I am usually a casual connoisseur of anime but this film was everything that is good about anime. The scenes are breathtaking and beautiful at times, from humble temples to the rugged but picturesque countryside the movie tells the tale of a young Ronin who has forsaken service to feudal lords in exchange for a life of wandering who meets up with a young boy and his faithful dog fleeing assassins. In the end the Ronin finds a humble but worthy "lord" in the little boy and the boy finds a friend in the tormented but caring Ronin. And they both find a measure of redemption. The fight scenes are typically asian-extreme but fantastic nonetheless. Very glad I found this.
Review of Sword of the Stranger
