the actual warlord to keep Shingen's estate and holdings intact. What develops is a very intriguing study of how power affects an individual, and more importantly, the question of how honor differs between two individuals, who though they look exactly alike, hail from different birthrights. KAGEMUSHA went on to win the Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration. With this new release, it is very easy to see why. The scope of KAGEMUSHA easily equals Kurosawa's classic films from the 1950s, with vast battle scenes of hundreds of armor clad extras fighting each other with swords and on horseback, but as Kurosawa regularly does, the enormity of these scenes are tightly woven together with much smaller and more intimate scenes that allow the complexities of the characters to fully be realized without ever imposing a heavy hand on the part of the director. This is most evident in the opening scene of the movie, a scene that lasts for just under seven minutes and features only three actors, one of whom is in actuality playing dual roles (Tatsuya Nakadi as both Shingen and the Thief). What is so interesting to note about this scene aside from its length though is the fact that the camera never moves. Kurosawa keeps the framing completely fixed, never allowing a pan, a tilt or even a zoom. Even the actors, who are each seated in seiza position, barely move, but each is still able to convey the power and the intricacies of their characters. As the Thief does begin to shift his position though, turning to face Shingen, but still never rising, there is the effect that a still painting is beginning to come to life. This blending of the art of the static and the art of the moving is what Kurosawa then utilizes as the central theme throughout the rest of the film, both on an aesthetic level as well as an emotional one. While Kurosawa may best be known for his beautifully photographed black and white films that each had such a rich depth of field with lush contrasts, KAGEMUSHA shows just how adept the late director was in a color medium as well. The film is visually stunning and does rely on the visual element, just as much as the spoken, to convey its message. The screen is approached as a canvas, and Kurosawa paints strokes of colors across it simply by having a character dressed in a particularly colored costume move a certain direction. Kurosawa masterfully uses color then to not only set a tone for a scene, but to tie together varying themes within the film, allowing him to find an interrelation among the different elements of his production and unifying them into both an accordance, and at times disjointedness, with one another. In a scene where the Thief becomes lost in his own nightmare, Kurosawa and art director Yoshirô Muraki create such a remarkable set that the melding of the contrasting colors become surreal in nature as it personifies the character's own internal conflicting emotions and becomes a key example of the depth Kurosawa incorporates into the film. KAGEMUSHA is a superb movie and one that should not be missed. Wonderfully acted and brilliantly conceived visually, the film at no point feels like it is a three hour epic. While movies such as THE SEVEN SAMURAI and THRONE OF BLOOD may be regarded as quintessential Kurosawa works that belong in everyone's collection who has a deep love for cinema, KAGEMUSHA should equally be included as well, for the film shows the culmination of a brilliant director's career and the progression of his artistic vision. For the Blu-ray release, The Criterion Collection has once again proved to be second to none when it comes to bonus materials. Included with the beautiful high-definition transfer of the film are: a nineteen minute featurette of modern day interviews with George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola who discuss their involvement in the film, a forty-one minute Japanese documentary of the making of the film featuring interviews with cast and crew that is subtitled, a forty-four minute featurette shwoing Kurosawa's original watercolor storyboards that are edited together with the accompanying dialogue and music from the film, a gallery of Kurosawa's storyboards shown side by side with their filmed counterparts, theatrical trailers and a collection of five Suntory whiskey commercials that Kurosawa shot while making KAGEMUSHA. There is of course audio commentary, and to round things out, there is an amazing booklet in the Blu-ray case that has reproductions of Kurosawa's storyboards along with an essay on the film and an interview with Kurosawa from 1981, The bonus materials are stellar and will keep film buffs entertained for hours. Buy this release now, you will be glad you did.

I had to watch Kagemusha twice to really appreciate it. The first time I was more obsessed with my computer and missed key parts, the second time I enjoyed it thoroughly. The use of color and photography is amazing and considering how low the budget was, Kurosawa did a very nice job. The story of a Japanese lord who dies and the clan who pushed a thief who resembles the lord to take his place. Of course, he can only live as long as the clan finds him useful. Great movie.

