The Sword of Doom (1966)

-

Director: Kihachi Okamoto

Writers: Shinobu Hashimoto, based on a novel by Kaizan Nakazato

Stars: Tatsuya Nakadai, Toshiro Mifune, Michiyo Aratama, Yuza Kayama, Yoko Naito, Tadao Nakamaru, Kei Sato, Ko Nishimura



A sociopathic ronin (Tatsuya Nakadai) suffers the torments of bad karma as he wanders Japan of the 1860s, causing mayhem and heartbreak with his unbeatable fencing style.

 


Nakadai gives an extraordinary performance.

 


It just happens that I watched this film shortly after the classic "Harakiri," another samurai film, in which he plays a completely different type of character. 



I am filled with admiration for his acting ability as well as his prowess with a sword.

 


In this film, he is a cipher, an embodiment of pure evil except for those moments when his fear or loneliness seems to overwhelm him, and he takes on a lost look.

 


Unfortunately, this is the first film of a trilogy that was never completed, so intriguing plot threads including many interesting characters are left dangling. 



Nevertheless, director Okamoto Kihachi has made a powerful, often beautiful film in stunning black and white.




















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ranked: Horror Movies

-
Image
A ranking of all the horror films that have been reviewed on this blog. 144   Jonah Hex (2010) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2023/10/jonah-hex-2010.html 143 Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2024/10/beyond-black-rainbow-2010.html 142 Night of the Demons (1988) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2020/10/night-of-demons-1988.html 141 House on Haunted Hill (1959) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2024/10/house-on-haunted-hill-1959.html 140 The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-last-exorcism-part-ii-2013.html 139 Monsturd (2003) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2020/09/monsturd-2003.html 138 Hannibal (2001)  https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2023/10/hannibal-2001.html 137 The Gift (2000) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-gift-2000.html 136 Infection (2004) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2022/10/infection-aka-kansen-2004.html 135...
Read more

Lust, Caution (2007)

-
Image
Director: Ang Lee Writers: James Schamus, Hui-Ling Wang, based on a story by Eileen Chang Stars: Tang Wei, Tony Leung, Joan Chen, Leehom Wang, Chung-Hua Tou, Zhi-Ying Zhu, Ying-Hsuan Kao, Lawrence Ko, Johnson Yuen, Lar Lok Chin A young woman living in China during the Japanese occupation (Tang Wei)  becomes entangled with a collaborator (Tony Leung), whom she has been assigned to seduce and set up for execution.  The assignment eventually becomes the context for her entire life, until her very sense of self is wrapped up in layers of deceit and betrayal.  Ang Lee's masterful film introduces us to our characters when they are young college students swept up in idealistic fervor and then rejoins them years later when they are older and wearier, fighting the same battle more out of necessity than idealism.   This is a long film because Lee takes his time fleshing out these characters, but it is time well spent.  I was thoroughly engrossed and shattered by the ...
Read more

Conan the Buccaneer (Lancer Conan Series #6) (1971)

-
Image
by Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp Conan, now a pirate in his 30s, becomes embroiled in politics and treasure hunts as sorcerers and swashbucklers contend for gold, a magic crown, and the hand of a princess.  This novel-length Conan adventure was conceived and written entirely by posthumous collaborators Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp.   Lin Carter These two gentlemen deserve praise for helping to reintroduce Conan to modern audiences with the Lancer series of the 60s and 70s.  L. Sprague de Camp However, as much as they may have appreciated the character and world that Robert E. Howard created, they didn’t seem to understand that their own modest literary talents were really not in his league.  "Conan the Buccaneer" (French) Even worse, I have read reports that they edited some of the original stories for the Lancer editions.   "Conan the Buccaneer" (German) These are the books I grew up with and, along with the Marvel Comics series, formed my conception o...
Read more