January 31, 2010

Reclaiming the Blade


Reclaiming the Blade is a fantastic documentary about sword fighting, and the western tradition of martial arts. But the film explores much deeper subjects, and instead of just telling the story of how swords were made and how they were used in combat, it reminds us of everything else that went with the sword. The experts in the film make the point that far too many movies overlook the greater aspects of sword combat, and that the historical inaccuracy doesn't do justice to the men who gripped the weapon of choice for all cultures and all times before the advancement of the gun. In our age, men don't grip swords, and children grip guns. What a world!