Sword of the Stranger (2009)

Action-Adventure movieA nameless ronin is caught in the middle of a young boy escaping from Chinese Assassin's - who want to use the boy as a blood sacrifice towards immortalityBut really, it's a battle between the nameless ronin and a blond-haired bloodthirsty assassin --- fore the nameless ronin is the greatest challenger he's ever faced10/10 Classic movie - action-packed , flies by in no-time

Young Kotaro lives with his dog when he is attacked by some mysterious swordsmen. Luckily for him, in the old temple where he was hiding a nameless ronin was just chilling out. The nameless ronin helps Kotaro, but the dog gets hurt and they leave the temple to try to find someone to save the dog's life. Why do this people want to get Kotaro? Will they get to him? And what hidden past does this nameless ronin have?"Sword of the Stranger" is a very basic action movie, that follows all the: a wandering samurai saves someone and decides to stuck with them because of some memory of the past while hordes of enemies keep coming and thousands of battles ensue. The plot is a little bit silly, but it really doesn't matter because anyone can follow it. It is a little bit slow paced and some editing to take out around 10 minutes would have improved it.The strongest point is the character development and the relationship between Kotaro, No Name and the dog (and the horse). It feels real, and the movie does a great job in making us care for all of them. The uninteresting bad guys fare worse, even if Rarou has an acceptable well developed personality, but in the I-am-bad-but-respect-my-enemies category."Sword of the Stranger" will be enjoyed by fans of the chanbara genre or action movies and anime, but it could have been so much better it's a pity it settles for just average.

I had to create a account here just to post this review. This movie is a incredible anime and should be reviewed and rated as such. To me this felt a bit like Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen meets Juubee Ninpuuchou but at the same time unique in it's own way. A young boy is to be used in a sacrificial ritual. Boy hires a rounin for his protection. Some Chinese Ming clan/army has been hired to catch the boy. The story, though not bad, is not mind boggling or very unique, it's a re-telling of stories we have heard before. However, the way that it tells it (sometimes just by pure action or visuals) is very decent. 8/10Art... easy. Very good. Good shadow work. Rich and detailed. Colors, backgrounds and scenery often felt very right. 9/10Sound... a bit harder. Ambient sounds are solid. The music was quite good and in some parts it felt just right in others... not wrong at all. However, not epic either. At parts I couldn't help but feeling other movies had moments like this, and with epic music lifting the whole scene. I would have giving it a 10 if it was a perfect match for every scene and moment. Still a very solid 9/10.Even though we have seen the types of characters before they still grow on you. This movie uses different ways to let you feel connected to them. What they have done is done before... but at least they did it very well. The characters don't develop a great deal over time, rather, you get to know them better and better. The Ming foreigner feels very unique. And his skills is popping on screen so hard, a split second I almost rooted for him (thus killing our main character...). A deserved 9/10.Enjoyment... 10/10! Epic! Delicious! We want more! More!!And now I wish there was a separate category for choreography. Because it was very, very, very good. The action was a real feast. The unique and different styles all are shown really well. The Ming warriors with their different weapons and kung fu and are main hero's kenjitsu (sword techniques, if I use that correctly )... they are all animated so spectacular, realistic. The fights are almost art at times. They have outdone and transcended themselves. So... choreography, a perfect 10/10.If only the whole movie was flawless. I really want to give it a 10/10, but I can't in all honestly. But I feel giving a 9 is selling it short. Because this is something you just have to have watched at least once. D*mn this system. I'm not going to choose between a 9/10 and a 10/10. I'll ignore the system and give it not only a 9.5/10 but also a VERY STRONG recommendation. Go watch this now. Seriously.

I watched this movie last night with my dad and we both loved it. I'm 27 and he happens to be in his 50's. I expect everyone younger, older and in between will love it as well.I'm sure you can imagine what an anime title like "The Sword of the Stranger" might hold in store for you. A young boy named Kotaru and his faithful companion Tobimaru. A deadly swordsman with blue eyes. A hungry samurai with a troubled past. The Sword of the Stranger doesn't re-invent the wheel but it is more than the sum of it's parts. All in all: If you enjoy anime watch it. You can also expect to hear a great score.