Reviews

I can't speak for the special features, since I haven't checked them out just yet. PLOT (no spoilers): Pretty standard fare. A nameless swordsman must protect an innocent boy against the hostile battlefield of two warring factions. The main antagonist group consists of an elite bunch of highly-skilled Chinese warriors who feel no pain, at the head of which is a mysterious blonde swordsman ailing at his inability to find a worthy adversary. Lacking somewhat in the originality department, the story nonetheless draws you in by the sheer charisma of its characters. The characters themselves convey their archetypes well, without being overly obvious. The cliche factor is evident, but luckily it doesn't detract from your enjoyment of the film. ANIMATION: Though at times inconsistent (read: some of the battle clips appear noticably choppy, while others are smooth as silk), this feature is still head and shoulders over many of its contemporary counterparts. The characters' movements are believably natural, and their facial subtext succeeds in making you actually care about what they're thinking. At times, CGI is used for set pieces and background work, but it's so well-integrated that it complements without distracting, and is often unnoticable. Most memorable of all is the climactic battle between the swordsmen No-Name and Luo Lang: this is far and away the single most visually arresting swordfight I have ever seen in an animated feature. Ever. It invokes a tangible feeling of suspense and wonder, the choreography is brilliant, the scope is incredible, the pacing is thrilling, and their movements are positively GORGEOUS. It'll make the hairs on your neck stand up, mark my words. SOUND: I usually prefer subtitled anime over dubbed, as English voice-overs can be spotty, and often omit certain important nuances. However, Sword of the Stranger's English voice actors are all very talented, and they mesh perfectly with the setting and their respective characters. The sound effects are particularly well-done; at the moment when No-Name strikes the killing blow against his first Chinese opponent, the explosive crack of wood beams shattering and the brutal gnashing of bone pound straight through to your core. It gives every action scene a very visceral and immersive feel. BOTTOM LINE: Sword of the Stranger simply must not be missed. It's certainly not the most original thing out there, but its tried-and-true story formula can be appreciated by most anyone, and the action is definitely top-tier material. This isn't a film you can watch only once.

Sword of the Stranger / B001W79MBI We watch a lot of anime at our house, but "Sword of the Stranger" really does stand out in terms of artwork. The art is apparently all hand drawn; the final effect is a look that is incredibly crisp, clear, and beautiful. Definitely a great deal of time and effort went into making a superb production - the voice acting is just as gorgeous as the art. Although the story line is not particularly new or innovative (a young boy of destiny must be protected by a jaded and master-less traveling warrior), "Sword of the Stranger" really encapsulates why this type of story is such a classic. Both the young boy and the traveling warrior are wonderfully characterized, and their developing relationship as the two come to depend on each other is beautiful to behold. "Sword of the Stranger" also scores points for being willing to depict pretty much everyone in a position of political power (Chinese and Japanese alike) as being equally corrupted by power - somehow, it's always refreshing to see movies that are willing to dump the usual "good country" vs. "bad country" makeup and just wash its hands of the political leaders of both sides. If there is a downside to "Sword of the Stranger", it may be that some of the introspective travel sequences seem a bit slow and drawn-out. Despite all the action, the movie somehow manages to retain an almost dreamy feel, making the movie seem longer than it actually is. I definitely recommend a viewing (particularly on the Blu-Ray version, if you want to give your eyes a real feast), but you might not feel that the replay value of this superb movie is all that you might want. ~ Ana Mardoll

