The Hidden Blade

Name: The Hidden Blade
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: June 23, 2006
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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The Hidden Blade

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Movie Details & Credits

Tartan | Release Date: June 23, 2006 | R

Starring: Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu

Summary: Munezo Katagiri (Nagase), an honest and low ranking samurai is trapped in a state of personal and professional imbalance. Secretly in love with his family’s maid, Kie (Tabata), Munezo begins an uneasy courtship with her, knowing that a relationship is impossible. Raised to respect traditions from the past and the demanding moral code of theMunezo Katagiri (Nagase), an honest and low ranking samurai is trapped in a state of personal and professional imbalance. Secretly in love with his family’s maid, Kie (Tabata), Munezo begins an uneasy courtship with her, knowing that a relationship is impossible. Raised to respect traditions from the past and the demanding moral code of the samurai, circumstances have now forced Munezo to look to the future. Required to master western military strategies, particularly the art of artillery, Munezo is ordered to find and kill Yaichiro, a former friend, samurai, and brilliant swordsman. Munezo knows that he cannot beat Yaichiro with fire power alone, so he enlists the help of his old teacher, Kansai Toda, a master swordsman who entrusts Munezo with the secret and power of The Hidden Blade. (Tartan Films)… Expand

Director: Yôji Yamada

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 132 min

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Casually paced and filled with telling detail, Yamada's delicate drama with swordplay (there's not much, but what there is packs an emotional wallop) transcends its specific setting in its depiction of Katagiri's internal struggle. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Enormously enjoyable. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

The Hidden Blade is tranquil, touching, and, in its climactic sword fight, excitingly real. Read full review

Ruthe Stein

Deeply affecting, "Blade'' portrays an oddly elegant way of life that will soon be like the era in that other movie, "Gone With the Wind." Read full review

Noel Murray

Builds slowly--maybe too slowly--to a mano-a-mano standoff, just like "The Twilight Samurai," and just like the earlier film, the new one presents its climactic swordfight matter-of-factly, with no superheroics and a lot of hesitation. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Both epic and intimate, this impassioned samurai drama is for anyone who's ever watched a movie and muttered, "They just don't make 'em like they used to." Read full review

V.A. Musetto

Bears more than a passing resemblance in story and form to "The Twilight Samurai," but stands on its own as a pleasant, if unremarkable, romance. Read full review

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User Reviews

Ashogo

Dec 27, 2006

The movie moves at a slow pace and allows the viewer to get to know the characters more intimately. The Scenery in this Movie is amazing! The setting and atmosphere of the time period is also conveyed really nicely, and that's my favorite thing about it. The story is not action-packed, The movie moves at a slow pace and allows the viewer to get to know the characters more intimately. The Scenery in this Movie is amazing! The setting and atmosphere of the time period is also conveyed really nicely, and that's my favorite thing about it. The story is not action-packed, but in my opinion that's what gives the movie it's feel. And a movie dosent have to have chase scenes and battles every 15 minutes to be interesting.… Expand

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MartinD.

Jul 10, 2006

Highly engrossing and sympathetic characters and story.

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MarcK.

Sep 1, 2006

Very entertaining, as well as a surprisingly sweet love story.

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JLuis_001

Nov 20, 2017

Can the common audicences see a movie about samurais that is more interested in telling a romantic story and focusing on its characters instead of the action?
An interesting question that this film responds with sufficient quality.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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