Arm severing


I've seen this movie twice now and enjoyed it both times, but I still can't get over the ridiculousness of Hazama's arm being severed by a rifle shot towards the end, I mean come on. For me, as much as it was hilarious, it cheapened the experience of watching what is otherwise a very nicely made film.

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It was a round bullet of big diameter, maybe 1.5 centimeters on those rifles; yes, I think it's possible.

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It was a round bullet of big diameter, maybe 1.5 centimeters on those rifles; yes, I think it's possible.

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The firearm used was a Martini Henry Carbine - Calibre is .577-.450 of which the bullet diametre is 45/100 of an inch. At that range, the bullet would mushroom to the diametre of a silver dollar and if hit just right, may knock the limb off. More likely to shatter the bones and mangle the flesh in reality. This was the same firearm used against the Zulu in Zulu Dawn and Zulu movies. Historically, "native" tribes complained that the bullets were exploding, but in reality, just a very soft lead that opened up rapidly and caused major trauma around the entry point.

So it is possible, but unlikely to have happened....but hey...its the movies!

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It was actually very clearly a Sharps carbine. Watch them working the levers back and forth, you will notice that it is a dropping block and had an exposed hammer. Martini-Henry are hammerless and tipping blocks. Peabody Martini rifles had exposed hammers, but neither they nor the Martini-Henry are correct for the time period of between 1861-1865 the film is set in. That being said, the power of the Sharps carbine is comparable to the aforementioned Martini, and fire soft lead bullets of large diameter. Either would be capable of removing the hand at the wrist as depicted in the sword fight. As the previous poster said, possible but unlikely.

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Shoot is symbol. Bullet destroy arm holding sword. No more bushido, no more old ways, no honorable death, technology changes samurais life. Now every coward with a gun can win fight. Single shoot from distance, even in back, that is all.

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The way it was done was lame. CGI was terrible and it really distracted me, but the Chief Retainer assassination and ending made up for it.

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Bullet destroy arm holding sword. No more bushido, no more old ways, no honorable death, technology changes samurais life.
Agreed. The film was set against a background of Japan's opening up to the West which would cause irrevocable change from the old ways.

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I think round used is big enough to cause the severed limb. And Japanese back in old days are neither tall nor fat. I think average Japanese at that time would be pretty tiny and it didn't really bother me. To certain degree, it enhances the destructive nature of western weapon and declining Samurai culture. That said, I still think Twilight Samurai is a lot superior than this movie.

My life isn't any better than yours.

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