Customer Reviews

By the Sword [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not a movie about fencing. It is merely using the setting of a fencing academy to explore human nature, particularly obsession with excellence.

Jeremy Kagan, an otherwise unremarkable director, weaves these themes into an engaging story with some terrific cinematography. In particular, many of the fencing scenes involving Roberts are downright gorgeous. Is the fencing accurate? I have no idea; I've heard both opinions offered, but it scarcely matters.

F. Murray Abraham is as excellent as always. His path through the movie is mirrored not only by his physical health but by the appearance of his apartment, his relationships with others, etc., and Abraham is utterly convincing.

Eric Roberts turns in a very good performance, surprisingly. He's got a natural tendency to really play over the top, but for the most part he avoids that here. He's uneven in a couple of scenes, particularly the end, but that's only a minor quibble.

This movie will surprise you. The box, in particular, suggests a cheesy action film, but that is not what this is at all.

This little known gem is one of my favorites. I first encountered it years ago on late night cable. Back then, it captivated me because I love fencing. Since then, I have learned to appreciate the story as well.

F. Murray Abraham plays a man just out of prison for murder. His was the foolish act of a headstrong youth. He has since come to regret it and wishes to change his life. He seeks employment as a fencing instructor in a prestigious salle but his style and skills are out of date. He can get work only as a janitor. Even so, he works to regain his lost skill and eventually gets the grudging acceptance of the maestro and is allowed to teach beginners classes. The students have a hard time taking him seriously but his skill is such that he wins acceptance from them as well. Eventually, his real identity comes out. He has a "history" with the maestro and tempers flare I a great clash of wills and style.

This isn't just a story about guys playing with long pointy things. It is about striving to be the best but setting limits as to what one is willing to do to be the best. It is about winning at all costs versus winning with honor. It is about vengeance and respect.

The fencing scenes are well done. Abraham does a convincing job of conveying the athleticism of fencing even though he is decades older than his opponents.

Touche!

On the whole, this movie is very good, with a few minor problems. The movie presents us with a very interesting hero, an ex convict ( F. Murray Abraham) who is returning into the world, coming back to the fencing school where he studied. He comes back to meet the son of his long time protoge played by Eric Roberts. F. Murray Abraham plays a very convincing main role, as the dark, sullen swordsman Max Suba as is Eric Roberts in the part of the protege's son who is obcessed by excellence. This movie also offers an interesting look into the world of fencing and offers a explosive, can't be beat duel at the end between Eric Roberts and F. Murray Abraham, which makes the viewer wonder just how long it took them to fight as good as they do! The one thing that broght this movie down, although it was quite minor was the side story of two young fencing students who fall in love, this subplot is plauged with bad, cliched diologe that makes me want to fast foward to the fencing, but all in all, it does not subtract from the complete value of the movie. I would give this movie four stars for it being almost perfect.

This is a thought provoking movie dealing with the primal act and desire to kill. It is the story of one man's relish for combat and how it consumes his life and warps his world, and about the man who created that world. The man who, through a lesson taught at the point of a blade, would make clear the lesson of death.

This is one of the few fencing movies which attests to the true nature of the sport. Being head of a fencing team from a major university, it's hard to impress me in that aspect, but the film was remarkable. Beyond the fencing, Abraham delivers an excellent role, making this movie worth-while to fencers and non-fencers alike.

There is a cheesy side plot of two fencers falling in love and while it does detract some from the movie, it merely serves to offer the viewer a break from the intensity of the movie.

Overall, it was a fanstastically directed film, the cinematography on the final fight scene just added to the overall effect of the film.

A classic plot aboutrevenge, sretr in the little seen world of fencing the technical components of the sport a re right on with the great acting.

As a fencer, I feel the need to warn anyone reading this isn't a very good movie about the modern sport of fencing. Many liberties are taken in the interest of presenting this material to the people in Peroria. As a movie-watcher, I was distracted by too many side characters and side stories. Objectively looking at it, this is definitely a 'B' movie in my book. Trick is, I love it. I own a copy and have watched it dozens of times. I know many lines before they're said. As a fencer, I am grateful that someone made a very respectable effort to do a film with the modern sport of fencing as its backdrop. With a little suspension of disbelief, I find the fencing parts very entertaining. As a movie-goer, I admire the producers' efforts to try to bring in all age groups and genders with the many characters and side stories. If you're looking for Oscar material, pass this up. If you want a fun modern swordplay-themed drama, see it!

I caught this movie the first time on cable. I stopped because of F. Murray Abraham who always delivers a wonderful performance and didn't disappoint in this film. The story line was interesting and suspense was allowed to build as little hints as to Murray's interest and background with sword play came out as the movie progressed.

The sword play scenes are well done and are accurate for anyone who has seen real and expert sword play before. It's also fascinating for those who haven't seen it in person.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes action movies and for those who like a good story. This movie requires some thought and asthetics. If this is you - you'll love it.

See this movie if the following applies to you:

(a) You're a fencer, (b) with a good sense of the ridiculous, (c) fencing friends to watch with, (d) and you've all had a few beers (or one too many sabre whips to the head).

If all of these characteristics remind you of you, then I think you will thoroughly enjoy this movie for its oh-so-rare combination of camp, cheese, and swords. If not, you might like it anyhow, but consider yourself warned!

This is one of those rare movies in which the outside appearance of an art clashes with its inside reality. As a competitive sword-fighter I regret the showy element taking precedence over the reality, practicality and responsibility of sword-fighting. Beautiful. Wish Kagan had shown more about the relationship between Suba and his students after solving the issue of revenge.