the screenplay and its ability to tell a riveting story about transition ( well-explained in the commentary ) , the ever-lasting battle of good versus evil ( apparent by Sanjuurou's character ) , and of course , Sanjuurou himself as a character . Mifune shows an insurmountable level of charisma and screen presence when playing the lead . I thought he was cool enough in Seven Samurai , but here ? Given the scope of the story , his character's sly personality , and good intentions , I'd probably have to say this is the epitome of maybe . . the ultimate anti-hero ? Well , whatever I decide to call his character type , the movie is extremely entertaining , regardless , thanks in large part to Mifune's acting ability and craft .
Sanjuurou - 4.5
Alright , my third Kurosawa film ! Here we have the continuing adventures of Sanjuurou in the self-titled movie , which amply reflects a good majority of the elements that made Youjimbou so successful . We're essentially presented with the same mix of comedy and drama ( albeit , of a lighter nature ) , tantalizing swordplay ( much bloodier ) , and a still very appealing protagonist , though not quite to the magnitude of its predecessor . However , what Sanjuurou lacks in overall bravado , it makes up for in some great character development and complexity . After listening to the very insightful commentary , I found that a lot of the elements in this movie helped to fill some of the character gaps and actually compliment Sanjuurou to make him a more complete person . Furthermore , the screenplay also differentiates itself from the previous film with the whole unsheathed sword analogy and its message on the brutality of violence , as opposed to its necessity in the former , and its focus on traditionalism , as opposed to Youjimbou's take on modernism . Instead of glorifying the bloodshed we were led to believe as a necessary , almost obligatory , catalyst for change in the first film , we learn here that even if killing is required , living with it is the hardest part of all . We're also exposed to the softer side of Sanjuurou here , as seen in his interactions with the rebel samurai . His brash and eccentric nature has always been a part of his charisma , though we get to see him display a little more compassion , maybe even a kind of paternal instinct for those young men . This complimentary piece to the tale of Sanjuurou is much more light-hearted , but at the same time adds a more intimate and subtle look to the man .
Video
Youjimbou - 5.0
This is the first Criterion BD I've seen with black and white , and it looks absolutely fantastic for its age . Of course , this also the first time and first version of the film I'd ever seen , but regardless , I never thought b & w could look so crisp . Contrast reveals an amazing amount of facial features in closeup shots and black levels give the picture a great deal of depth and dimensionality . Grain levels are constant , especially in night shots , but artifacts or debris are barely noticeable , giving the movie a very film-like presentation . Detail and sharpness are excellent as well , showing all of the tiny wrinkles , lines , and shadows within the picture . What surprises me the most , though , is the fluidity of the camera-work and overall smoothness of cinematography . Criterion has done a stupendous job here , and I'm eager to see what Seven Samurai will eventually look like .
Sanjuurou - 4.5
The video isn't quite as striking as it is for Youjimbou , but Sanjuurou still looks relatively good . Contrast , black levels , and overall sharpness show about the same level of excellence as its predecessor , though it does have a few moments of inconsistency . Images appear fuzzy , contrast or blacks are too high / low , and some shots even show instances of film damage , but only on occasion . Facial features and object detail still look amazing for a movie filmed in b & w , and I was particularly surprised at some of the shadow delineation in some of the night scenes .
Audio
Youjimbou - 4.5
The 3.0 DTS-HD Japanese track presents itself with a good deal of immersion as well . Something I find very cool about these old Kurosawa samurai movies is the way the musical scores really embrace the audience into the action on-screen . Dialogue stays true and clear on the center channel , with the sound effects and mythic score by Masaru Satou emanating from the front sides . By today's standards , it's nothing to write home about . But given the limitations of the times and the degree of remastering done , it's still as amazing as the equally affluent video transfer . Perhaps a 4.0 or .1 upgrade could've made this reference for a vintage title ?
Sanjuurou - 4.5
While the video transfer isn't as good , the audio is . The 3.0 DTS-HD track offers a clear and presentable effort with no loss of quality in the dialogue , music , or sound effects . Ambiance is as good as its predecessor with center and front side speakers engaging in their respective elements . Of special note , there are more instances of sword slash and flesh-cut noises as opposed to the wind effects and emphasis of the score in the previous film . The running water sounds also create a more pleasant atmosphere .
Extras
Youjimbou - 4.5
Although it seems to be a rehash of what's in the DVD set , I still find the extras here to be extremely informative . The Kurosawa documentary on the making of Youjimbou has quite a bit of explanation on the writing , casting , and filming of the film itself . As spectacular as I've always found the cinematography in these movies , it was nice to actually hear how they pulled off a lot of the camera angles and visual effects . In addition , the feature commentary by Stephen Price is about as elaborate as you'll ever hear . This is the first time I've heard him , but his knowledge , attention to detail , and natural affinity for great literary analysis really adds an extra level of astonishment to the film as a true work of art . Themes , influences , personal thoughts ; everything you could possibly want is covered by this well-made commentary . The little documentary booklet , while a little shorter than I'd like for a movie of this magnitude , is a good read as well .
Sanjuurou - 4.0
More of the same as in Youjimbou : 35 - minute behind-the-scenes featurette , a very in-depth commentary by Stephen Price , and a nifty little book with essays about Kurosawa and his work . I actually found the b-t-s feature a little less interesting than Youjimbou's . It tends to focus more on the writing / acting aspects and effects departments , but not so much on the filming process itself . Some of the cinematography was nice to look at , and it would've been nice to hear about the shooting locations as well . However , the commentary makes up for it a good deal , showing that Mr . Price really knows his stuff .
Overall - 5.0
Youjimbou / Sanjuurou are both great pieces of film-making . This is the first time I've seen either , and they're only my 2nd and 3rd Kurosawa movies ever seen . Needless to say , if you like the samurai genre these are two very excellent titles , thanks in large part to the acting talent of Toshirou Mifune . With outstanding A / V presentation and a plethora of extras , Criterion Collection provides another great addition and effort in continuing Kurosawa's legacy of brilliance . Highly recommended .
001 4 Although it lacks the scope of THE SEVEN SAMURAI , THRONE OF BLOOD , and other more widely known films by the celebrated Akira Kurosawa , the 1961 YOJIMBO ( also known as BODYGUARD ) is one of the most important films of the second half of the 20th Century - - and a film that was deeply influenced by American film . Even so , YOJIMBO stands on its own merits : it's a magnificent piece of cinema that will fascinate even those who normally turn up their noses at movies with subtitles .
In theory , the film is based on the 1929 Dashiell Hammett novel RED HARVEST - - but transports the basic story to a period in Japan when the Samurai class has fallen on hard times and must seek employment as common body guards . Sanjuro Kuwabatake ( brilliantly played by Toshiro Mifune , who appeared in several Kurosawa films ) is such a one , a scruffy looking and aging warrior who finds himself caught between warring factions of a Japanese village and responds by playing the two against each other .
One of the film's greatest assets is its visual style . Kurosawa is very clearly influenced by the look of the American western here , and most particularly so , in my opinion , by HIGH NOON . Consequently , YOJIMBO leaps the cultural divide with considerable ease - - but Kurosawa uses the images of empty streets and the lone warrior to considerably different effect , presenting him as a dangerous figure who emerges from the dust and the wind to rip wide his foes . But the film does not rely on visual style alone : there is plenty of hard substance here , too . The plot is tightly wound , action-intensive , and laced with a dry and very black humor , and the cast is superlative throughout .
As it borrowed from the American movie western , so did it influence American film in return , most obviously in the form of the popular Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns of the 1970s - - where it was essentially remade as A FIST FULL OF DOLLARS . But frankly Clint Eastwood never had it so good : with Kurosawa at the helm and Mifune as the lead , Eastwood's lone stranger feels mighty tame in comparison .
The Criterion DVD offers the film in original widescreen and in the best possible condition short of a full digital restoration . As noted elsewhere , there are occasional blips and lines - - but honestly the film is so driving that you will barely notice them . The subtitles also seem to be a better translation than I've seen in any other version . YOJIMBO was my introduction to Japanese cinema . I urge you to let it be yours as well .
GFT , Amazon reviewer
002 4 Those looking for redeeming social messages might want to look elsewhere , but if you're in the mood for a violent , stylishly shot , and decidedly nihilistic good time you should be sure to give Yojimbo a look . Presaging the role Clint Eastwood would soon make famous in the Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns , not to mention countless action-movie leading men since , Yojimbo helped to introduce the concept of the amoral antihero as main character , as well as give cinema ( Japanese or otherwise ) one of its all-time most fascinating figures . Played by the great Toshiro Mifune at his glowering , imperious best , samurai-turned-drifter Sanjuro Kuwabatake is one of film history's great protagonists-hard drinker ( don't interrupt Sanjuro when he's enjoying his sake ) , master strategist , seemingly peerless swordsman , and unapologetic self-seeker . He's the kind of guy you can't help but like ; even if his actions would be considered reprehensible in most times and places , at least he doesn't proclaim any lofty ideals or lay claim to any moral high ground while killing people . As a samurai with no master and no clan to owe allegiance to , going through a time of flux in Japan , Sanjuro enters a world where old values don't apply and he has only his own survival to think about . Since he's found himself where life is cheap , the movie seems to be saying , Sanjuro's actions , underhanded or not , are as justifiable as anyone else's . Besides , as Sanjuro himself notes , at least the people he kills are even worse than he is .
