The Sword of Doom - Criterion Collection

The Sword of Doom - Criterion Collection
by Kihachi Okamoto

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Michiyo Aratama, Tadao Nakamaru, Tatsuya Nakadai, Y?ko Naito, Yuzo Kayama
Director: Kihachi Okamoto
Brand: Image Entertainment
Cinematographer: Hiroshi Murai
Editor: Yoshitami Kuroiwa
Producer: Kaneharu Minamizato
Producer: Masayuki Sato
Producer: Sanezumi Fujimoto
Writer: Kaizan Nakazato
Writer: Shinobu Hashimoto
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Japanese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 119 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-03-15
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Criterion

Movie Reviews of The Sword of Doom - Criterion Collection

Movie Review: sword of doom
Summary: 4 Stars

You could start out thinking this is how action movies are meant to be made. No CG, no stand ins or doubles. Not speaking Japanese, I sort of in away, let the visuals and the tone lead me along. I love the scenery and the lighting in this film.
Several scenes remind me of a broadway play. At one point lurking shadows slowly moving forward, growing in size, become The Swordmans own worst enemy.
A different sort of twist on the main character, letting his faults and sometimes plain evilness shine through for some sort of impacting kindness. A few pints of Black and white blood, and a handful of falling limbs, sometimes slightly over the top, bordeing on campy. Yet the over all picture has a deep down dark feel to it. Great ending. "going out with sword blazing" or is He?

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Summary of The Sword of Doom - Criterion Collection

Wandering samurai Ryunosuke lives his life in a maelstrom of violence. A gifted swordsman-plying his trade during the turbulent final days of Shogunate rule-he kills without remorse, without mercy.

Boasting some of the most impressive swordplay in the history of samurai epics, Sword of Doom is a visceral masterpiece of violent style and powerful substance. Illustrating the timeless adage that "an evil soul wields an evil sword," this highly stylized classic is driven by the fierce and fearsome performance of Tatsuya Nakadai as Ryunosuke, a sociopathic samurai whose soul--and sword--are vicious instruments of evil. Having mastered a highly unconventional style of fencing, Ryunosuke welcomes an exhibition match at a fencing school run by master swordsman Shimada (Toshir? Mifune, in a small but pivotal role), where he kills his opponent after promising not to. Flagrantly violating all codes of honor, Ryunosuke eventually finds himself challenged from all sides; even his own henchmen rally against him, and director Kihachi Okamoto stages confrontations that are as beautiful as they are graphically violent. As Ryunosuke descends into pure, bloodthirsty insanity, Sword of Doom ends with a freeze-frame that's unforgettably intense. --Jeff Shannon

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