Let me start off by stating that this movie dialogue speaks in both Chinese and Japanese.You only hear this when they are fighting one another.English when dialog takes place among when they are talking among their own people.I thought that was hot personally but some might just opt for subtitles. The sounds and fight sequence are truly top notch and you really benefit from hearing this on Blu Ray (DTS soundtrack) The story should have match the tracks of this movie as well, as you have some quirky dialogue from the little boy that really slows the movie down.Once you get past this, the story once fully revealed is not bad. If you've ever watched Ninja Scroll( Laser Disc) than you will enjoy this

good movie especially in blu ray. i wouldnt compare this with any other animes but its not very original. the fight scenes...dope! bloody squirts, bloody limbs, bloody mess. characters are cool, everyone gots their own fighting style. whats even cool is they speak chinese also. yeah, when the foreigners speak to the japanese its in chinese they dont understand each other they need an interperter, but the confusing part is when the foreigners speak to each other its in japanese (gotta watch the movie to understand what im saying). i believe they did this so the japanese audience dont have to read subtitles. oh by the way i watch english subs. havent seen this movie in english so cant tell you how that goes. anyway great movie i only wish i watched this before ip man (another great movie, if not awesome!) because i cant get enough of ip man, but if you got money check out ip man for blu ray and check this anime out too because it rocks.

This story is set in the time when China dominated Japan. The Chinese emperor has his astronomer find a boy whose blood will be used to make an elixir which will make him immortal. The boy and his dog escape from a monastery. In his travels to another monastery, he meets a wandering, red-headed warrior, whom he hires to protect him on his journey. The warrior has his own secrets and mysterious past. He and the boy's dog prove to be the boy's greatest allies and defenders. The Chinese emperor has hired a mysterious blond warrior who is only looking for a good fight. I wondered if there was a connection between the two outsiders. I bought this dvd because of the reviews on Amazon. It lived up to its reviews. I wonder if this was pilot for a show or intended to stand alone. It can go either way. It is a fast-paced story with lots a sword fighting, and just a bit of humor.

Reviews

Zimmer is an amazing composer, & I find this to be a very fine offering of his talent. Soft yet rhythmic, the pieces flow with rich beauty, longing, & serenity. Perfect for meditation, easy listening, or just gentle background sound.

I can't get enough of this CD. Such an array of moving movements that seem to bring out the depths of peace and passionate motivation.

I already know I like some of the tracks but being that my order has not arrived yet (a month in waiting) I cannot not critique on the entire track.

Excellent soundtrack! I loved it in the movie. Even better on the CD.

Much like the movie the music was made for, this score is for people who don't know about Asian/Japanese culture. For a movie for Western audiences, the light, hollow-sounding "Japanese" sounds will sound Asian enough. And most people will likewise give this review a negative as they have to every other review that critiques this score from a truly musical standpoint. The typical, sweeping, swooning orchestral score that marks many Hollywood "epics" is present here, and it does fine enough within the context of a movie. But listened to without the imagery, the music doesn't do much new. It sounds like a typical Westerner's score with a slight Asian sound to it. It's not as bad as, say, having a GONG banging in the background, but just one listen to such scores as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "Hero" will reveal the derivative and pseudo-Asian influence of "Last Samurai." Those who like the "Last Samurai" probably won't care that the music here is ultimately superficial, as they've also accepted the utterly absurd, utterly Hollywood fantasy in "Last Samurai."

Reviews

I purchased this book for my son, but he asked me to read the third book, "Bushido: The Soul of Japan" after he had finished. I was so enthralled with the beautiful philosophy of Zen. I had been reading books about Taoism, but I'm now avidly grabbing up books about the Zen philosophy. This book does triple duty, with 3 complete books... and now 2 out of the 3 people in our household have read it.

A must read for anyone interested in the martial arts. Every year I pick one book that isn't on my summer reading list to keep from going nuts... you know, having to read Virgil and Homer and Faulkner and Updike... So this year, I cheated and picked a book that actually had 3 cool books inside. The Book of Five Rings is a great learning tool for those interested in the martial arts. I also really enjoyed Hagakure. I also really, really enjoyed the illustrations in the book. Now I just need to learn Japanese! :o)

From the formal teaching style of The Book of Five Rings to the almost conversational tone of Bushido and Hagakure, this book presents 3 of the most important classical texts written about the path of the Samurai in Japan. It is invaluable as a reference tool for the student of martial arts, the zen philosophy, ancient swords or classical Japanese texts. This is one of those books that you not only enjoy reading, but also having it around on your coffee table. This edition is full of rich illustrations depicting legendary Ronin, swords and battle scenes, as well as a clean presentation of each of the 3 included works. Definitely my new favorite addition to my book collection.