Anyway , as the movie opens , Sanjuro wanders into a town where commerce is at a virtual stop ( with the exception of the local undertaker's business , which is thriving ) and the factions of two local bosses are fighting each other for dominion . Sanjuro quickly sees there's money to be made off the conflict for anyone with his combination of flexible morality and astonishing skills with a sword , and he just as quickly starts playing the two sides against each other to see which boss will dig deeper to procure his services . As hostilities escalate , there's all sorts of conniving and backhanded maneuvering from everyone involved , with occasional breaks for Sanjuro to slice and dice whatever poor folks get in the way of his objectives . The violence obviously isn't as graphic or realistic as what you'll get from later color movies , but the battle scenes are shot in a nicely frenetic and unflinching manner , even if they consist largely of Sanjuro cutting through his opponents without breaking much of a sweat . At the very least , the fight scenes here are certainly preferable to the constant CGI-fests action fans are subjected to nowadays .
It becomes evident early on that this movie isn't going to be entirely serious ( if the bouncy , jokey score doesn't clue you in , the dog running up to the main character with a severed hand in its mouth might ) , but the comic elements don't subtract from the movie's violent , morally ambiguous nature . If anything , the film's humor plays up the absurdity of the conflict into which the protagonist enters and the principals involved in it . In one scene that's especially indicative of the movie's cynical point of view , Sanjuro excuses himself from a planned battle right before it starts , and proceeds to watch with amusement as the two sides tentatively approach each other and back off over and over , obviously not feeling quite as brave as they did before it actually came time to fight .
All humor aside , though , this is still a technically stunning movie , especially in its visual depictions of its stark 19th-century setting . The cinematography features tons of great , sweeping shots of a town square as desolate physically as it is morally ; the final battle is especially well-shot , with the two sides ( Sanjuro and everybody else ) slowly moving towards each other as the wind blows dust all around them , the score turning darker in order to ratchet the tension up even more .
It's obviously not an easy task to rank this movie among Kurosawa's filmography , although of the several that I've seen I'd put this one a very small notch below The Seven Samurai for the number-one spot . That said , though , in terms of ideas , influence , and sheer coolness of its protagonist , Yojimbo belongs on the short list of the greatest movies of all time . Guy-movie enthusiasts everywhere owe it a watch or two .
003 4 Akira Kurosawa is one of the most talented and beloved Japanese directors to cross over into the western market . Yojimbo illustrates why . Shot in heavily contrasted black and white , Yojimbo is not only a beautiful film but an interesting cultural portrait and a psychological tale of conflict . The talented Toshiro Mifune in his prime plays the lead and Tatsuya Nakadai is notable as the villain obsessed with his gun .
Yojimbo means bodyguard . It is the 1860 ' s and out-of-work samurai wander the country . The hero of the piece is a nameless and scruffy looking character . But his swaggering catlike grace , along with his characteristic shoulder shrugging walk , reveals his muscular strength and lighting speed with the sword . This charismatic ruffian arrives at a village that appears to be under siege . Villagers peer from behind blinds as he enters , and a breeze blows fallen leaves in the empty streets .
Our hero learns the village is in the middle of a gang war . He becomes a trickster figure who pits the gangs against one another and brings the problem to a conclusion - - after demonstrating his superiority both in fighting and in intelligence .
This highly enjoyable period piece is not only a classic story but a view into Japanese cultural heritage . A must see for film buffs since many directors refer to this film . It is a great film for anyone just to see Mifune's visceral performance . Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars was an unauthorized remake which resulted in legal action . It is interesting to note that the plot for Yojimbo was based on a Dashiell Hammett story , Red Harvest . In addition Kurosawa stated his inspiration for the film was a noir detective thriller called The Glass Key starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake . Apparently a scene where the hero is getting beaten in Yojimbo is from the exact same scene from Glass Key , copied shot by shot . Kurosawa was also a big western fan and some of the plot as well as shooting angles are influenced by American Westerns .
004 4 Eventhough this is one of the greatest movie from Criterion collection , I can't say this is recommended for anyone who loves this film . likewise Yozimbo , Criterion did not use new print for this DVD edition . Instead , they used same transfer from their old LaserDisc version . The print is not in good condition , neither is the soundtrack . The more pathetic thing is that you can't see all of samurais filled on the screen . Most of the time , ten samurais , including Mifune Toshiro , are fit in widescreen originaly . But in here , one or two samurais are missing in left or right side . This is almost pan scan ! I want to know why Criterion did not use Hi-Difinision transfer from Japanese LD version approved by director himself ? ( Did you know that one of his film High Low is in 4 - track surround stereo ? ) . I realy hope that when they releace Red beared on DVD , they'll have the best transfer . . . . . .
005 4 The great Akira Kurosawa directed Yojimbo - - first released in 1961 . The film stars frequent Kurosawa collaborator , Toshirô Mifune , who's as good here as he's ever been . The film is set in the post-samurai era , and Mifune is a wandering samurai offering his services as a bodyguard . He stumbles upon an inept , warring town and decides to make some money - perhaps having a little fun in the process .
Of all Kuosawa's movies , Yojimbo is probably structured the most like a traditional western . Not surprisingly , Sergio Leone used it as his inspiration for A Fistful of Dollars , the first of his spaghetti-Westerns . Obviously , Yojimbo is better than the vast majority of movies , foreign or otherwise , but I was a bit disappointed nevertheless . Many people consider Yojimbo to be among Kurosawa's best film . However , the serio-comic approach didn't work entirely for me . I did not connect with it the way I did with other great films by the director , such as Rashomon or High and Low .
In addition , the DVD transfer is problematic . A hissing sound can be heard throughout the movie , and the film just wasn't cleaned up the way it should have been before being transferred . Finally , the DVD includes no extras , save for the original trailer for Yojimbo . Overall , the film is quite good although not Kurosawa's best , and the packaging is below par .
006 4 Being one of Kurosawa's best known works , Yojimbo is indeed a classic and a beautiful study in film craftsmanship . The visual compositions , performances , and fight sequences that Kurosawa delivers here are , as usual , brilliant ( and highly influential ) . It must be said , however , that the film's plot is pretty confusing at times , especially in the second half with all the various characters and shadowy intrigues that enter the mix . I personally have some difficulty keeping track of which characters are aligned with which of the two warring factions , and that becomes doubly difficult when the rival groups start exchanging prisoners and whatnot . Of course it doesn't really matter in terms of the film's tone and meaning ( the two groups are equally evil and equally deserving of what Sanjuro does to them ) , but I still like to be able to grasp what's going on when I watch a samurai-western-action movie like this . Nevertheless , it is a good film and certainly essential viewing for any fan of Kurosawa or samurai films . Criterion's DVD edition , though , leaves a bit more to be desired . The only extra is the film's trailer , which is in widescreen but is strangely and inexplicably shifted towards the bottom of the screen ; and those of you with good home theater systems will see a lot of pixellization and other problems in the visual presentation of the film itself . But worst of all is the obvious fact that part of the image is missing at the left and right edges of the screen - - anybody watching the opening credits sequence can clearly see that the words are spilling out of the picture ( causing the credits to read Starrin Toshiro Mifun with the last letters of words missing ) . Criterion should have done something about this , especially with a film like this one where you know Kurosawa struggled to get every aspect of visual detail just right . Still , the film makes up for these problems , and since this is the only American DVD of this movie , we don't have too many alternatives . . .
007 4 If you haven't seen this movie before , by all means buy this DVD . It is an excellent story by an excellent director with an excellent lead actor . However , if you have seen the movie before , or have seen other Criterion productions , then steer clear of this print . The contrast of the picture is good . But the actual movie often has lines and scratches throughout . I find it hard to believe that this is the only print that Criterion could utilize in making the DVD . Likewise , the opening credits are in English , instead of in Japanese like the Seven Samurai or Hidden Fortress DVDs . These English credits spill off the screen , and this is sort of a prelude to the quality of the rest of the DVD . Indeed , the film quality of the older Kurosawa movies issued by Criterion is far better than that of Yojimbo .
So , buy this movie for the adventure and the exciting story . But if its quality photography you are after , just beware . Criterion usually does a good job but this ain't one of them .
008 4 I taped this off of TV when Turner Classic Movies had their month dedicated to Akira Kurosawa . I sat down , started up the tape , and didn't move until the movie was over . Even though I am still exploring Kurosawa's film , I think this is one of Kurosawa's greatest films . It has wonderful , richly created characters ( the best being , of course , the lead character ) . The story and direction brilliantly walk hand in hand . A nameless ronin ( played by Toshiro Mifune ) stumbles into a border town and finds two feuding families and , seeing an opportunity , hires himself out as a yojimbo ( bodyguard ) to BOTH sides . Kurosawa always said that he was influened by American westerns ( and vice versa ) , but it is really something you have to see for yourself , when he combies samurai films and westerns - - no easy feat ! If you've never laid eyes on any of Kurosawa's movies , what better film to start with than this one ? Incidentally , this was remade into A Fistful of Dollars with Clint Eastwood . Speaking of that , am I the only person who thinks that Toshiro Mifune and Clint Eastwood look alike ? I think it's in their piercing eyes .
