This is actually an awesome flick. It's a good, classic "two guys forced to try and kill each other whether they want to or not" western/kung fu/samurai tale while not making either character type cast as either the good guy or the bad guy. Kinda different considering the genre...
He tried to move but couldn't due to being mortally wounded. He propped himself up with his sword so he can die staring at the ocean dramatically because he's more bad ass then you or I will be in a hundred lifetimes.