This was a refreshing movie about the life and times of the Samurai. A noble house that is being used by the emperor of china to find and kill a small boy for his blood in order for immortality to be achieved. In the middle, are the boy and the hunters, yet in the grey corner is a lone wolf Ex-general who's past is as mysterious as the ritual itself. And when the boy and this past soldier cross paths, they develop a close bonding friendship which defeats the fanatical cultists. But not too far away is the samurai who is also hunting this boy for negotiations leverages. Between the Samurai, cultists, and one psychotic warrior who wants nothing more than to cut down any opponent in his path, it's all or nothing for the no named soldier to save this small boy from inevitable death. This movie had every known element to give the fans a real look at what the life was to being a samurai. And how even the common folk struggled to get by each day between dynasties. Beautiful fight scenes and no holds barred sword play, the music was top notch, and the scenery was captivating. I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys to watch the old school ways of what it was like to be a part of the samurai code. And what it means to understand those conflicts. Excellent film.
Review of Sword of the Stranger