009 4 The beginning of this tale , when our hero tosses a stick into the air to see which way it lands to choose his path , is just one of the many elements which makes this such an amazing story and one my favorites of Kurosawa's many masterpieces . What the bodyguard chooses to do first with his newfound independence is quite surprising and ambitious , like piecing together an amazingly complex jigsaw puzzle made of human nature , or staging a performance of an epic masterpiece with no previous management , production , or directing skills . But I guess he may as well tackle a mountain , since there is not much use starting small with his skills and personality . As he orchestrates the deception , our hero is much like a master puppeteer with exquisite timing and talent to incite the mayhem to achieve his goal .
While the basic themes of this story are not unique - the results of greed , manipulation of others , and the changing of the world ( tradition vs . progression ) - many factors add an interesting and unusual charm to this film . There are plots within plots , surprising deception , perfectly paced mounting tension , unpredictable plot twists , stories within stories , distinctive and amusing characters ( the big guy with his huge mallet is a lot of fun ) , the seemingly never-ending face offs , backstabbing , character flaws ; and our hero continually placed in the perfect position to observe , listen , and evaluate . Also , the bodyguard's impeccable timing in manipulation of both sides is nice , fulfilling our expectations and keeping the story moving along . What if bodyguards were really like this ? ( mischievous , brilliant , manipulative ) The famous people of the world would be in terrible trouble .
The humor in this story is wonderful , even the macabre humor of the dog carrying the human hand in its mouth while trotting along to fairly spunky music . I also love the funnier fight sequences , which seem to come right out of clown school and resemble football skirmishes instead of battles . In several of the scenes , it appears that the swordsmen are miming roasting marshmallows instead of fighting with their weapons . Nice addition of lightness to a serious tale . Our hero sticking around after he has discontinued his services purely for the entertainment also accentuates the humor aspect of this movie .
The mix of character types is also interesting including a dominatrix , a prodigal son , a damsel in distress , several amusing drunks , and many bumbling idiots . The ease in which our hero is able to manipulate these human beings is extremely unbelievable ; however , many aspects of this film fall into that category and it is still a wonderful story . This is one of those rare instances in which certain trite , far-fetched , and predictable elements are actually good and serve to enhance the story .
The nature symbolism / imagery is a nice addition to this film including the cleansing rain allowing us to shift gears from Act I to Act II , and the dust storm , which precedes the more unpredictable part of the story serving to unsettle and disorient us .
Finally , the shadowy , light dancing , night fires scene is amazing , intensifying the town's debauchery and our hero finally stepping up to get involved in the action before ultimately getting caught in his own web . This scene is perfect , like an expertly lighted stage drawing us into Act III .
I have only described a few of the wonderful features of this film . There are many others , which warrant several viewings to truly appreciate the complexities of this story . For those who enjoy this movie , I also recommend the sequel , Sanjuro , which is equally well done .
J.H . Sweet , author of The Fairy Chronicles , and Kurosawa fan .
010 4 Yojimbo is the darkest Kurosawa film I've seen yet ( I must admit that this is only the fifth film of his I've seen ) . There are scenes of a dog taking away a human hand for a snack , the main character chops off a thugs arm , and towards the end of the film the main character is beaten to the point where he can barely stand up . In fact , I don't ' think I've seen a more violent film made from 1961 or earlier .
Toshiro Mifune plays the main character ( we're never given his real name ) who becomes the hero of the story despite himself . He enters a town that has been devastated by a war between two gangs and quickly decides he will set the two against each other while making a nice profit in the meantime . After a demonstration of his skills where he kills three people ( Cooper . Two coffins . . . No , maybe three ) the hero sets up a bidding war for his services . Eventually things escalate and Mifune continues pitting the two gangs against each other until they just about destroy the town itself .
Mifune's character is a prototype of the hard boiled anti-hero that spouts off one liners in modern movies . Compare Sin City's It's time to prove to your friends that you're worth a damn . Sometimes that means dying . Sometimes it means killing a whole lot of people . to I'm not dying yet . I have to kill quite a few men first . The movie is based off of Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett , and is really a mix up of a samurai film and film noir . In turn , it was latter remade into A Fist Full of Dollars .
There's less hope in this film than there is in other Kurosawa movies . Unlike the lost baby in Roshomon or the city park in Ikiru , I get the feeling that there's no redemption for Mifune's hero . There are several references to the gates of hell in the film , and this is perhaps the best description of where the hero resides . He's constantly in a state of limbo where he hasn't fallen into damnation but salvation seems like an impossibility . When the hero walks off at the end one can only assume he's going to be wandering for the rest of his life .
011 4 The entire film has been cropped down from its original much wider aspect ratio to a stubby 16 : 9 format . The credits are cut off at the edge of the screen . The part at the very beginning that explains The time is 1860 . . . is cut off . I have this film on VHS in it's original aspect ratio and there is a lot of space between the edge of the credits and the edge of the screen . I own a region-free DVD player and have always meant to get this direct from Japan where the aspect ratio isn't usually ( GitS2 was ) cropped . This disc was released just around the time the DVD format was gaining popularity so there really aren't any extras . Hopefully when the 10 year anniversary of Kurosawa's death comes up in a few years they will reissue this film along with Sanjuro and High & Low featuring the type of extras the more recent Criterion releases have enjoyed . Might be on Blu-Ray disc format by then . I personally am looking forward to a good commentary track by Donald Richie , Stephen Prince , Michael Jeck , or even Roger Ebert .
As for the film itself . . . When people ask me what my favorite movie of all time is I always reply Yojimbo . Which is funny since this is not my favorite Kurosawa film . That honor goes to Drunken Angel . This is my favorite movie because it opened my eyes to the world . I first saw this film in my freshman year of high school . Before seeing it I had no interest in anything that wasn't shinny and new . I didn't like any film , book , or music that wasn't modern and new . After seeing Yojimbo alot of the things I used to hate and thought were boring I actually grew to love . Lawrence of Arabia was better the second time I saw it . The Killer Angels was better the second time I read it . I never really got Mash before this . And I became more interested in other genres of music besides rap . Westerns staring Clint Eastwood were once boring , but not anymore . And why not Toshiro Mifune was the Japanese Clint Eastwood . . . or should that be the other way around ? See it for yourelf .
012 4 Sample the work of both Kurosawa and Mifune and you'll find they were at their best when working together . This film provides ample proof of it . While Kurosawa could perfectly handle serious dramatic themes ( Rashomon , Red Beard ) he could also turn in a picture that was pure popcorn entertainment from start to finish . That's what he accomplished with Yojimbo . Modern eyes may feel it is dated . . . but just because a film is in black and white and has no CGI does not make it so . As for Mifune . . . he is electric in this role . . . much like he is in every film . He conveys more with a sideways glance , scratch of his chin or shrug of the shoulders than most actors can get across in an entire two hours . Check this one out to see one of the greatest actors to ever grace the screen having an obvious blast in a role that was practically unheard of at the time - the anti-hero .
014 4 This review is for the Criterion DVD edition of the film .
This movie had scenes that have been imitated in dozens of other films . It ias also been remade several times , most notable in A Fistfull of Dollars This film started a short populatiry of Japanese movies doing films similar to westerns .
The film itself has many scenes similar to the famous remake . After killing several gang members , the lead character tells the undertaker to start making more coffins .
The film's opening titles are in English and short . I could only assume that they are not the original opening titles . The print quality is not perfect but is still acceptable . The DVD only has the theatrical trailer for special features , which is kind of a downer fr a film o this significance to be released through the Criterion Colection .
015 4 This review is from :
Yojimbo ( Criterion Collection Spine #52 ) ( DVD )
Yojimbo may be Akira Kurosawa's most approachable film . On one level , it is pure entertainment . Mifune is perfect as the grubby super samurai . He embodies the anti-hero , the man-with-no-name who is not cultured or pure but still uses his strength on the side of the right . The bad men are clearly bad , and identify themselves as such . The fight scenes are flashy , unlike the realistic sword fights of The Seven Samurai .
On another level , Yojimbo shows Kurosawa's feelings about the encroaching capitalism and it's effect on Japanese culture . The businessmen have replaced the outlaw bandits and the villains . In a normal world , the corrupt Yakuza would swarm over the innocent workers and corrupt their children . Here , Kurosawa embodies a force of resistance . A samurai who can pit sword against pistol and out-fight ten men at once . He is a hero .
It is precisely these metaphors that lifts Yojimbo beyond a simple chambra ( swordfight ) flick , and make it a Kurosawa movie . I highly recomend this film .
016 4 Yojimbo may be Akira Kurosawa's most approachable film . On one level , it is pure entertainment . Mifune is perfect as the grubby super samurai . He embodies the anti-hero , the man-with-no-name who is not cultured or pure but still uses his strength on the side of the right . The bad men are clearly bad , and identify themselves as such . The fight scenes are flashy , unlike the realistic sword fights of The Seven Samurai .
On another level , Yojimbo shows Kurosawa's feelings about the encroaching capitalism and it's effect on Japanese culture . The businessmen have replaced the outlaw bandits and the villains . In a normal world , the corrupt Yakuza would swarm over the innocent workers and corrupt their children . Here , Kurosawa embodies a force of resistance . A samurai who can pit sword against pistol and out-fight ten men at once . He is a hero .
