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This is the directorial debut of director Masahiro Ando, but you certainly wouldn’t know it.
Sword of the Stranger sports some the best direction seen in an anime feature for some time (though he has worked as key animator on Cowboy Bebop and Metropolis).
Hunted by the Mings from China, a young boy named Kotaro and his loyal dog Tobimaru meet a nameless Samurai who is haunted by his past, a memory so terrible he has vowed to never draw his sword again.
Among the Mings is Luo-Lang, a ruthless Western swordsman with the Chinese name who has walked the earth in search of a worthy rival.
When both groups clash with a feudal lord and monks torn between faith and survival, the truth behind the Mings’ pursuit of Kotaro tests the bond between the boy and the samurai with no name.
Sword of the Stranger has a perfect balance, and is an intriguing story to boot. If you dig anime, watch this. If you dig samurai flicks, watch this. If you want 100 minutes of pure entertainment, watch this.
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Japan / 2007 / 103mins
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