All the COOL Kids are watching it: SWORD OF The STRANGER Review by E.Bey

guest review by cartoonist and anime-head Elihu Adofo Bey

I’ve renamed Sword of the Stranger (2008) ‘The Little Cranky Boss’ for humors sake. The story takes place In  samurai age Japan (of course ) The Evil Chinese empire pursues a cute lil’ kid

( Kotoro) and his dog Tobimaru . I love this frickin’ dog!

… they ultimately meet up with the story’s hero named … ‘No name’.    ?

'No name' is an ex-soldier  with near unbeatable sword skill who is reluctant to use them due to post war syndrome or something. The main villian is a big blonde haired ‘barbarian’ who seemingly is equally skilled and has a bad attitude for no good reason at all. We the viewers embark on a thrilling yet basic Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark—ish adventure ladened with a myriad of beautifully designed  anime characters  who obviously couldn’t take the time to familiarize themselves due to the time restraints of the movie.  Samax hasn’t seen it, he posted the finale on facebook via some guy named LeSean and asks me to do a review for no money at all… So I did it based on the fact that Samax is a really ‘groovy’ dude that draws way too much and needs an anime break just like any Red Bull sippin schmuck on the earth.

Watch this movie or you won’t feel cool and updated on stuff that’s cool and updated.

Here are the good points of the movie in my opinion:

Good one time watch. You may revisit a few fight scenes. The Anime is slick and inspiringly consistent.

Plot is basic,  dialogue has a whimsical side.

Characters aren’t fantastic but more than bearable. Wardrobe, SCENERY  and era sensitive paraphanelia is hecka’ interesting if you’re a fan of fuedal Japan.

Has a tender side  amidst the slashing gore.

Bad points of the movie:

Cliché hero and bad guy scenario

Save the cute kid or the world is doomed type crap

Basically it fits the model of every movie you’ve ever seen where the bad guy wants eternal life and the good guy  just wants a cigar and a beef jerky  but inbred ‘bad-ass-ness’  can’t resist  the oppurtunity to zash a face in the name of good.

Animation Studio: Bandai Entertainment, Bones

  Writers: Fumihiko Takayama

  Producer: Masahiko Minami

Director: Masahiro Ando ( this guys a newb but has worked as a storyboard artist for Fullmetal Alchemist, Ghost in the Shell, and Cowboy Bebop )

Rated:  A Backpack full of cool ways to kill.

~Wolf  9/2010

-Elihu is the accomplished comicbook artist who illustrated the ghettoManga Award Winning Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans and other fresh comics you haven't read. He is also an emcee and connoisseur of foods that don't kill you slowly. get familiar at Siafu Komix and Adofo Illustrations.

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