It is precisely these metaphors that lifts Yojimbo beyond a simple chambra ( swordfight ) flick , and make it a Kurosawa movie . I highly recomend this film .
017 4 Akira Kurosawa's YOJIMBO is a samurai movie set in Japan in 1860 . That period was characterized by political turmoils and deep social changes . Samurais found no masters anymore and had to survive by selling their wit and their arms if they didn't want to turn into ronins , into mad warriors . In the far country , they could appear as substitutes of the law officers who didn't dare to show up .
Toshiro Mifune stars as the no-name samurai who will benefit from the war going on between two gangs in one of these out-of-the-law towns . At this point , if you're an average movie lover , you will have recognized in YOJIMBO several themes used two or three years later by numerous italo-american filmmakers responsible for the revival of the western genre between 1962 and 1970 .
In fact , while I was admiring the skill of Toshiro Mifune , I couldn't refrain myself from counting the numerous situations borrowed by Sergio Leone in his Eastwood trilogy . Close-ups of the ugly faces of the outlaws , use of the widescreen format in order to film in the best possible way the streets duels , a musical score which haunts your mind and is part of the action , bloody details ( the hand in the dog's mouth . . . ) and a great sense of humor .
I love Sergio Leone's movies but I think that it's of the utmost importance or simply by politeness to remember that YOJIMBO is the first Spaghetti western and that Akira Kurosawa has practically invented the myth of the no-name stranger .
A scene access , colour bars and a trailer as bonus features . Great sound for a great musical score but , unfortunately , a master copy with such defaults as lines or white and black spots .
A pre-Clint DVD .
018 4 Kurosawa admitted in interviews that this film was , essentially , an uncredited adaptation of elements from Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest and The Glass Key ; in addition , as so many samurai films are , it shares many tropes with the American Western , which made Sergio Leone's swipe of the swipe , turning Yojimbo into Fistful of Dollars all the more logical .
Bits from this film - - the confrontation and sword fight with the boastful thugs and one of them losing an arm - - and even more from another Kurosawa film , The Hidden Fortress - - made up much of the inspiration for the first Star Wars film , as well .
Mifune's wandering ronin is deliberately made almost the antithesis of the samurai ideal - - scruffy , surly , lazy and so lost to proper manners that he scratches himself in public - - to point up that it is difficult to judge good or ill from surface appearance ( a point made even more strongly in the sequel , Sanjuro ) .
Arriving in a town that is being destroyed by the running battles between two gangs of small-time gamblers and gangsters , the ronin plays both gangs against each other , hoping to lead them to destroy each other .
It almost works . And it almost gets him killed , too .
Kurosawa was a master of the meaningful silence , the understated gesture - - and the sudden shocking violence that releases tension gradually built up so quietly we almost haven't noticed it .
Like most of his films , at the heart of this one is a meditation on honor and strength and on what a man owes to himself and to those around him , and on whether having the ability to clean up a bad situation compels one to do it .
Is it true , as Spider-Man says , that With Great Power comes Great Responsibility , or is it unreasonable to ask someone to risk his neck for a bunch of people he doesn't know , just because he's The Only Man Who . . . ?
One of these days , i'm going to re-read the Hammett , then i'm going to rent Yojimbo and Fistful of Dollars and Last Man Standing and i am going to watch them all - - in order - - and then i'm going to reread David Drake's recent SF novel reworking the same themes , The Sharp End . . . just as a sort of crash course in how five masters of narrative tell the same story and make it theirs .
019 4 YOJIMBO was my introduction to the great body of work from the incomparable Japanese actor , Toshiro Mifune , who stars as the title character , Yojimbo ( English translation : Bodyguard ) . This man can be bought off with sake or rice , to basically do what he does best - - be physically imposing , and do away with the bad guys . Yet , he keeps his cool , even when he discovers that the couple who hired him is out to stab in the back ( I mean this as a figure of speech , of course . . . . or do I ? haha . . . . you'll just have to see the film to find out , right ? ) .
The great Japanese director , Akira Kurosawa , does a fantastic job of telling a compelling , quirky , darkly comedic and very engaging story . The jazzy , Japanese soundtrack and greatly reflects the themes and tensions in the storyline , the incidental camera work is spontaneous and teases the audience , while the actors grimace , growl and go after each other with vicious and ( at times ) reckless abandon . Fantastic . . . . . . By the way , this was the inspiration for the Spaghetti western , FISTFUL OF DOLLARS , starring Clint Eastwood . Not to be missed . . . . . . . .
020 4 Yojimbo is actually an old Japanese word , meaning bodyguard . In this movie , the main character played by Mifune was a wandering samurai who happened to come across a town that's split into two by warring factions . The winner would control the silk trade . The rest of the population lived in constant fear and as Mifune's character rested himself in an inn and listening to the ins and outs of the town , he decided that for the best interest of the town , it's best to eliminate the warring factions so that people would be able to move on with their lives . Being a samurai , his skill was very much sought after and he would try to outwit and outplayed those two parties just like in a Dutch auction . It's black comedy at its best . Watching it with my Japanese friends , they commented that the language spoken was very traditional and they even needed to resort to English subtitle to understand the movie . Whilst the movie wasn't as fast-paced as modern rendition , it's still an entertaining movie to watch . It's even more intriguing to see how much movie making has progressed over the years . As movie enthusiasts would have learnt long time ago , this movie inspired or was inspired by the Spaghetti Western . The mood of the movie , the soundtrack , the duels in high noon were always eminent . Mifune was charismatic in his gaiety , his pose and he never betrayed his well-intentioned to the town till the very end , to which the population was warmth to his goodwill and decided to reciprocate the goodwill to him . The digital technology enables the audience to enjoy the movie as it originally intended and the setup even allowed us to set the Dolby 2.0 mono version or the Dolby 5.1 version . It does make a difference to the enjoyment of the movie . Watching it made me appreciate even more the brilliance of Akira Kurosawa , of his ability to observe and display human's behaviour at their best and worst . Commendable watching .
021 4 Perhaps Kurosawa's most darkly comic , fun movie . Based very loosely on a 1929 Dashiell Hammett ( author of The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man ) novel entitled , Red Harvest , Yojimbo employs many of the same conventions . Namely , the nameless protagonist who finds himself in the supremely corrupt town , and , warned to leave , stays on to punish the guilty . Mainly for his own cynical amusement .
The Yojimbo character is the worldly anti-hero , and the only truly self-aware person in the entire movie . He sees power-hunger , avarice , and cowardice for what they are and knows all too well how to manipulate the two warring factions into destroying each other . He is a ronin , a masterless samurai . Literally translated , it means wave-man or one who has been cast adrift on the waves . No master to serve but his own need to eat , his own whim , and no devices beyond his sword and resourcefulness .
It is easy to discount the Yojimbo character as completely cynical , as a man loyal to none , who kills for the mere implementation of a plan , or for profit . But for as skewed his morality may be , I cannot agree . The Yojimbo character invariably throughout the course of the film makes moral choices , but denies all sentimentality in making them and claims ( though probably falsely ) other reasons for his actions : he frees the woman kept prisoner by the sake brewer and helps her escape with her family ( giving them the money given him by one of his yakuza bosses ) ; he spares the life of the foolish farm-boy who ran away to be a gambler only to cry for his mother at his first brush with death ; and upon hearing the news that the inn-keeper ( his only ally up to this point ) has been imprisoned , he nearly rushes off to face down the dangerous and gunslinging Tatsuya Nakadai and co . , armed with only a small knife .
It is as if he views normal people differently . As if the samurai and yakuza are classes of people , like himself , who have accepted this violent way of life . That , having made that choice , anything that comes their way - - including death or dismemberment - - should not be a surprise or thought twice about . Toshiro Mifune's character may kill an evil man for amusement or for his own end , but he would not harm or rob an innocent man or debauch an innocent woman . He may be a hungry dog , following the smell of blood , but it is not the blood of honest people .
In The Dain Curse , another of Dashiell Hammett's books about the character from Red Harvest ( known in several books and two dozen short stories as only the Continental Op - - an operative for the Continental Detective Agency ) , the nameless man is told , smilingly , by the book's heroine that he is a monster . . . but a nice one , and good to have around when things are dark . I think that very much sums up the Yojimbo character as well , and also about how the character sees himself .
Some critic in a review I read wrote that Tarantino does not make movies about violence so much as he makes movies about violent people , and their lives and thoughts and beliefs . I would say that Yojimbo and its excellent , hilarious , and insightful sequel Sanjuro certainly fall into that category .
I think that Yojimbo is often written off by pseudo-intellectuals as Kurosawa's foray into popcorn cinema , but I couldn't disagree more . I believe that this favorite movie of mine was Kurosawa's expression of the philosophy of Action , of Confrontation , of a 1960s jaded-but-not-corrupted Good versus Evil .
Also , I would like to add , it has one of the BEST musical hero's themes in all of cinema .
022 4 Yojimbo is great entertainment . What's not to like about this rootless ronin , wandering . . who knows where ? I love the opening scene with Toshiro's mighty back , his face toward the mountain . How oddly Paramount-ish the film is . . anybody remember the Indiana Jones scene with Indy's back . . . Indy looking at the mountain . Spielberg said that , as a kid , he used his own crayola version of the mountain logo ( Spielberg means play-mountain in German ) .
