So...I've been meaning to see this movie for quite sometime. It was well worth it. Admittedly, I have a predilection for Japanese films -samurai films in particular. This one is an allegory of Buddhism wrapped in the clinically psychotic decent of a prodigal swordsman. But the best part of this heavy handed plot is that it doesn't matter. This movie is all style and flash. The actors were spectacular. Tatsuya Nakadai was out of control in his final 5 minute plus sword rage. Cinematically this movie also took major risks in its shot choices. It relied heavily on shots that have the actor speaking directly to the audience. No angle tricks. Just straight speech to the people. Besides the stark black and white contrast this film exuded the soundscape of Sword of Doom was like a slightly jazzed up drum heavy Hitchcock fusion. Yeah, Sword of Doom is slow, ponderous and the plot is hard to figure if you aren't well versed in Japanese history, but who cares? It's full of rage filled sword fights and samurai.
Ratings:
Shogunates: See it
Dates of any kind: Skip it
Pilgrams on the road between Edo and Kyoto: See it
Hate subtitles: You obviously skipped it
True Badasses: See it
On a scale of goya to grapefruit, I give Sword of Doom 3.2 out of 5 stars.
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