For those who'd like to enjoy a sports competition the better choice would be probably to switch on to a sports channel. "By the Sword" has little to do with fencing technique, it's just a movie about people. Villard could be anybody - a sponge diver, a research worker, or a postman - he still would be Villard: self - sufficient, restrained, trying to create distance between himself and other people, admiring the best and strongest, considering himself to be one of the best and thinking little about other people's feelings. He isn't "a bad guy" though - he just lives according to his own rules, in his own world, a kind of performing his own show where he is always on top and never loses his face even when he happens to lose a game. Eric Roberts is great as usual and very impressive. The whole cast did a good job and I do like the music and fencing too. The weak point is the plot. I can't understand why on earth Suba came to Villard. What did he want from him? For Suba, Villard's Academy is the last place to begin a new life. And why he didn't reveal himself to Villard if he wants to be fair? To my mind sometimes the plot lacks of logic. In total I like the film. For those who prefer drama to action it's not a bad choice, for those who like perfect Eric Roberts - it's yes!
Review of By the Sword
