A more apt title would be ‘Sex, Fury and Politics,’ because they're what the film is unevenly split between. The ‘Fury’ is by far the best of the three aspects but it’s the part that receives the least screen time, which is a great shame, because when the swordplay erupts the frame comes alive and the blood spurts are more than satisfying. When that same principle is taken to the card table, sparks replace the blood. If the conflict of interests that underpins the Meiji era politics had equalled the violence for drama the film would be even more deserving of the praise it currently receives.
3½ bloodstained flower cards out of 5
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