We know how much he and Lucas loved Kurasawa films . . they point to the Hidden Fortress , but , heck , what about Yojimbo ? Oh , I think they took a page from Kuraswa's notebook , don't you ? Check the two scenes against one another . You'll see .
Yeah , It's influential . I won't go into the American Westerns influenced by the film . Let's say this : It's fabulous dark entertainment , and , after viewing other Kurasawa films , perhaps Yojimbo gains a certain depth . One recognizes characters from other films . . it's like seeing family members in a whole new light with new skills that surprise you , make you respect them . Ok . Maybe not Toshiro Mifune . He's always cool . I always love him . He's always compelling to watch , even when he isn't really doing anything . There's always the potential for action that thrills .
Hey , and what cooler scene in any movie than the dog walking down the street with a human hand in its mouth , then the pan to Mifune , and his reaction ?
Absolutely priceless .
023 4 Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo is a not too long , not too short action film that uses its action with just the right touches of voracity and excitement , and in the backdrop is also a sense of humor to the process . If I had to reccomend a Kurosawa film to someone who's never seen one before ( and might be impatient to sit through the 3 1 / 2 hour Seven Samurai ) , I'd put this one in their hands to enjoy .
Kurosawa regular Toshiro Mifune is terrific as Sanjuro Kuwabatake , a drifter of a samurai who stumbles upon a town with an assorted cast of characters , with a split between two gangs . One of the gangsters , Unosuke ( Nakadai ) , is the only one in town , it seems , with a gun . At first Sanjuro plays each side , but when he gets beaten roughly by whom he was protecting , he realizes the fun's over , and it's time to fight back .
Much has been made about how Sergio Leone took Kurosawa's story and characters ( most inparticular being a rogue from out of town ) and made them into his breakthrough Fistful of Dollars - Kurosawa even sued Leone over the story rights . But to those who wonder whether Yojimbo is ' better ' than Fistful or vice versa need to remember one of two things - Kurosawa took the story from Dashiell Hammett's gangster novel Red Desert , so neither filmmaker is making something really original ; and that since each film is made in a different contintent , and with the slightest different sensibilities about its characters ( for one thing in Yojimbo guns are scarcer than in Fistful , and there's a treatment Kurosawa has with his actors that sets it apart from the small town western scope of Leone's weapons and actors ) , so each film carries its own kind of style while working in a similar structure . In other words , it's like apples and oranges picked in the same farm ( if that makes at all sense ) .
Overall , Yojimbo on its own is a lean , terrific Japanese crime / action film , helmed by a master , and featuring a number of highlights to look forard to on multiple viewings . Some of those include : the scene inside Seibei's brothel ( with the women dancing and singing ) , Masaru Sato's wonderful musical orchestrations , Mifune's curiously soft spoken and rough performance , and a climax that is up there with one of Kurosawa's finest battles .
. . . as for the DVD , I have a bone to pick with the Criterion people - this is NOT a high quality transfer . When watching this film I kept on getting a little annoyed by the scratch marks , and by a white line that kept on dancing itself in the middle of the screen during important scenes . I know it's probably an old print ( it's 42 years old ) , but it's a pale comparison to the work that was done on the Seven Samurai and Rashomon transfers . And the lack of special features is also a downer . I'd say buy it , though with aprehension as to whether or not they might come out with another , better edition ( fingers crossed ) .
024 4 This is the film on which FISTFULL OF DOLLARS and LAST MAN STANDING were based . Although I love both of the remakes , the original still kicks their collective butts ! Mifune plays Sanjuro a down-on-his luck master swordsman who happens to get falling-down drunk in a town where two clans are battling for supremacy . When he comes to , he realizes that there's easy drinking money to be made by playing one side off against the other as a bodyguard ( yojimbo ) . He starts off hustling both sides , but gets personally involved when he realizes that one of the clans has enslaved a young woman by threatening her husband and son . When he's discovered helping her , he's almost killed . ALMOST killing him is the last mistake EITHER of the clans make ! This is my favorite Kurosawa movie , and contains one of my favorite dialogue exchanges : Bad Guy : You'll just have to kill me ! Sanjuro : It'll hurt . . . [ SLICE ] It's multi-layered , brilliantly acted and wonderfully executed by Kurosawa . If I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life , it might be this one , because EVERY TIME I watch it I catch some nuance that I missed before .
025 4 Akira Kurosawa is probably one of the best directors in cinema history . This movie is one of my personal favorites . The movie takes place in Japan in the 1860s when the Tokugawa shogunite fell and the samurai had been freed from their duty . Yojimbo , the bodyguard comes to a small village by chance of throwing a stick which led him to a town with gambling , brothels , and death which is seperated by controlled by two opposing gangs . He decides to stay plotting the gangs against each other , and to end the corruption . Great flick ! ! A must for Akira Kurosawa fans .
026 4 I myself am one with those who wonder how on earth this Criterion version of Yojimbo ended up having that huge , ugly scratch mark on the print . It just stops me from giving it a full 5 - star mark .
But that aside , this DVD is still a great DVD . It's actually my favorite among the Kurosawa-Mifune movies , simply because it is so much fun . the Mifune swagger , perfectly timed with the catchy beat of the soundtrack , is unforgettable . his huge confidence , his arms still drawn in , his shirt sleeves hanging limp and empty while his enemies menacingly surround him , is almost too funny . The lines I like the most come from the coffins chapter , where Mifune tells the wannabes you have such cute faces , then proceeds to tear through them with ease , then with typical panache , tells the cooper ( coffin maker ) to make two coffins , no , make that three . I don't think I have seen any Hollywood actor , except perhaps the young Paul Newman , act so cool under stress . Even Clint Eastwood's turn in A Fistful of Dollars pales in comparison .
Then of course , the twists and turns as he manipulates both gangs . Even the way he mocks the boss ' wife by calling himself a nobody , taking the name of some vegetable he saw in the garden through the window .
Then his low moments . The way he recovers his strength , the way he prepares to neutralize the enemy's pistol by mastering knife-throwing . You'd think he doesn't stand a chance , until it happens . Those harrowing death scenes . And finally , the sight of Yojimbo leaving town , arms drawn in , sleeves empty and limp on his sides , swaggering to the beat of the soundtrack as the movie ends .
It's worth it . And you can always trade-in that crappy Last Man Standing to pay off some of the cost of Yojimbo . It's a trade I would make anytime .
027 4 Very simple . This movie is absolutely the best thing to ever be filmed . Ever . Toshiro Mifune acts his role , Kuwabatake Sanjuro , with a diamond edge . Sanjuro is easily the apex of mental Human evolution . If you havent ' seen this movie , you know what your problem has been for the last 39 years .
028 4 I purchased Yojimbo ( on DVD ) shortly after stumbling across my first Kurosawa film - Sanjuro - late one night on TV . To call Yojimbo a masterpiece would simply tread well-trampled ground . My jaw was hanging in astonishment throughout most of this film . There's tons of humor subtly tucked away throughout , explosive action sequences , and one of the coolest crime-jazz theme songs I've ever heard . The bad guys are ridiculously - yet perfectly - overblown , both physically and in their mannerisms . I realized with astonishment that Japanese Anime and Manga must owe a huge debt to this film . The short , bizarre sequence with dancing Geisha girls left me absolutely floored . It's one thing to call a director genius , but Kurosawa's more than that : he's downright hip . Yojimbo is proof of this . And it's so effortless to watch , you often don't realize the genius happening right under your nose . I had to pause the film several times to think about what he had just made look so easy .
The print is absolutely glorious . When the sleeve notes call it a luminous transfer , they're not kidding . A couple of jumpy splices , but I'll gladly forgive these . The transfer does total justice to Yojimbo's brilliant photography .
029 4 It's black and white , it has subtitles , and it's old ; but it was so ahead of its time that it really is as good or better than every gritty , macho film made since .
Mifune fills first and best a role similar to that played by Alan Ladd so well in ' Shane ' and by Arnold Schwartzenegger in the white-knuckled treat ' Terminator II . '
The character Yojimbo , though a swordsman / ronin in feudal Japan , is really the classic twentieth century action hero - - having a sense of humor , low-key self confidence , a concern for the powerless , and an ability to be suddenly and relentlessly lethal when circumstances require .
It is one of the world's ten best films of all time , and is especially a treat for action film buffs that do not mind a little character development in their films . ( Sequel : the also excellent ' Sanjuro ' with Mifune )
030 4 I mean the technological revolution ; super special effects and surround sound etc . If you want your action / adventure straight-up , with simple , but brilliant , black and white cinematography that doesn't move as much as dances across the screen , a music score that brings you to the edge , not only of your seat , but to the very threshold of the story , a director at the peak of his considerable creative powers and a STAR that defines macho without effort or histrionics , then this is the only film from where to start or finish . . . . because it is the epitomy of the genre ' . Throw in the intelligence inherent in the script and storyline ( adults communicating with adults ) and the irony embodied therein and you have one of the great movies ever . It is clever , it is exciting and it is informative . How ? We are able to observe a man who is all we could hope to be ( and rarely are ) and see how he handles a dicey situation that would intimidate a lesser creature ( ourselves ) . He makes it look easy . And he uses his brain . Hey , we could do that ! Because Kurosawa and Mifune did , maybe we can . Or at least believe that it could be done . The result would be good over evil , peace in lieu of disruption , and a sense of the power within us all to control to some degree the events around us . This is not bad stuff to contemplate and aspire to . Kurosawa leads us to it , Mifune makes it delicious and we drink it in . Salute .
