Not one actor in this film has any talent or experience with sword fighting or martial arts in any form. One guy here gave it an 8 for the fine sword fighting. In the great films the actors, such as Mifuni, are dedicated students of Bushido. You know when you have seen it. And is nowhere in this film. The lead actor in particular, the one who duels with and kills a whole group from one particular school, that guy is just awful. He flails around with a clearly plastic sword in ways I have never seen a dedicated student of the sword use that instrument , The photography is very flat and not interesting at all. The plot is just one of revenge between two different schools of sword. It seems childish, but the writer shows us how such a scenario ic complicated and ripples across samurai families and codes of conduct. If only the acting, fighting and photography were done by someone who had pride and respect for the old masters of samurai films, that were all over the place in the late 50's and 60's. Alas. Anyone who thinks this turkey is an 8 should watch Yojimbo or 13 Asassins for example and tell me again about this film.