Wednesday, March 25, 2009

When the Last Sword Is Drawn


The Shinsengumi were a militia that formed during the Meiji era who were fiercely loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate. Their main charter was to keep the peace in Kyoto. The film concentrates primarily on two characters. Saitō Hajime (Koichi Sato) was one of the kenjutsu senseis in the group and figures prominently in its history. Yoshimura Kanichiro (Kiichi Nakai) is a relatively unknown member but is the main protagonist the film. Through the tumultuous inter-personal relationship between the two men, the movie shows a slice of the Shinsengumu during its peak and decline. A decent enough flick though it tends to drag at certain points.

Rating: * * +

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