AGP#024 – He's Sort of a Stranger

Hosts: Evan “Vampt Vo” Minto, Mitchell “MitchyD”
Dyer
Topic: Sword of the Stranger
(anime, 2008)


Today we’re talking about Sword of the Stranger, a
samurai action anime created by studio BONES, directed by
first-time director Masahiro Ando, and distributed in the United
States by Bandai Entertainment. Mitchy and I loved this movie to
death (a state experienced by more than half its cast), so this
episode turned out quite a lot like our Golgo 13
podcast.


I’m not sure just yet what we’ll be doing next episode, but we
definitely want to talk some video games again sometime soon, and
our 25th episode milestone IS right around the corner…


Show notes and links forthcoming.


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(Runtime: 49 minutes)

[00:00] Intro: Golgo 13 is the sexiest man on Earth. Don’t deny
it.[00:21] Opening Song: “Konya Wa Hurricane” by Priss & The
Replicants (Bubblegum Crisis episode 1 OP)

[00:37] EDIT: I accidentally left in a piece
from last episode. This bit is just Evan and Mitchy introducing
themselves.


[01:28] We start What’cha Been Doing? with
Mitchy talking about video game novels, like the Metal
Gear Solid 2 novel.


[02:44] Assassin’s Creed II is “the BEST GAME of
2009,” according to Mitchy. And we both hate the first game.


[04:26] Mitchy beat Mass Effect for the fourth
time, and Evan’s playing it the first time. We both like it,
but Evan’s still feeling out the game, since he’s only a few
hours in. Like a true cynic, Evan starts his discussion of
Mass Effect with what he doesn’t like about it,
even though his overall impression is positive.


[06:35] Mitchy is playing Dragon Age: Origins,
a.k.a. “Knights in Shining Armor of the Old Republic.” Cue
ensuing discussion of morality systems, Far Cry 2,
and a mystery game that Mitchy isn’t allowed to name.


[08:47] Even though it’s mo, Mitchy is considering watching
Azumanga Daioh. Evan recommends it before pointing
out that it’s totally made for pedophiles.


[09:45] Evan watched Irresponsible Captain Tylor,
which he calls, with hesitation, a “dramedy.” It has a weird
harem plot and some annoying twin girls characters, but rest
assured, he enjoyed it. Also, he never mentioned it, but it
takes place on a spaceship, not a boat.


[11:23] Samurai X is so awesome. Mostly just
Trust & Betrayal though.


[11:23] This discussion was supposed to be short, but like all
of our discussions, it just kept going. Long story short: Evan
and Mitchy both love the XLBA game Splosion Man,
but Mitchy can’t beat the first boss because he’s a baby.


[15:23] Helen McCarthy’s The Art of Osamu Tezuka
is a great read according to Evan, who just finished reading
it. It’s got profiles of almost every manga the man ever wrote,
and there’s a never-before-translated documentary in the back.


[17:25] Break: “Sakura Kiss” Chieko Kawabe
(Ouran High School Host Club opener)


[18:32] Review: Oh My God it’s Sword of
the Stranger! Directed by Masahiro Ando, created by
Studio BONES, and forged out of pure awesome.


[19:56] Cue the excited list of the best deaths in this movie.
Wrecking ball whip, battle-axe tied to a rope, three-piece
staff/scythe combo, and airborne katana. Mitchy’s notes are
notably more eloquent than Evan’s.


[21:47] The plot is really basic. There are Japanese people,
Chinese people, and a white dude. IMMORTALITY also.


[23:51] At this point we kind of just start spoiling the best
deaths. Again.


[25:48] This movie has a Shiba Inu that kills more people than
one of the main characters, and even catches a knife in its
teeth.


[26:32] Mitchy really liked the plot, but Evan thinks it’s just
serviceable. It avoids some clichs and ends up being kind of
generic, but a ton of fun.


[28:30] The animation, direction, cinematography, and the MUSIC
were all awesome. Goddammit, that music was sooooo good. We go
into a long discussion of how beautiful the animation and the
background art are, despite the brutality of the violence.


[32:55] The movie isn’t gratuitous, and the end of the movie
has some great surprise deaths that the camera doesn’t linger
on. Oh, and the old Chinese guy goes out like a punk.


[36:15] The dub for Sword of the Stranger is
actually quite good, and the Chinese people actually speak
Chinese, which is pretty cool. Evan’s complaint about the
subtitles during the dub was actually not a problem on a second
viewing. Must have just missed the option or something!


[38:52] Mitchy is in love with this movie, but Evan didn’t like
it as much because the story is simple and kind of generic.
Even so, we both loved it, and agree that it’s incredibly fun
to watch. Highly recommended.


[42:57] That’s the end of the show. Mitchy is currently writing
for Official Xbox Magazine, so read some words from him in that
fine publication. Also read the FMA: Brotherhood Diaries and
our 2009 Staff Picks on Ani-Gamers.


[48:15] Ending Song: “Konya Wa Hurricane” by Priss & The
Replicants (Bubblegum Crisis episode 1 OP)


[48:42] A rumination on the paradox of jetpacks and
videophones.