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List Price: $29.95 | | Label: Galatia Films
Salesrank: 14879
Released: June 7, 2009 |
| Our Price: $21.49 |
| Used Price: $15.99 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Reclaiming the Blade celebrates the culture and craft of swords and the Hollywood legends and academic warriors who wield them. The film explores the Medieval and Renaissance blade; a profound and beautiful object handcrafted by master artisans of old. Today, much of the history of the sword remains cloaked under a shadow of legend. Reclaiming the Blade highlights today s cinematic tribute to the beauty and necessity of the sword through films such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Chronicles of Narnia and The Pirates of the Caribbean.
Narrated by acclaimed Welsh actor John Rhys-Davies and produced with the support of Peter Jackson, Weta Workshop, Skywalker Sound and the Royal Armouries, this unique film brings to life our fascination with swords in popular media and the emergence of a worldwide movement to reclaim the ancient art of medieval and renaissance martial arts. Highly anticipated, Reclaiming the Blade traces the sword s true history throughout the ages and features the following talent:
Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises), Karl Urban (Borne Supremacy, JJ Abrams new Star Trek), Richard Taylor (LOTR, King Kong, Narnia), Bob Anderson (Hollywood Sword-master to Errol Flynn, Johnny Depp, Star Wars, etc), and legendary Illustrator John Howe (LOTR, Narnia).
The cutting-edge soundtrack to the film illuminates the story with an original orchestral score by composer David James Nielsen and pop/rock hits from the Doves, Yo La Tengo, The Dandy Warhols, and Juliana Hatfield, among others.
Reclaiming the Blade (2-disc Special Edition) Reviews:
I'm sorry I wasted money on it 
2009-12-08 - Let me begin by saying that I really wanted to like this video. It has a few good points, hence the one star (instead of 0). It has been heralded as a big budget documentary on WMA, and this is very misleading, in my opinion. Firstly, why is a Kumdo practioner given so much screen time? Its frankly stupid. As if korean kendo has anything to do with wma. This insult is continued on the second disc, where we are given further instruction in kumdo. Why? Don't use the feeble excuse that its there to demonstrate some sort of relation between east and west. thats bull. we are also treated to some pathetic SCA dopes making fools of themselves, and some really out of shape weirdo pretending to be an authority on swordfighting, as he has his "students" climb up and down a stepladder while wearing armor. All in all its really boring, it has bland graphics, and doesnt really impart any useful information to any but the most clueless of watchers. A major portion of the movie is given to explaining how popular the sword is in film, complete with clip after clip of swordplay in movies, including star wars. whatever. Th few high points come from the few historians interviewed, John Clements, and some of the interviews with a few of the practicioners. I don't reccomend this movie, even though I have been a wma practitioner for way more than a decade. I cant fathom any of the positive reviews.
The Sword has experienced a Renaissance 
2009-11-22 - There was a time when the sword was an important military object. In today's world the sword has no military use whatsoever. Yet it has a enjoyed a revival of symbolic and meaningful power and strength. Nobody can deny the allure the sword has on the modern world. This documentary style work takes a look at that very concept.
It is a documentary of sorts that describes the history of the sword and also delves deeply into the lasting impression that the sword has on us even to this day when swords are pretty much not of any military use. It is undeniable that the sword holds a place of symbolic power, strength and reverance in today's world. And this film explores this theme.
There are lots of great tie ins to modern film, and how the sword is still very much used in film, from star wars to period movies like Kingdom of Heaven. There is also lots of footage from these movies and an explanation of how the sword is portrayed and used in these movies. There are also a lot of great interviews with archaeologists, film makers, sword makers and even actors including Viggo Mortensen from Lord of the Rings.
Another interesting aspect that is covered in the documentary is the difference between European swords/martial arts and the Eastern swords and martial arts.
Here are a few tasty snippets from the film:
1. Want to know what brought the sword into its modern day prominence? It has got to be Oakshotts classification of Swords. you can see it here: Oakshotts classification of Swords
2. Here are some great modern movies that stay true to having the sword fighting be authentic to the period the movie was made for:
Rob Roy
Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
Alatriste [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]
Gladiator (Widescreen Edition)
Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
And, there is lots of stuff about the modern practice and art of sword fighting through sub cultures like the Society of Creative Anachronism, and the HACA (The Historical Armed Combat Association). All in all, if you are a fan of swords then this is a must watch. You are going to be pleased and amazed.
Excellent introduction to WMA
2009-10-12 - For those who have never heard of the new studies in medieval martial arts, called by some WMA or Western Martial Arts, this video is a excellent and vivid intrduction.
If you can, get the two-disk set, since in the second disk you may find samples of instruction in some of the resurrected western martial arts.
In bringing back the study of this part of our heritage and giving it the respect that it deserves, we also enrich our own culture today.
Reclaiming the Blade - good but not great 
2009-10-11 - Kinda cool, kinda interesting, kinda disappointing, but with some very cool moments, Reclaiming the Blade is a mixed bag. I don't regret buying it but it's not a favourite. being a historical re-enactor for fun, just getting into historical manual combat, the highlights were some very cool snippets of show combat, and manual combat, by various groups. If you sift through the fluff there are some good moments, and it's not rubbish by any means, but it's the frustrating sort of project where someone has a great idea, but doesn't do the sort of in-depth job you wished they could have done.
great film and exposure for martial arts of europe! 
2009-09-25 - loved the music... it seems like a work of art to me. it covers alot of ground in a short period of time. great film!
