Physicality is needed. Canceling out most characterization shows the westernized roots of being focused on cinematic scale, bringing it headfirst into generic trappings. I wouldn't mind seeing Nana Komatsu practicing fighting for a while, or Naoto Takenaka bonding with that kid way more, even if this meant extending the runtime. Fascinating story direction was most needed, though this is one warm-up exercise to pass the time.

This all-Japanese Jidaigeki samurai film is notable for a number of reasons - it is directed by an English filmmaker, Bernard Rose (who made 1994's Immortal Beloved with Gary Oldman & 1997's Anna Karenina with Bond girl Sophie Marceau), has a classical music score by legendary composer Phillip Glass (Truman Show, Kundun, The Illusionist) & Hollywood actor Danny Huston opening & bookending the film.

Yu Haifeng Keiji Kameyama Takaya Kano Masaaki Kimura Kazuo Nakanishi Zhou Yanqin Tatsuro Hatanaka Nobuo Miyazaki Hiroyuki Yamada Koichi Watanabe Keiichi Yoshizaki Marie-Gabrielle Stewart Tatsumi Yoda Minoru Toizumi

Samurai Marathon is an entertaining break from the streaming norm we are used to getting now. In a world where new content is about to really start slowing down, it might be about time to jump onto the subtitle bandwagon and see what else might be out there instead of scouring the dregs of Netflix.

The Candyman director Bernard Rose turns to Japanese kinema in The Last Samurai of Fire? Alright! No idea of what the hell I really watched but yeah, Samurai Marathon happened with accountant spies (not Ben Affleck), Revolver Samurai, hilarious running and bear droppings. What an experience; not for painful killjoys.

Bernard Rose goes to Japan to make a formally accomplished very oddball samurai fllm. Some fine swordplay plenty of good touches, commentary on incoming westernization, solid cast. Thefilm exist in a suspended tradition and makes that a strength.