The Hidden Blade

Average. This movie's borrows very liberally from a much better film on obviously the same subject, The Twilight Samurai helmed by the same director. Twilight Samurai is much better produced, acted and directed and you really should watch that instead and if you've already watched it, then you can safely skip The Hidden Blade as its an inferior production of the same subject matter. Enough said. Avoid.

Most of the movie details extreme Japanese social rituals and the strict honor code of the samurai. A mostly good story, but not much swordplay. In typical fashion, a morally corrupt clan leader sets the stage for revenge and a more honorable man must intervene to balance the scales. The hidden sword action was quite brief and over in a flash. More prominent is the restrained love affair, which seems to be the actual subject of the movie, although it is perpetually placed on the back burner.

"This overly staid film seems to cry out for a climactic, cathartic dose of wild, passionate unpredictability that the director is never fully willing to indulge." - Nick Schager

I forgot all about the title of the film, but by the end, I remembered clearly and was pleasantly surprised. Great movie.

Excellent samurai drama.

Did I just watch The Twilight Samurai again or is it another movie?

It really takes you into the world of the low ranking samurai.

Yoji Yamada's superb follow up to his excellent "The Twilight Samurai" (2002).

What longing is found / In a cup of tea ignored / Cold from worldly cares?

14 Mart 08, 11:30 seansi, 5.japon filmleri festivali, levent kültür merkezi, en arka sekizinci koltuk & konu guzel olmasina ragmen 130 dakikaya yayilarak anlatilmasi filmin temposunu cok yavaslatmis.Filmin tek eksik noktasi bu.Bunun disinda oyunculuklar ve sanat yonetimi cok iyiydi.Japonya'nin basarisiz batililasma cabasi ve Japonya'daki o donemin siniflandirilmasi, siniflar arasi farklar cok iyi anlatilmis.sonuc olarak ask, her turlu farki yeniyor, japonlar eskiyi, yeniye tercih ediyor.

Worth a watch.

Very good drama