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The Hidden Blade

Play trailer Poster for The Hidden Blade R 2004 2h 12m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A lower-class samurai, named Katagiri, secretly loves Kie, a servant in his family's household. Eventually their perception of honor forces them to part, and he must turn his focus toward a disheartening task. His old friend, Yaichiro Hazama, has been fomenting rebellion against the government, and Katagiri must hunt him down and kill him.
The Hidden Blade

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A slow and steady samurai flick a la John Ford that brings emotions and psychology to an epic-scale adventure.

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Critics Reviews

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Jeff Shannon Seattle Times 07/14/2006
3/4
A tenacious survival tale in which passionate lovers are held apart by outmoded traditions. How they overcome obstacles to happiness is what makes the film so dramatically engaging. Go to Full Review Wesley Morris Boston Globe 07/14/2006
3.5/4
Yamada's enormously enjoyable The Hidden Blade is a movie that deftly balances the obligations of samurai history with love story. Go to Full Review Ruthe Stein San Francisco Chronicle 07/07/2006
3/4
Reminders of feudal Japan are mixed in with a prescient glimpse into the country's future. The samurai will not be part of it, and The Hidden Blade poignantly shows what is lost in the name of progress. Go to Full Review Louis Proyect rec.arts.movies.reviews 09/07/2008
Second installment in Yamada's samurai trilogy. Once again the hero is unlike the super-warriors of the genre, but far more interesting. Go to Full Review Kam Williams Upstage Magazine 07/07/2007
2/4
A character-driven, martial arts adventure more concerned with motivations than karate moves. Go to Full Review David Noh Film Journal International 03/01/2007
Hidden Blade works, then, as that rare, intellectually stirring historical pageant, but also as a deeply emotional, satisfying samurai movie, one of the crown jewels of the genre. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jeremiah C @Jeremiah_Cobra 01/09/2025 Perhaps it is simply true that I connect more with this protagonist than the one in The Twilight Samurai, but I think this movie is the better film between the two. Of course, this one is excellent, but I found the conflict and plot much more complex in The Hidden Blade. And of course, as usual, Yamada Yoji applies his keen director’s eye to every shot. Every scene is stunning! See more Tony S @RT94004908 12/03/2021 Made with the same formula, this is a clear rethread of Twilight Samurai but without enticing juxtaposition of the main character's mentality to his duties to a dying system. Hence no real interesting dilemma. Despite being well made, well acted and shot. The singular problem is that it's just not Twilight Samurai. It resonates way less. Hidden Blade double downs on showcasing of the coming of new age to replace samurai. No longer lingering in the background, it's very much upfront. And also provides most of the comedy in the film. That CGI shot however was embarrassing. It couldn't have been impressive back then and most importantly it's completely unnecessary. See more 05/06/2016 I could not decide which is better, this film or The Twilight Samurai. Both stories are amazing and deeply moving. These are not action movies, so if you are looking for cheap thrills, you won't find it here. Instead, they are very well written stories that were written with historical accuracy. See more 03/22/2016 The similarities to the love story in Twilight Samurai is there but the violent ending is awesome. Lovin this more than the Fujisawa's first film. See more 11/03/2013 A truly beautiful film musing over the familiar Samurai themes of Honour, Courage, Loyalty and Justice. Not an action film, with the exception of a showdown, this film is a touching and beautiful story. See more 03/26/2013 Another Yoji Yamada masterpiece, which may fall short of The Twilight Samurai, but is a masterful film in it's own right. See more Read all reviews
The Hidden Blade

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Cast & Crew

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Yôji Yamada

Director

Masatoshi Nagase

Munezo Katagiri

Takako Matsu

Kie

Hidetaka Yoshioka

Samon Shimada

Yukiyoshi Ozawa

Yaichiro Hazama

Tomoko Obata

Shino
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The Hidden Blade

On the set of the film "The Hidden Blade." A scene from the film "The Hidden Blade." A scene from the film "The Hidden Blade." The Hidden Blade (2004) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A lower-class samurai, named Katagiri, secretly loves Kie, a servant in his family's household. Eventually their perception of honor forces them to part, and he must turn his focus toward a disheartening task. His old friend, Yaichiro Hazama, has been fomenting rebellion against the government, and Katagiri must hunt him down and kill him.
Director
Yôji Yamada
Producer
Takeo Hisamatsu, Hiroshi Fukusawa, Ichirô Yamamoto
Screenwriter
Yôji Yamada, Yoshitaka Asama
Production Co
Shochiku Co. Ltd.
Rating
R (Some Violent Material)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jun 23, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$38.1K
Runtime
2h 12m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital