As far as samurai movies go, this is the most fight/action oriented one I've seen. Basically, a ronin who killed his councilor is on the run from members of his clan who want revenge, and meets other outlaws on the run for similar circumstances. The choreography and amount of fight scenes is the strongest point in this movie; it's not John Wick, but it's better than most other samurai/jidaigeki movies. The acting isn't terrible either, and the setting/camerawork is good. I think the weaker points of this movie are its dialogue and plot. The dialogue is too expository at times - basically telling you how a person is feeling instead of showing. The plot feel ham-fisted; it's not slow, but it seems too convenient or circumstantial in places. Overall it's a fun foreign film, but not a memorable one.
Review of Sword of the Beast
