# Reclaiming the Blade > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Reclaiming_the_Blade > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Reclaiming_the_Blade.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaiming_the_Blade > Source revision: 1340360472 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 2009 American film Reclaiming the Blade Directed by Daniel McNicoll Produced by Erica Black Daniel McNicoll Starring Viggo Mortensen Karl Urban Bob Anderson Narrated by John Rhys-Davies Music by David James Nielsen Distributed by Galatia Films Home Entertainment (US) Release date July 7, 2009 (2009-07-07) Running time 78 minutes Country United States Language English ***Reclaiming the Blade*** is a 2009 documentary written and directed by [Daniel McNicoll](/source/Daniel_McNicoll) and produced by Galatia Films on the topic of [swords](/source/Sword). *Reclaiming the Blade* was a number one movie rental on [iTunes](/source/ITunes).[1] The feature-length film was distributed by [Starz](/source/Starz) and [Anchor Bay Entertainment](/source/Anchor_Bay_Entertainment).[2][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] Notable interviewees from the film industry include [Viggo Mortensen](/source/Viggo_Mortensen), [Karl Urban](/source/Karl_Urban), [Richard Taylor](/source/Richard_Taylor_(filmmaker)), and Hollywood sword master [Bob Anderson](/source/Bob_Anderson_(fencer)) (fencing instructor to [Errol Flynn](/source/Errol_Flynn), [Antonio Banderas](/source/Antonio_Banderas), Mortensen, Urban and [Johnny Depp](/source/Johnny_Depp) among others). Interviewed as an expert on swordmaking was bladesmith Paul Champagne. Narration is by British actor [John Rhys-Davies](/source/John_Rhys-Davies). The documentary was produced with the support of [Peter Jackson](/source/Peter_Jackson), [Weta Workshop](/source/Weta_Workshop), [Skywalker Sound](/source/Skywalker_Sound) and the [Royal Armouries](/source/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](/source/Lakeshore_Records).[3][4][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] Commentary track from director Daniel McNicoll and John Rhys-Davies included details on the making of the film and Rhys-Davies experiences with [swordplay on the London stage](/source/Stage_combat).[5][6] Seven [Western martial arts](/source/Historical_European_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](/source/Schola_Gladiatoria) (UK), Stockholm's Historical Fencing Society (Sweden), The School of Traditional Medieval Fencing (UK).[7] ## Critical response The *[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post)* said, "Hardcore gamers into cyber swordplay — or any *[Lord of the Rings](/source/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_(film_series))* 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".[8] The [Association for Renaissance Martial Arts](/source/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."[9] 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".[10] ## See also - [Historical European Martial Arts](/source/Historical_European_Martial_Arts) - [Combat in film](/source/Combat_in_film) ## Notes and references 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Reclaiming the Blade hits #1 on iTunes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150715010141/http://galatiafilms.com/main/news/reclaiming-the-blade-1-on-itunes/). *Galatia Films, LLC*. Archived from [the original](http://galatiafilms.com/main/news/reclaiming-the-blade-1-on-itunes/) on July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["IMDb - Reclaiming the Blade, Company Credits"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0961079/companycredits?ref_=ttfc_ql_5). *IMDb*. Retrieved August 16, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Lakeshore Records - Reclaiming the Blade"](http://www.lsrweblegacy.com/reclaimingtheblade). *Lakeshore Records - Reclaiming the Blade*. Lakeshore Records. Retrieved July 25, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["IMDb - David James Nielsen"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1056760/). *IMDb*. Retrieved July 25, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Barnes & Noble - Reclaiming the Blade"](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-reclaiming-the-blade-john-rhys-davies/17350822?ean=0844667017519). *Barnes & Noble*. Retrieved July 25, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Netflix - Reclaiming the Blade for Rent"](http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Reclaiming-the-Blade/70111112). *Netflix*. Retrieved July 25, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-reclaimingtheblade_7-0)** ["Reclaiming the Blade » » Seven Western Martial Arts Groups from Europe"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140527213754/http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/main/?p=59). reclaimingtheblade.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/main/?p=59) on May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Kane, Michael (August 19, 2009). ["Documentary spotlights LOTR swordfights"](https://nypost.com/2009/08/19/documentary-spotlights-lotr-swordfights/). *New York Post*. Retrieved October 24, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Clements, John. ["Reclaiming the Blade"](http://www.thearma.org/Reclaiming_the_Blade_DVD.html). *www.thearma.org*. Retrieved October 24, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Review: Reclaiming the Blade"](http://www.rowthree.com/2009/03/19/review-reclaiming-the-blade/). *www.rowthree.com*. Retrieved October 24, 2018. ## External links - [Official website (archived)](https://web.archive.org/web/20150131062623/http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/) - Trailer [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/253058795) or [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp_cr8MB0VE) - [Galatia Films page](https://www.galatiafilms.com/portfolio-item/reclaiming-the-blade/) - [*Reclaiming the Blade*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0961079/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*Reclaiming the Blade*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/reclaiming_the_blade) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes) This article about a documentary film about the arts is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Arts-documentary-film-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3AArts-documentary-film-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Arts-documentary-film-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Reclaiming the Blade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaiming_the_Blade) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaiming_the_Blade?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.