Line #12 Film/ReclaimingTheBlade


1	[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reclaimingtheblade_5289.jpg]]
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3	''Reclaiming the Blade'' is a 2009 documentary on both the fictional depictions and realities of UsefulNotes/{{European swordsmanship}} throughout the ages. It features Creator/JohnRhysDavies as the narrator and includes contributions from the likes of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Anderson_(fencer) Bob Anderson,]] Creator/ViggoMortensen and Creator/PeterJackson.
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5	The documentary has two main sections:
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7	* The depiction of swordsmanship in pop culture, such as on stage, in film and at Renaissance Fairs.
8	* Modern efforts at reconstructing the true martial arts of the appropriate eras.
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10	Dispersed within the production is information pertaining to Eastern martial arts and swordsmithing at relevant points.
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12	One of the most important aspects of this production is the way it compares {{Troperiffic}} fiction to RealLife. As such, trope examples below will often apply to both reality and fiction, although contributors are encouraged to give an explanation for both.
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14	Sadly, this documentary is not well known and European swordsmanship remains immensely obscure.
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16	!!This documentary includes examples of:
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18	* {{BFS}}: The standard sword for many Medieval and Renaissance knights was the longsword, a two-handed weapon that totaled four feet in length, with the blade accounting for three of those. Even larger were the specialised Renaissance two-handers, a favourite of German mercenaries. These could be up to six feet long. The kinds of swords described enjoy the bulk of attention in this documentary.
19	* BladeLock: Extremely common in fiction and not entirely uncommon in real swordfighting, although real techniques for dealing with them were fast and brutal. RealLife also provides a more literal version of the trope. Many swords had mechanisms that could literally lock an enemy's blade, but by far the most simple and least expected was to lock an enemy's blade between your own blade and your crossguard. This way, neither blade could move side-to-side, only back and forth. Usually this is to be done when your sword points towards your adversary while theirs is angled a little out.
20	* CoolSword: TruthInTelevision
21	* ImprobableUseOfAWeapon: Not in reality, but this is the general reaction to the skill and finesse involved in European swordsmanship.
22	* KatanasAreJustBetter: Averted.
23	* LaserBlade: ''Franchise/StarWars'' is touched upon.
24	* MasterSwordsman: Includes many examples, both fictional and real.
25	* RealityIsUnrealistic: Inevitable, given general attitudes and misconceptions concerning European swordsmanship.
26	* ReforgedBlade: ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' has Andúril, Flame of the West. The concept also encompasses ''reconstructed'' blades. On a metaphorical level, this trope is the point of the documentary.
27	* SwordAlmighty: The documentary's general attitude towards swords as close combat weapons, although it doesn't even begin to pretend that a sword is as militarily effective as a gun.
28	* SwordFight
29	* SwordLimbo: Exaggerated in fiction, but can be employed in reality.
30	* SwordPlant
31	* SwordPointing

Context Film / ReclaimingTheBlade