SWORD OF THE STRANGER
March 15th 2010 22:32
Category: Videos
Original story by: BONES
Director: Masahino Ando
Script by: Fumihiko Takayama
Producer: Masahiko Minami
Starring: Michael Adamthwaite (No Name), Aidan Drummond (Kotaro), Scott McNeil (Luo-Lang/Gohei), Brain Dobson (Shogen Itadori), Ken Kramer (Master Bai-Luan), Alistair Abell (Jurota), Andrew Kavadas (Interpreter/Shui-Chen), Brian Drummond (Huo-Chou), Cathy Weseluck (Itadori’s wife), John Payne (Yue-Shen), Kyle Rideout (Feng-Wu), Maryke Hendrikse (Hagihime/Mu-You), Paul Dobson (Lord Akaike), Richard Newman (Zekkai), Simon Hayama (Fuchinobe), Tabitha St German (Mu-Mao/Yori), Trevor Devall (Isogai) & Hiro Kanagawa (Shoan)
English version produced by: Bandai Entertainment in assoc with Ocean Productions
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 103 minutes Rating: MA 15
Short listed for an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature Film in 2008 and nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards you would expect good things from this particular flick. It makes you wonder who exactly managed to get the gong; especially once you’ve seen this flick you will be left pondering just what could have been better than this action packed drama? Certainly once the dust had settled this thought floated; albeit briefly, through my mind. No doubt James Cameron was wondering a similar thing when his blockbuster Avatar lost out to the Hurt Locker for the best film award at the recent Academy Awards; such are the vagaries of fortune and award ceremonies.
But back to Sword of the Stranger, an anime feature film that frankly to my mind ticks all the right boxes and has truly superb animation. If I had to put a finger on it the animation is very similar to that of Fullmetal Alchemist, which should come as no surprise as Studio BONES are responsible for producing that particular anime. There is a certain sense of substance to the whole thing, the landscapes feel like real places rather than mere backdrops and the depiction of wind, snow and frost actually gives you a slight shiver. In fact the muted tones employed in the animation convey that sense of an impending major storm, either of sleet or snow and you can almost feel it in the depths of your bones as you watch. There is also a real substance to the landscape and settings, the look and feel like real places rather than just backdrops to the various dramatic instances that occur over the course of the film.
Meanwhile Luo-Lang the chief swordsman of the Ming visiting the country of Akaike is on his own journey of seeking to find a worthy opponent to pit his skills against. Very early on in the film we see just how devastating a warrior Luo-Lang is when a group of bandits attack the Ming as they travel en route to their destination within the country of Akaike. There are easily over two dozen bandits all of them armed to the teeth and in an advantageous position for an ambush, all of this doesn’t matter to Luo-Lang, he just charges forward and using his considerable blade and martial art skills swiftly turns the bandits into a smear on the landscape. I’m not joking when I say that either, this guy literally renders these bandits in puree without any seeming regard for himself.
No doubt you are wondering just how on earth are these three characters going to find their own respective journey’s converging at a common point? Good question, but there is an overall plot element that is conveniently placed to ensure that this event will occur at some point in the films unfolding drama. Kotaro, the young boy fleeing the attacked monastery is being hunted by the Ming strangers who have arrived in Akaike; they are in this land for a distinct and rather sinister purpose at the behest of their emperor. They are seeking a special child, a child who is only ever born once in every generation and whose blood is necessary for the successful completion of the legendary Xian medicine. No guesses as to who the young child is, but what exactly is the Xian medicine?
It seems that this unique concoction which requires such a vile ingredient is no less than a means to immortality, by ingesting the Xian medicine the recipient gains eternal life. Naturally the Ming emperor is only to keen to have this concoction made for his august self, which is why this particular group of Ming warriors lead by the noble and alchemist Bai-Luan have journeyed into what they consider a barbarous wilderness. They are after the chosen child as well as a suitable location in which to create the medicine for their lord and master, of course they neglect to tell their hosts, the Lord of Akaike and his retinue, just what exactly they’re up to and this in turn creates an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion between the two groups.
But if that wasn’t enough intrigue for you there are elements within the Lord of Akiake’s retinue who have their own agendas and designs, waiting for just that right moment to bring them to fruition. And these somewhat minor journeys and agendas are the spark which brings about the convergence of the three primary characters, Kotaro, No Name and Luo-Lang amidst the blizzard of a prophetic winter’s night. Such a convergence does not occur with polite veiled conversation in a rooming house over cups of hot tea or other beverage, no it occurs amidst the wreckage and carnage of a besieged fortress with as much carnage and violence that you can cope with. The fight sequences are simply phenomenal, I haven’t seen such great fight sequences since Samurai Champloo or Black Lagoon they’re truly awesome. Sword of the Stranger is definitely well worth getting your hands on and taking the time out to watch, especially if samurai period action dramas are your forte.
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