{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Reclaiming the Blade | image = Reclaiming The Blade poster.jpg | director = [[Daniel McNicoll]] | producer = Erica Black<br />[[Daniel McNicoll]]
| starring = [[Viggo Mortensen]]<br />[[Karl Urban]]<br />[[Bob Anderson (fencer)|Bob Anderson]] | narrator = [[John Rhys-Davies]] | music = David James Nielsen | distributor = Galatia Films Home Entertainment (US) | released = {{Film date|2009|7|7}} | runtime = 78 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''Reclaiming the Blade''''' is a 2009 documentary written and directed by [[Daniel McNicoll]] and produced by Galatia Films on the topic of [[sword]]s. ''Reclaiming the Blade'' was a number one movie rental on [[iTunes]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Reclaiming the Blade hits #1 on iTunes|url=http://galatiafilms.com/main/news/reclaiming-the-blade-1-on-itunes/|website=Galatia Films, LLC|accessdate=14 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715010141/http://galatiafilms.com/main/news/reclaiming-the-blade-1-on-itunes/|archivedate=15 July 2015}}</ref> The feature-length film was distributed by [[Starz]] and [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web|title=IMDb - Reclaiming the Blade, Company Credits|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0961079/companycredits?ref_=ttfc_ql_5|website=IMDb|accessdate=16 August 2015}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2023}}
Notable interviewees from the film industry include [[Viggo Mortensen]], [[Karl Urban]], [[Richard Taylor (filmmaker)|Richard Taylor]], and Hollywood sword master [[Bob Anderson (fencer)|Bob Anderson]] (fencing instructor to [[Errol Flynn]], [[Antonio Banderas]], Mortensen, Urban and [[Johnny Depp]] among others). Interviewed as an expert on swordmaking was bladesmith Paul Champagne.
Narration is by British actor [[John Rhys-Davies]]. The documentary was produced with the support of [[Peter Jackson]], [[Weta Workshop]], [[Skywalker Sound]] and the [[Royal Armouries]].
The soundtrack for the film, which included major label artists and an orchestral score from David James Nielsen, was released on [[Lakeshore Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lsrweblegacy.com/reclaimingtheblade|title=Lakeshore Records - Reclaiming the Blade|website=Lakeshore Records - Reclaiming the Blade|publisher=Lakeshore Records|accessdate=25 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=IMDb - David James Nielsen|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1056760/|website=IMDb|accessdate=25 July 2015}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2023}} Commentary track from director Daniel McNicoll and John Rhys-Davies included details on the making of the film and Rhys-Davies experiences with [[Stage combat|swordplay on the London stage]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Barnes & Noble - Reclaiming the Blade|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-reclaiming-the-blade-john-rhys-davies/17350822?ean=0844667017519|website=Barnes & Noble|accessdate=25 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Netflix - Reclaiming the Blade for Rent|url=http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Reclaiming-the-Blade/70111112|website=Netflix|accessdate=25 July 2015}}</ref>
Seven [[Historical European martial arts|Western martial arts]] (WMA) groups located in five countries in Europe provide footage for ''Reclaiming the Blade'': Arts of Mars (Germany), Boar's Tooth Fight School (UK), De Taille et d'Estoc (France), Ringschule Wrocław, ARMA-PL (Poland), [[Schola Gladiatoria]] (UK), Stockholm's Historical Fencing Society (Sweden), The School of Traditional Medieval Fencing (UK).<ref name="reclaimingtheblade">{{cite web|url=http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/main/?p=59|title=Reclaiming the Blade » » Seven Western Martial Arts Groups from Europe|publisher=reclaimingtheblade.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527213754/http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/main/?p=59|archive-date=May 27, 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=2014-05-27}}</ref>
== Critical response == The ''[[New York Post]]'' said, "Hardcore gamers into cyber swordplay — or any ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|Lord of the Rings]]'' geeks out there, for that matter — ought to check out the interesting new documentary film" and that it was "an in-depth documentary on the culture and craft of swords and their role in entertainment".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2009/08/19/documentary-spotlights-lotr-swordfights/|title=Documentary spotlights LOTR swordfights|last=Kane|first=Michael |date=2009-08-19|work=New York Post|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Association for Renaissance Martial Arts]] said, "This is an unprecedented effort very well put together, entertaining as well as informative." But felt it "doesn't fully portray the fact that the legitimate revival of historical European fencing actually requires acknowledging the need for 'reclaiming the blade' from the usual suspects... stunt fencing, sport game, and escapist role-play."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thearma.org/Reclaiming_the_Blade_DVD.html|title=Reclaiming the Blade|last=Clements|first=John |website=www.thearma.org|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref> Marina Antunes on RowThree.com said, "What begins as a look at the art of the sword on film quickly transforms into a history lesson on the loss, the find and the eventual re-emergence and rise of traditional western martial arts, an art form that had been lost for centuries." Adding it is "an informative, engaging and entertaining documentary that sheds light on a subject that most of us see constantly but know nothing about".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rowthree.com/2009/03/19/review-reclaiming-the-blade/|title=Review: Reclaiming the Blade|website=www.rowthree.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Historical European Martial Arts]] * [[Combat in film]]
== Notes and references == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20150131062623/http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/|Official website (archived)}} *Trailer [https://vimeo.com/253058795 Vimeo] or [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp_cr8MB0VE Youtube] *[https://www.galatiafilms.com/portfolio-item/reclaiming-the-blade/ Galatia Films page] *{{IMDb title|0961079|Reclaiming the Blade}} *{{rotten-tomatoes|id=reclaiming_the_blade|title=Reclaiming the Blade}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reclaiming The Blade}} [[Category:2009 films]] [[Category:American documentary films]] [[Category:Documentary films about the film industry]] [[Category:American independent films]] [[Category:Swordsmanship]] [[Category:2009 English-language films]] [[Category:2009 American films]] [[Category:English-language documentary films]]
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