I purchased this book last year for myself, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Earlier this year, I decided to pick up another copy for my brother, because Amazon was running a 30% discount. When I found the book description and reviews, I saw that some readers had been uncomfortable with the way these works had been presented. I hadn't really noticed a problem, but I could see how casual readers who are unfamiliar with historical texts might be confused. So anyway, when my brother's gift arrived, I had a chance to thumb through his copy, and apparently there is a new second edition. The contents are basically the same, but this edition seems slightly more ornate. There were also a few illustrations which had not been in the first edition I had purchased for myself. So I guess I should add that I am giving the first edition 3 1/2 stars, but I would give the new 2nd edition 4 1/2 stars. Cheers!

I think it's great that someone put these three works together. I had a few complaints, though. The editing in this book was terrible. There were lots of errors that the editors should have caught in the spelling. I am also disappointed that for the first two works there is no mention of who translated the works into English. As far as value goes I think this book is worth the money, but the publishing company really needs to work on editing their product better. I hope this is reflected in later editions.

Reviews

This is a great book, very informative and it was delivered before the promised date.

This is a must have for any person interested in more than just the look of a Japanese sword. It is an excellent beginers guide to what to look for in a sword, especially for novice collectors. This is the seveth edition of this handbook. I have a couple of the preceeding editions, but I like this one. Dean

The book is an excellent reference book on the sword. Detailed descriptions are backed up with plenty of pictures.

mr. yumoto's work is very descriptive and pictures fill the pages more than text does. "Samurai Sword a Handbook" lacks an analytic quality that would bring togheter the social, historical, technical and martial dimensions of the nihonto. last but not least, such an important - and relatively undocumented - subject as care and maintenance of japanese blades is simply and vaguely evoked in two pages that make up a ridiculous chapter. all in all, yumoto's work is too old to be satisfying to comtemporary readers in search of a meaningful, concise handbook which would explain rather than describe.

A PERFECT SOURCE WHO WANTS TO LEARN ABAUT JAPANESE SWORDS AND THEIR HISTORY

Reviews

you know im am completly turned off by the whole good samurai bad ninja thing... pissed about the whole budo taijutsu thing.. but its hatsumi the man is ninja and did bring ninjutsu to the front too many have messed with the guy im glad he called it all samurai stuff way to stic to the koryu folk!! i am appaled that drager and his koryu cronies would dis this man..im glad he moved into there territory.. i know he teaches and still is ninja..he took the ninja arts and made it a more complete system than any samurai tradition period...there were samurai who were ninja and ninja who were samurai some stuck up people should acknowledge this...great book only reason he got 4 is for the armor..

I was really looking forward to reading this. Most of the published material coming out of the Bujinkan and Mr. Hatsumi holds little or no interest for me, but this one caught my eye and made me curious. Overall, I have mixed feelings about it and what it has to offer the reader. After I finished the book, I had the feeling that there was little to do with history or anything having to do with the actual "bushi" or warrior class of Japan. On the surface it is sprinkled with some very elementary history (which is well done) but at the core it lacks any depth of serious criteria of said history. The sword work is nicely illustrated with clear photographs, accented by the wearing of armor, which looks very nice and authentic. Unfortunately, the techniques seem to be an afterthought, perhaps techniques which were made up entirely for this book or those based on a loose interpretation of existing ryuha, wholly manufactured from the outside in. But it's not as bad as I make it sound. On the plus side, I found it easily read and to understand. Truth be told it is highly entertaining and even engaging at times. The book is formatted well, in an order which creates a tidy atmosphere in the text. Although I found myself skipping over sections that seemed a little too "out-there" for my taste, the warp and woof of the book is well done. To me this serves as an excellent introduction to basic history, an "ice-breaking" which snuffs the popular movie notions of the bushi but at the same time it does not relinquish a fascination with them. The book is excellent reading, despite my surface problems with the content. Overall, I am not sure what to make of this book, what it is trying to say or why. It was worth reading, but yet I wonder what I can learn from it, if anything; furthermore, I wonder what others can take away from it. To me it expounds on an "alternative" or a "modern" interpretation of a greater philosophy, one which is based on idealism rather than an exploration of history founded in pragmatic fact. I'd buy it used if you are really curious and new only if you have a collection to add to.

