The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman

Director - Dasri Jacob (Angling Dharma, Rosita)

Starring - Barry Prima (Jaka Sembung, Hello Ghost), Advent Bangun (Without Mercy, Revenge of the Ninja), and Gudi Sintara (Escape from Hellhole, Golok Setan)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Action/Comedy
Tagline - "The Warrior, the man with supernatural strength is back"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I spend the entire month of October binging horror movies sent to me for review from various filmmakers, distributors, producers, and so on.  A lot of times these spill over into November where I spent most of the month playing catch up.  I love horror and I could never turn my back on my beloved genre but sometimes I do need a little break.  Mondo Macabro's Warrior trilogy couldn't have came at a better time.  I needed something fun and a bit different to watch so I could recharge my batteries before diving into the Christmas themed horror that is quickly approaching.  After watching 1981's The Warrior, I quickly moved on to the sequel which was 1983's The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman.

     The Dutch army is unable to defeat Jaka Sembung (Prima) so they hold a tournament to find a champion capable of beating him.  A blind swordsman comes out as victor and using magic he is able to trick the Dutch army into thinking he actually defeated Jaka Sembung.  However, when they find out they try to kill him.  He inadvertently teams up with Jaka Sembung and the pair terrorize the army together.  

     I had no idea how a film could be a follow up to Jaka Sembung but The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman fucking did.  It was bigger, bolder, and the humor was still able to find it's mark.  Honestly, this sequel was more enjoyable than the first film which is really saying something.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect in a follow up film to Jaka Sembung.  The acting is very cheesy with even more colorful characters added to this follow up.  We get some fun performances from the cast as they bring some of the most animated characters in movie history to life.  The story for this one is a solid continuation from the first film with the addition of new characters.  We continue to have the inclusion of magic and the martial arts is still the main focus of the film.  Also, the film doesn't shy away from the humor.  In fact, this installment seems to include more humor than the first film which is one of the reasons I enjoy it more than the first.  Finally, we don't get a lot of the blood and gore that some of us likes but we do get some great old school camera tricks and amazing choreography.  The fight scenes are a lot of fun and the main reason to watch any of the films from this trilogy.  Overall, The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman is a must see for martial arts fans especially if you like The Warrior.  I couldn't look away from this one and I know you will too.  Check it out.