Sword Of Desperation

I have never seen any action movie where the major action is the protagonist staring blankly ahead seemingly pondering an inscrutable concept for most of his film time. Never have seen such a boring and downer of a samurai/bushido movie, made more despondent by a Hollywood Strings violin music romantically playing mostly throughout. Violins and flutes, played the American way really seemed odd.There are no thrills here. No adventure, just a Japanese rendition of the adage 'good guys finish last'. This is not an example of Bushido behavior or or beliefs. Rather, it's a turgid tragedy of a historical drama which is waylaid into a display of manic depression, misplaced loyalties, tragic character flaws, which all triumph.And the desperation is only in the mind of the viewer.This viewer wanted nothing more than it be over asap.I am a film collector. I have 160 fine Japanese films (most all bought from Amazon) which I see and re-see often; I've come to really understand and appreciate the intense, strict samurai code heroes and their triumphs over evil.I also have library shelves with just under 50 tomes by great Japanese writers and scholarly interpretations of their extraordinary culture. Yes, I'vevisited Japan.This is a movie of a sick, evil woman, a psychotic Lord and no justice, no honor, only dark, dismal, sad distortions of a classic, fine system of honor and right behavior. I often disagree with other reviewers; in this case I'm radically far away from five-star reviews. This is the only Japanese movie I've viewed that, start to finish, really appalls me.I can't fathom the awards which have been touted on the DVD, the statements made in the very misleading description cited in Amazon Editorial Reviews. I can't comment on other reviews.For me the only desperation was that, a ways into the film, it still dragged on. I'm an Amazon Vine reviewer. I take reviewing seriously. I'll re-visit this product page; ifenough comments question my taste here I'll respond with a list of Japanese films which are radically above this morbid soap opera. I'm really upset that this film has been so mis-represented.'''''''' ! - That's the Japanese translation of caveat emptor. (Oops, Amazon doesn't print Japanese characters; lost was a translation of 'caveat emptor' )

I don't know what it is about the Japanese and the samurai genre, but it is masterful film making when a good serious samurai film comes to the screen. "Sword of Desperation" delivers on story, acting and setting, and even the plot is unique and intriguing, if somewhat sad.My only complaint about this DVD is that the image is a little soft. Even so it's a very decent watch, and I'm not sure a bluray edition with a sharper or more well defined image, would add much to the film.Excellent pacing, excellent scripting, good direction, and a sad story when all is said and done, this is a very well done samurai film. Thank goodness the Japanese still make good movies, unlike the American film industry.

I really loved this Samurai movie set in the Edo period of Japan. Some may find the plot a bit slow and plodding but I liked how the slow build up of the story and characters only added to the amount of tension in the final sword fight scene. You know the fight is coming but you're on the edge of your seat when it finally does. The beginning of the movie is seen partly through a series of flashbacks which can be a bit confusing at first but bit by bit it all falls into place, is revealed and becomes clear. The lead actor Etsushi Toyokawa gives a stunning and stoic performance as do all the actors in this fine film. I fell in love with his character. I won't give a synopsis of the film as I don't want to spoil anything for other lovers of the Samurai genre. I'm very glad I got this movie for my Asian film library and it is a definite must watch again movie. Some may say it's a formulaic Samurai movie but as I said I just loved everything about it, the costuming, sets, cinematography, subtle nuances, treachery, deceit, romance, loyalty, intrigue and of course a great sword fight. It's all in there.

A masterpiece! What clear, simple storytelling -- it makes you care for the people in it, even as it builds relentlessly toward a climax in which every measured cinematic stroke that went before pays off by creating the deepest emotions in the midst of a paroxysm of bloody slaughter. I love the echoes, in that gory and deeply disturbing final battle scene, of two other great samurai classics: HARIKIRI  Harakiri (The Criterion Collection) and SWORD OF DOOM (Daibosatsu Toge) The Sword of Doom (The Criterion Collection) . Like those two earlier films, SWORD OF DESPERATION is almost morbidly critical of samurai society; but, unlike them, it is not in the least nihilistic. You are likely to leave the movie feeling uplifted and inspired and loving the simple greatness of ordinary human beings.

Love Asian films. I especially enjoyed this one. It shows the impact you can have on a child's life. Also deals with those in power. How much power they have and how their character determines actions taken. Once one of integrity doesn't mean power can't change it. Magic is part of politics. Great graphics humor and the power of the mind. Loved it

I won't repeat what everyone wrote below - it is a great flick! Super production values, great acting ....Love it - with one reservation.....The penultimate scene with extravagant the sword fight is overdone. The survival of the protagonist in light of multiple strikes, cuts, wounds and stabbings just prior to using the title strike, just didn't work for me. That scene was impossible, implausible and incredible and detracted from the plot and impact of the film.Nevertheless, a good film.

I expected this to be a rather dull and uninteresting film, but bought it on a lark anyways. I generally like bushido/samari films. (One of my favorite films ever is Masaki Kobayashi's "Harakiri.") This is a slow-paced movie, but it's filmed beautifully, and so the visuals held my interest. Also the story builds slowly, but it does build. The ending is quite powerful too--nothing I will forget easily, if at all. I'm VERY happy I bought the DVD, and I know I'll be watching it again very soon.

Great stuff ! Great stuff ! Great stuff ! Gre...........etc,etc,etc

I enjoyed it.

Really liked the movie. "Sword of Desperation" refers to a unique sword technique known only to the main character.I thought the movie felt very much like the Twilight Samurai and as it turns out, same writer! Twilight Samurai is the recollection of a father told by his daughter. Sword of Desperation is similar but much more masculine and certainly political.Without giving out too much, the story involves a justified but violent action that leads to a conspiracy and ultimately in an action packed final showdown.This is part of the Samurai Trilogy, I found out while watching one of the extra features. Now I want to also see The Hidden Blade, and Love & Honor. Twilight Samurai should be added to make it a Quadrilogy. Sadly I could not find the movies as a Trilogy; each movie has to be purchased individually. It also would have been nicer on Blu Ray but DVD was the only copy I could find. Far away faces are blurry but overall video quality is excellent.

Really enjoyed this film in the vein of the 47 Ronin in which some samurai are brought together to eliminate a corrupt official whom being the brother of the current shogun has shed the blood of the people and abused his power and position to roun roughshod over the people in his domain and nearby domains. With the soon advancement to the shogun's war council the shogun's brother is basically hoping to return to the state of war that rule the country for many years before the current peace. Basically 7 men are gathered together to elimate the shogun's brother before he reaches the capital, a suicide mission when facing the official and his retainers who protect him on his journey. The final battle is truly over the top to a large extent, but the desire to die an honorable death and what it means to get there shows the horror of what the battle for this death truly is, in essence from my opinion that there is no real honor. Just killing with purpose and no purpose. Great film to watch though some may feel it is slow moving for the first half as the story is set preparing for the final epic battle.

très bonne qualité , attention n'est pas lisible sur n'importe quel appareil, zone 1: en japonnais sous-titres anglais, cependant il faut lire vite pour suivre