If you like artsy photos and mysterious text, you may enjoy this book. If however you are hoping to learn anything about skilfull manipulation of a sword, or you are looking to read some objective documented research into Japanese history, save your money. This book offers very little of use to any serious martial artist.

Dr. Hatsumi shows swords and armour nobody else would posses and demonstrates tecniques in a way else would be able to master .

Great book. A must for anyone interested in Japanese Sword Fighting, Ninjutsu, or Budo Taijutsu.

Reviews

I think this sword is well worth the 15 dollars for it. I have many high end swords as well, but for the 15 dollar price range this is great. Its a stainless steel blade (which in most cases is much narrower than the handle making it look rather ugly) but is a good width. If you want to hang it on the wall, it'll look great but i actually use it to trim the garden. its nice to have a sword i can practice with and not worry about if it gets damaaged. if you find that it gets loose, remove the cam on the bottom of the handle and tighten the bolt.

This is a good sword for practice and katas. It is a true work of art with its designs and whatnot. For practice and workouts it works well. It is slightly blade heavy in my opinion though. If I am correct, this is a MOVIE PROP sword so don't be surprised that it has a false edge. The wax or grease everyone is talking about is a protective coating of grease that is applied to protect the sword from oxidation, or rusting, while in storage prior to sale. Almost all bladed weapons or tools are stored in this way at some point. If it bothers you, you can just wipe it clean with a cloth. No big deal. Dont forget to clean it and regrease it with the proper kit to prevent it from rusting. As a decoration it is a work of art. The stand is real light though so dont be surprised if it falls over alot if you live near railroad tracks. But this sword is solid so it shouldnt hurt it. This sword is definately worth the price. Buy it.

item is very good but the box that it was send it was to big, when I got it I thought it was plasma TV, and shipping fees where to expensive because of the big box that was used

I imagine it should be obvious to most people but this sword is not meant to actually be used. It is for decoration purposes only. It may look nice and that is fine for most people but the fact is that there is very little about this sword that is authentic. More than likely it is machine made and sharpened. If you are looking for the real thing and not just an imitation I suggest looking at a different sword, maybe something from Paul Chen (Hanwei).

The sword is perfect and just what I wanted. However, the stand that came with it is very cheap and does not hold the sword. It keeps falling over,so I am not very happy with that.Otherwise, the service was good and I like the sword itself.

Reviews

This oil is good! But good luck getting a full bottle, no matter how the pack the oil it leaks... I would recommend getting a few bottles so that you can combine them and get a full bottle. GOOD LUCK!!!!

I ordered this product for my husband, he said the oil worked pretty well but the bottle sucks. He didn't even try to spray it because the reviews ealier, he normally uses a soft cloth anyway. My biggest gripe is that the oil leaked all over in shipping, we didn't loose to much volume but it sure was a mess. Seller, ditch the spray cap and put a real cap on your bottle. I would buy this product again as it is a great value for its price, but very messy.

To put it simply, the oil is good oil and should be used for long term storage of your blade, but the pump spray keeps getting clogged up. Every time I need to use this, I have to take the cover off the bottle and pour the oil right onto the blade. If you are looking for a nice alternative, get the same oil in the non-spray bottle or get Remington Rem Oil from your local Wal-Mart that comes in a spray bottle. It is used to keep rust off gun parts and if it will do that, it will keep the rust off your sword.

The oil seems to be of alright quality and has prevent my sword from corrosion for a month so far, but how it will hold up long-term is unclear. The most frustrating part about this product was the spray top on both bottles I bought were very poor quality (got stuck in up/down positions, did not spray at all, or over sprayed).