031 4 Seven Samurai is Akira Kurosawa's greatest film , without a doubt , but this film ( and its sequel , Sanjuro ) run it a very close second . With its American Western-inspired themes and tongue-in-cheek sense of dark humor ( such as the dog running by with the human hand in its mouth , or the big Ted Cassidy-lookalike with the giant hammer who keeps popping up ) , Yojimbo is a genuinely great movie-watching experience . Kurosawa takes a simple concept - - rival clans of gamblers at war - - and runs with it , turning the story of his nameless samurai into an exquisite blending of action and image . There are moments in this film which fairly burn themselves into your memory , so stark and astonishing are they . . . Mifune , sitting on a watchtower , looking on with delight as the two clans , thanks to his machinations , prepare somewhat dubiously to slaughter one another . . . the all-too-brief reunion between a mother and her child and husband , through the bars of the restaurant wall , as Mifune looks on in mingled horror and disgust . . . Mifune , recovering from injuries inflicted on him by the gamblers in a lonely shack , tossing a knife over and over again at a windblown leaf - - and scoring a direct hit each time . These are just a few of the memorable scenes in Kurosawa's remarkable film . I spoke of humor before - - as you can see from the above descriptions , there is also pathos here , and beauty , and terror , and a human compassion , and half a dozen other things , which are all the things that make people people - - which fact Kurosawa , more than any other director , recognizes and executes fully . This is true of all his films , but never moreso than for this one . Life is both funny and tragic , sometimes both at the same time , and the best dramatists and filmmakers can use this to tremendous effect . Kurosawa especially is not wanton with his audience in this regard , as other directors have been - - his use of this technique is so subtle , in fact , that you may not even notice it . Of course , this is also due to the fact that so much of your attention is drawn to Toshiro Mifune , no doubt the greatest Japanese actor who ever lived , as the nameless ( though not heartless ) samurai around whom the story revolves . Unlike his brilliant , wildman , force-of-nature performance as Kikuchiyo in Seven Samurai , Mifune here is reserved , quiet , studious , even stoic to a certain degree . He speaks little and moves very economically - - his most noticeable gestures being the scratching of his chin as he thinks , and the hitching back of his shoulders as he walks - - yet the eye is drawn to him , almost helplessly , in every scene he's in . Part of this is due to Mifune's considerable charisma and onscreen magnetism . But a lot of it is also because of his sensitive , layered portrayal of his character - - it's not for nothing he won the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival for this role , you know . Think about it ; when you watch Yojimbo , keep your eye on Mifune . Not much going on there at first glance , right ? But look again - - watch his eyes , that steely gaze , the flinty and cooly calculating look which suggests that there is far more to this man than a first glance would reveal . Sure enough , as the movie goes on , this idea is proven correct . We are shown a man of astonishing depth , incredible strength , and considerable heart . When he speaks , he speaks volumes with just a few words . When he acts , when he draws his sword , it's as if a whirlwind has just been unleashed , Mifune at its center , and all others destroyed in its path . . . save for one young man , whom we meet both near the film's beginning and its end , and who provides the film with one of its best moments of catharsis . All in all , Yojimbo is one of the greatest films ever made , by a man whose list of great films dwarfs all others . Kurosawa is not just influential , he is essential . FINAL NOTE : Of course , this film is famous for being the inspiration for A Fistfull of Dollars ( made without Kurosawa's permission , and he won a large judgment against the producers for it , too ! ) , which defined the so-called Spaghetti Western genre ( which is overrated in the extreme ) , and launched Clint Eastwood's film career ( a man who is definitely not overrated ) . I can't help but wonder how different Clint's career would have been if this film had never been made . Ah , well - - just something to think about . Have fun - - Phrodoe .
032 4 Movie
Youjimbou - 5.0
As long as I've been in to movies , I admit I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to classics . At this moment , I haven't seen any of the Godfather movies yet , only 3 of Scorsese's , 2 of Kubrick's , and 1 of Kurosawa's . It's sad , I know . But I can say I've at least seen another Kurosawa masterpiece in Youjimbou , now . I first saw Seven Samurai after possessing the 3 - disc Criterion Collector's Edition for about half a year until I finally decided to open it last summer . And a big part of its epic nature , I thought , was due to one Toshirou Mifune's presence in the role of Kikuchiyo . Knowing only of Mifune and his career through readings , I can see why he's heralded as the iconic samurai figure . Youjimbou has so many elements that , despite almost 50 years , still stand strong to this day and serve as a great influence on many other superseding films . To me , it's enjoyable because of 3 major factors : the screenplay and its ability to tell a riveting story about transition ( well-explained in the commentary ) , the ever-lasting battle of good versus evil ( apparent by Sanjuurou's character ) , and of course , Sanjuurou himself as a character . Mifune shows an insurmountable level of charisma and screen presence when playing the lead . I thought he was cool enough in Seven Samurai , but here ? Given the scope of the story , his character's sly personality , and good intentions , I'd probably have to say this is the epitome of maybe . . the ultimate anti-hero ? Well , whatever I decide to call his character type , the movie is extremely entertaining , regardless , thanks in large part to Mifune's acting ability and craft .
Sanjuurou - 4.5
Alright , my third Kurosawa film ! Here we have the continuing adventures of Sanjuurou in the self-titled movie , which amply reflects a good majority of the elements that made Youjimbou so successful . We're essentially presented with the same mix of comedy and drama ( albeit , of a lighter nature ) , tantalizing swordplay ( much bloodier ) , and a still very appealing protagonist , though not quite to the magnitude of its predecessor . However , what Sanjuurou lacks in overall bravado , it makes up for in some great character development and complexity . After listening to the very insightful commentary , I found that a lot of the elements in this movie helped to fill some of the character gaps and actually compliment Sanjuurou to make him a more complete person . Furthermore , the screenplay also differentiates itself from the previous film with the whole unsheathed sword analogy and its message on the brutality of violence , as opposed to its necessity in the former , and its focus on traditionalism , as opposed to Youjimbou's take on modernism . Instead of glorifying the bloodshed we were led to believe as a necessary , almost obligatory , catalyst for change in the first film , we learn here that even if killing is required , living with it is the hardest part of all . We're also exposed to the softer side of Sanjuurou here , as seen in his interactions with the rebel samurai . His brash and eccentric nature has always been a part of his charisma , though we get to see him display a little more compassion , maybe even a kind of paternal instinct for those young men . This complimentary piece to the tale of Sanjuurou is much more light-hearted , but at the same time adds a more intimate and subtle look to the man .
Video
Youjimbou - 5.0
This is the first Criterion BD I've seen with black and white , and it looks absolutely fantastic for its age . Of course , this also the first time and first version of the film I'd ever seen , but regardless , I never thought b & w could look so crisp . Contrast reveals an amazing amount of facial features in closeup shots and black levels give the picture a great deal of depth and dimensionality . Grain levels are constant , especially in night shots , but artifacts or debris are barely noticeable , giving the movie a very film-like presentation . Detail and sharpness are excellent as well , showing all of the tiny wrinkles , lines , and shadows within the picture . What surprises me the most , though , is the fluidity of the camera-work and overall smoothness of cinematography . Criterion has done a stupendous job here , and I'm eager to see what Seven Samurai will eventually look like .
Sanjuurou - 4.5
The video isn't quite as striking as it is for Youjimbou , but Sanjuurou still looks relatively good . Contrast , black levels , and overall sharpness show about the same level of excellence as its predecessor , though it does have a few moments of inconsistency . Images appear fuzzy , contrast or blacks are too high / low , and some shots even show instances of film damage , but only on occasion . Facial features and object detail still look amazing for a movie filmed in b & w , and I was particularly surprised at some of the shadow delineation in some of the night scenes .
Audio
Youjimbou - 4.5
The 3.0 DTS-HD Japanese track presents itself with a good deal of immersion as well . Something I find very cool about these old Kurosawa samurai movies is the way the musical scores really embrace the audience into the action on-screen . Dialogue stays true and clear on the center channel , with the sound effects and mythic score by Masaru Satou emanating from the front sides . By today's standards , it's nothing to write home about . But given the limitations of the times and the degree of remastering done , it's still as amazing as the equally affluent video transfer . Perhaps a 4.0 or .1 upgrade could've made this reference for a vintage title ?
Sanjuurou - 4.5
While the video transfer isn't as good , the audio is . The 3.0 DTS-HD track offers a clear and presentable effort with no loss of quality in the dialogue , music , or sound effects . Ambiance is as good as its predecessor with center and front side speakers engaging in their respective elements . Of special note , there are more instances of sword slash and flesh-cut noises as opposed to the wind effects and emphasis of the score in the previous film . The running water sounds also create a more pleasant atmosphere .
