Film

The Sword of Alexander

Name: The Sword of Alexander
Released: 2007
Cast: Hiroshi Abe, Kyoko Hasegawa, Meisa Kuroki, Riki Takeuchi, Kenichi Endo

A Japanese period-action film that plunges samurai-era Tokyo into cosmic chaos when two rival aliens descend in search of mystical relics that could grant godlike power. It's pulpy, earnest, and visually playful—part historical romp, part sci-fi spectacle, with no interest in irony. For anyone who wants their action movies to swing for the fences.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy genre mash-ups played with a straight face, where samurai swagger sits comfortably beside alien treasure hunts and the film's giddy inventiveness is the point.

Skip it if you need your sci-fi grounded and your samurai dramas restrained; the premise is pulpy, and the tone can feel cheerfully unserious when you want it to mean something.

What it asks of you: Expect a brisk feature-length romp of roughly two hours, with much of its energy going to the rival race and its set pieces rather than quiet character moments.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Versus2000

A Japanese action film that treats sword fights and the supernatural with the same gleeful abandon, mixing genres and tone without apology. Relentless, inventive, and genuinely wild.

But Choppy editing and a paper-thin plot can feel exhausting rather than exhilarating if you need narrative logic between setpieces.

Seven Samurai1954

The foundational samurai epic: patient, precise, and utterly gripping. Kurosawa builds character and stakes so carefully that when the action arrives, it matters. A masterclass in filmmaking.

But At over three hours with subtitles and deliberate pacing, it demands more attention than a modern audience might be ready to give.

Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno2014

A live-action anime adaptation that somehow works: fluid sword choreography, genuine emotion beneath the action, and a villain worth rooting against. Pure kinetic joy.

But If you haven't seen the first film or the anime, you'll miss character depth and backstory that make the emotional beats land.

Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Sword of Alexander

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Flash Gordon1980

Both are films that reject knowing detachment and lean into their outlandish premises with complete sincerity. They're not 'so bad they're good'—they're genuinely good at being exactly what they set out to be.

An unironic space-adventure film that finds genuine excitement in pulp: bright colors, earnest acting, ridiculous plot. Like *Sword of Alexander*, it trusts its premise and commits completely to the joy of it.

But The dated effects and campy tone will feel either charming or irritating depending on your appetite for retro spectacle.

Ninja: Shadow of a Tear2013

A modern ninja actioner with real martial arts chops and a lean, focused story. Scott Adkins delivers both emotion and excellent fight choreography without franchise bloat.

But It's aggressively straightforward—no surprises, no ambition beyond solid execution. Safe when you need reliable, not revelatory.

Azumi2003

A samurai-assassin film with striking visuals and real affection for its heroine. It balances absurdity and genuine peril, and the action sequences are thoughtfully choreographed.

But The English dubbing is distracting, and the plot occasionally buckles under the weight of its own ambition.

The Hidden Blade2004

A period samurai film that privileges character and melancholy over spectacle. Masaki Abe is magnetic, and Masaki Kobayashi crafts something genuinely moving beneath the sword work.

But If you want action and movement, this is contemplative and quiet—a samurai film about restraint, which some will find boring.

Samurai Champloo2004

An anime that tosses samurai period drama, hip-hop aesthetics, and genuine humor into a blender. Each episode is a small masterpiece of tone and style, wildly entertaining.

But It's episodic and whimsical, so if you need forward momentum or high stakes, it'll feel aimless.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance1972

The original manga adaptation: brutal, operatic, visually stunning even by modern standards. A masterwork of composition and violence that redefined the samurai genre.

But The pacing is deliberately slow, and the gore is uncompromising—beautiful but punishing to watch.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance poster

Kamen Rider: THE FIRST2005

Both marry Edo-era or pulp sensibilities with modern action filmmaking and supernatural/alien elements. Both are Japanese productions that prioritize visual invention over Western realism.

A live-action adaptation of a classic tokusatsu series that treats a man-turned-cyborg-superhero with real dramatic weight. Stunning action, genuine emotion, and a willingness to be both silly and serious.

But It assumes familiarity with the source material, and the suit design might feel childish if you're not already invested in tokusatsu aesthetics.

A Tale of Two Sisters2003

Both films are unafraid of narrative ambiguity and visual strangeness; both ask the viewer to meet them halfway rather than explain everything. Both trust that mystery and boldness are more interesting than clarity.

A Korean horror film that starts as domestic drama and unfolds into something hallucinatory and deeply strange. Visually hypnotic, emotionally devastating, and genuinely unsettling in ways that linger.

But It's slow-burn and cryptic—heavy on atmosphere, light on explanation. The final act demands interpretation rather than delivering answers.