Extras
Youjimbou - 4.5
Although it seems to be a rehash of what's in the DVD set , I still find the extras here to be extremely informative . The Kurosawa documentary on the making of Youjimbou has quite a bit of explanation on the writing , casting , and filming of the film itself . As spectacular as I've always found the cinematography in these movies , it was nice to actually hear how they pulled off a lot of the camera angles and visual effects . In addition , the feature commentary by Stephen Price is about as elaborate as you'll ever hear . This is the first time I've heard him , but his knowledge , attention to detail , and natural affinity for great literary analysis really adds an extra level of astonishment to the film as a true work of art . Themes , influences , personal thoughts ; everything you could possibly want is covered by this well-made commentary . The little documentary booklet , while a little shorter than I'd like for a movie of this magnitude , is a good read as well .
Sanjuurou - 4.0
More of the same as in Youjimbou : 35 - minute behind-the-scenes featurette , a very in-depth commentary by Stephen Price , and a nifty little book with essays about Kurosawa and his work . I actually found the b-t-s feature a little less interesting than Youjimbou's . It tends to focus more on the writing / acting aspects and effects departments , but not so much on the filming process itself . Some of the cinematography was nice to look at , and it would've been nice to hear about the shooting locations as well . However , the commentary makes up for it a good deal , showing that Mr . Price really knows his stuff .
Overall - 5.0
Youjimbou / Sanjuurou are both great pieces of film-making . This is the first time I've seen either , and they're only my 2nd and 3rd Kurosawa movies ever seen . Needless to say , if you like the samurai genre these are two very excellent titles , thanks in large part to the acting talent of Toshirou Mifune . With outstanding A / V presentation and a plethora of extras , Criterion Collection provides another great addition and effort in continuing Kurosawa's legacy of brilliance . Highly recommended .
033 4 Kurosawa made a powerful movie filled with memorable scenes . Much has been made of those elsewhere . But underneath , and to my surprise , most people have missed out on this , he draws a plot of a society that is falling apart , just like the life of the village is torn asunder ; the movie is as much about the destructive forces let loose by 19th century capitalism . It is this destroying of Japanese Society that is the real plot . One of the early scenes from the movie draws attention to the character forming forces that this destruction lets loose , the son is chided by his mother for not knowing how to be a good enough cheat when he protests her plot to kill Sanjuro after he has performed his duty so she can regain the gold paid to him . Kurosawa is letting us in on a major theme of Japanese society ; ( like American society portrayed in the Clint Eastwood copy ) ruthless money grubbing set against the starkly simple persona of the Samurai ; Confucian Ideals of piety , truthfulness in interpersonal dealings to maintain integrity .
For me this movie has a particularly timely motif of gambling and the oddsmaker background ( which we see as Sanjuro enters the town ) as the gambling casino known as Wall Street has likewise transformed American Society into a land of false piety . American society has perhaps always had a streak of lawlessness about two miles wide but recently certainly the gambling that goes on with billions of other people's money and the ensuing destruction of the culture , our cities and our land , has its counterpart in a smaller way in the village Kurosawa has portrayed . Japanese society , Kurosawa tells us , went on to become a mighty force of destruction , in part , because the roots of classical piety , integrity , decency , honor and valiant heroes had been killed off by the cultural and societal forces of industrialism . The woman moving the loom shuttle back and forth speaks in dreadfully calm and pained tones as she announces this theme in the first major scene of the movie . Some readers may not like this take on the movie , but inside of the juicy , fun filled , action packed frames is a deeper , meaning filled story about Japanese culture and how it was transformed as societal values were debased by the search for gold and money . So with American society as well . Which is perhaps why we like this movie so much .
The Criterion version I saw was very fine and contained many extras including a wonderful documentary about the making of the film .
034 4 Iconic and Unforgettable . Two words that can best describe YOJIMBO ( 1961 ) - - a tale of an alienated , scornful Ronin anti-hero , permanently inked into the pages of samurai history .
Arguably Kurosawa Akira's most famous film alongside with his other Jidai Geki masterpiece , Seven Samurai . ( But what about other forgotten films like Sanshiro Sugata and Stray Dog ? ) First released in 1961 , the film was a tremendous success and paved the way for other films in the samurai genre . The lead character played by Toshiro Mifune would become his most famous role and would invigorate the world of Japanese cinema with the emergence of other lone wolf swordsmen long before the blind swordsman Zatoichi started swinging his sword . Yojimbo also marks his reunion with cinematographer Miyagawa Kazuo ; together the two had awed western audiences with their other masterpiece called Rashomon in the 1950 ` s . Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo is also the inspiration for Sergio Leone's Fistful of Dollars and other spaghetti westerns - - the Italians are forever in the debt of Japanese Jidai Geki films .
A wandering Ronin , comes across a small town where Sheido , a wealthy silk merchant who also controls a brothel and Ushitora , a rich sake brewer along with their gangs of cutthroats constantly battle for control of the town . A wimpy constable and a town mayor allows the two feuding gangs do as they want , and the townsfolk suffers from their constant fights . The wandering samurai displays his skill with a sword and it is rather obvious that the gang who secures his services would have the clear advantage . However , things wouldn't be so easy for Sheido and Ushitora , as the nameless samurai ( later known as Sanjuro Kuwabatake ) has his own agenda and plays both sides against the other .
So just what is it that makes Yojimbo so awesome ?
Well , Kurosawa and Miyagawa is a dream team of Japanese filmmaking . They both superbly complement each other's skill . The director has very meticulous set ups and Miyagawa excellently does a deep focus technique in camera work , a style where everything ( the foreground and the background ) stays in perfect focus ; thereby complementing Kurosawa's rich , complex visuals . So just how important is this ? It allowed for some very nice techniques that allowed certain subtle mini-scenes receive attention and careful exposition . This was displayed when tavern keeper Gonji ( Eijiro Tono ) gave the layout and power structures in this shabby little town by opening shutters to our wandering Sanjuro ; individuals are shown in the sub-sections of the small wooden openings . It is a very useful device in compact storytelling , and manages to say a lot of things within a few quick and simple shots . A very methodical and meticulous style that revolutionized the way films were made .
Oh , I'm not done yet .
At the beginning of the film , the character of our wandering ronin is fully fleshed out in the first few minutes of the film . We see him with his back turned , Sanjuro shrugs his shoulders and scratches his head quite a lot because he is itchy and haven't bathe in awhile . When he thinks , he pulls his hand inside his kimono sleeve and touches his chin ; a simple gesture to suggest that he is cunning , clandestine , stealthy and calculating . The move is a visual guide to his character , giving the viewer an idea as to what this unkempt samurai is all about . When Sanjuro comes to a fork on the road , he throws a stick in the air and goes to the direction where it points . A clear exposition of someone looking for purpose with no intended destination . These things are what made Kurosawa such a celebrated filmmaker , he makes you pay attention to his simple visuals and trains the viewer to read between the lines . Kurosawa had created a multi-layered lead character with so many dimensions , and I while we are almost certain that he is no defender of justice , we are privy to his own crisis of conscience .
Actor Toshiro Mifune always meshed well with Akira Kurosawa . Together they have made several unforgettable films that put them both on the map . I don't like to sound repetitive , but I always saw Mifune with a very strong charismatic presence onscreen . He has that personality that makes him own his role - - his character just attains a certain dimension that gives the character life . Mifune had taken on less than stellar roles to support himself under less efficient directors because it takes Kurosawa time to put together a film . Mifune may not have a flawless resume but don't let those films be your cause to judge his skills as an actor .
Now let's break down the film's screenplay , characters and dialogue . The kindly tavern keeper , Gonji serves as the moral center of the film as he constantly lectures our wandering samurai that killing is wrong . Sanjuro says . . in this town , I'll get paid killing and this town is full of men who are better off dead . This simple sentence gives a lot of character development to the town itself and to our anti-hero . It demonstrates that Sanjuro himself is an opportunist and may well have only come to profit out of the town's disorder . But much to his own surprise , he finds himself slowly developing compassion as he befriends Gonji and becomes enraged when he hears the plight of the Kohei and Nui . Human nature and compassion are excellently played in its screenplay however powerful and at times subtle it may appear to be .
The screenplay is just so full of dark humor that makes the film truly enjoyable . It may have a lighter tone than other chambara films by Masaki Kobayashi but keep in mind that this film deals with the dealings of the common folk - - farmers , peasants , ronins and the like . The film is full of metaphors that are excellently played at . Accompanied by the soundtrack by Masaru Sato , the film exudes a playful but percussive arrangement that fits the film's mood . The characters are given a life of their own and allowed room to develop in each frame . Tatsuya Nakadai ( Hara-Kiri , Sword of Doom ) also makes an appearance as Uno , the pistol-wielding sociopath brother of the sake merchant . This early pistol provides a cheapness to Ushitora's group , and meant as an ace in their sleeve - - why use a gun when everyone else is holding a sword ?
The film has some nicely choreographed bits of swordplay but it isn't anything too flashy or extravagant . The swordfights are quick and precise . This may not be Mifune's crowing moment in displaying his convincing display of skills with a katana but nonetheless , the fights are fun to watch . They are nothing elaborate but prove to be extensions of our protagonist and as a display of his resolve and righteous fury . In the film's final act you see the blowing sandstorm to initiate the final showdown and Kurosawa did this to further begin a somber mood ( began after Sanjuro gets beaten ) , which begins to abandon its somewhat darkly humorous pace .
Yojimbo has massive western appeal and those unfamiliar with samurai films would be well advised to check out this title first . This is a pivotal film to the samurai genre and is a great introduction to samurai films . See epics like Samurai Rebellion , Inagaki ` s Samurai Trilogy and Seven Samurai when you are ready . Yojimbo is one hell of a masterpiece that will awaken your interest in samurai films .
HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION ! [ 5 - Stars ]
Video / Audio : 2.40 anamorphic widescreen . This Black and white Criterion re-mastered high definition transfer is exceptional . The film is very clean , radiant and full of contrast . The blacks are solid but maintains a grayish tone when needed . The re-mastered 3.0 Dolby Digital track is also impressive with the subtitles being well timed and well translated .
035 4 A nameless ronin arrives at a village where two criminal factions are battling for supremacy while the peasants cower in fright . In this town I'll make a lot of money for killing , he muses , and there are a lot of people who need to be killed . Establishing a reputation as an expert fighter early on , he soon has both factions bidding for his services and takes advantage of the chaotic situation to inflict damage on both of them while surreptitiously aiding the peasants . Toshiro Mifune excels as a rogue who seems amoral on the surface , and director Akira Kurosawa demonstrates the filmmaking skill that made him a legend .
036 4 Yojimbo ( The Bodyguard ) is a samurai movie based in the detective novels of Dashiell Hammett - particularly Red Harvest . Akira Kurosawa wanted to bring the best of literature and interpret it into Japanese cinema . Its interesting that the two main influences in this process were Hammett's hard-boiled detective fiction and William Shakespeare ( Ran , Throne of Blood ) . The always-excellent Toshiro Mifune plays the nameless title character who schemes and plots of take down an entire town of gamblers and gansters . I won't recap the story , suffice to say that his plans lead into several battles and some beautifully choreographed sword fights . Yojimbo was later made ( nearly scene-for-scene ) into A Fistfull of Dollars by Sergio Leone with Clint Eastwood as The Man with No Name . Bruce Willis brought the character back to it's ganster / detective roots with the not-so-good Last Man Standing . Yojimbo is awash with cinematic violence , but the charm infused into the movie by the cynical , yet obstinately principled , hero surprised me when I first saw it . The performances of the supporting cast , as usual with Kurosawa's films , add depth and wit to each scene . For what its worth , Yojimbo has gradually become one of my favorite movies .
If you end up enjoying Yojimbo , check out The Seven Samurai , Sword of Doom , Miller's Crossing , The Maltese Falcon , and The Thin Man .
Criterion did an excellent job with their recent re-release of Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai , and they gave the same treatment to both Yojimbo & Sanjuro . A new ( and improved ) translation , commentary from Steven Price , as well as documentary film focusing on Kurosawa during the time he was making these great movies . This review is modified from my review of the Yojimbo / Sanjuro double DVD pack , each movie is great , but I'd recommend picking up both .
037 4 The name Kurosawa is good enough to recommend any movie and it was with the director in mind that I sat down to watch this movie . It is the story of a lone , out of work , samurai who wanders into a town where there is an on-going feud . He gets involved in the feud by putting himself up for hire to the highest bidder . The movie then evolves into a morality play and we find ourselves cheering for a most unusual hero . Toshiro Mifune does an excellent job in the role of the Yojimbo ; the bodyguard . He is coarse , strong , and seems to care only about himself . Nonetheless , he seems to be fighting the whole world just for the sake of the handful of innocents that inhabit the village . His strength in battle is his self-centered focus and his downfall comes as the result of his act of kindness . I'll let the viewers discover the ending of the movie for themselves .
Kurosawa's samurai movies resemble American Westerns . There is something about the independent samurai in Medieval Japan that resembles the lone-wolf gunslingers of the American West . Everyone familiar with Kurosawa knows that his Seven Samurai was remade into The Magnificent Seven . If I'm not mistaken , Yojimbo was remade into A Fistful of Dollars . Both genres enable the director to tell the story of good vs . evil through the perspective of an anti-hero ; the warrior / gunslinger . This reminds us that there is good in potentially everyone ( except those fighting against our anti-heroes ) . Thus we are all redeemable . Few are able to make this point on film as well as Akira Kurosawa .
038 4 Oh , in the first 3 minutes I knew this was going to be great . From the gloomy intro with the wonderful music playing , to the suspenseful finale , this film never lets up . Masterful directing and a clever plot is what this piece of cinema offers you . This type of film is known as a Jidaigeki western . Oh , and the swordfights don't happen until the last 45 minutes of the movie , just so you know . I recommend watching this before watching Seven Samurai . This film is known as The Bodyguard in Japan .
The movie Fistful of Dollars was a good remake of this film , so you might want to check that out after you've watched Yojimbo . But be warned - Last Man Standing was a very bad remake of Yojimbo so stay away from it . Unosuke has got to be one of the coolest villains ever . This was much better than Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon . Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai's performances are unforgettable . And in case you're wondering , Ryo means Gold coin in Japanese . And so , with a mix of action , suspense and dark comedy , Yojimbo is hands down , the best film of the ' 60 ' s .
039 4 It had been years since I have last seen Yojimbo . When I put the Criterion DVD into my player , I was enthralled by all 110 minutes . Kurosawa has made so many truly classic films , sometimes his other works are overlooked . This film , though not as good as Seven Samurai / Ran / Ikiru / Rashomon is still better then 99% of the films that have ever been made .
In short , the movie is about a lone samurai without allegiance coming to a town of comical loons . The desolate looking town is split between 2 factions , each with their own hired goons . The town is literally being torn apart by them . In walks Sanjuro to right the situation ! ? ! Toshiro Mifune is excellent as the no-name , bad mannered , shoulder-shrugging , toothpick-biting samurai . He decides to play each side against the other to start his plan of riding the town of their problem .
The film is wonderfully paced , has nice twists , solid dialogue , great acting and an overall warmness in all aspects . My only problem is not with the movie , but with the DVD . I own many Criterion DVDs and this has to be the worse in overall quality . The print quality was a letdown , surely there must be a better print that was not used .
If you are a true lover of film , then I highly recommend this film . You will not be disappointed .
thank you for your time , David
040 4 Derivative masterpiece that nonetheless spawned a derivative fistful of lesser movies . The obvious mistake to make about * Yojimbo * is to assume that it's simply a Japanese remake of a John Ford Western ; a less obvious mistake is to judge that it overturns American Western conventions . Akira spawned an entirely new subgenre here , in my judgment : the nihilist gangster picture , made palatable for American audiences decades later by the likes of Quentin Tarantino , Guy Ritchie , Martin Scorcese , and their ilk . While American movies like * White Heat * and * Scarface * ( the original , of course ) featured nihilist gangster anti-heroes , the moral tone of those pieces were thoroughly conventional and judgmental . There was a set of moral rules by which to measure the depredations of Cagney's gangsters . In * Yojimbo * , there are no rules . . . there's nothing worth fighting for except pure self-interest . . . there's no one or thing to believe in , quite possibly including the hero , a master-less wandering samurai named Sanjuro . As Sanjuro , Toshiro Mifune ( in arguably the most memorable - - if not necessarily the best - - performance of his brilliant career ) wanders into a worthless village and soon finds himself caught in petty , cowardly warfare between two gambling bosses . Correctly deeming that each gang is nothing more than bloodthirsty buffoons , our hero promptly goes about the business of destroying the whole lot , possibly because they offend his sense of good taste . ( Rather like Hannibal Lecter . Kurosawa's films just continue to echo on down , don't they ? ) The tone for the movie is set almost immediately , when Sanjuro runs across a son yelling at his father , What's the use of eating porridge ? A short , violent life for me ! . . . soon followed by the famous dog trotting happily down the village street with a severed human hand in its muzzle . ( Which is now a cliche , it's been copied so much . ) Unfortunately , the movie's nihilism is also now a cliche , done over and over by directors with all the same attitude and virtually none of the talent . I strongly urge the curious-minded to go to the source : you'll know you're in for something special from the first frames , when you see Mifune hitching his shoulders and scratching at the lice in his hair while the wonderful score , which is a weird mix of traditional Japanese tonals and jouncy beatnik jazz , propels him along . [ No extras on the DVD . . . though I personally feel that restored widescreen and sound are extras enough . It's a tiresome refrain , but once again one has to say Bravo , Criterion ! ]
041 4 The Dashiell Hammett novel in question is RED HARVEST , in which always nameless and unglamorous operative for the Continental Detective Agency ( The Continental Op ) finds himself in the middle of a thoroughly corrupt town after being summoned there on what appeared to be a routine bit of business .
YOJIMBO is similar in that Mifune's character finds himself by chance in a town breathing its last due to warring gambler factions , and sets about cleaning up the the town with his own peculiar brand of martial skill and strategy - - mostly for his own amusement and exercise of his wit .
Like the Op , he is a fairly unsavory , cynical character . But completely competent and able from years of hard experience , and possessing an understanding of how best to manipulate the simple minds that surround him by playing to their simplistic desires and fears . You get the idea that any fray these two get themselves into , they'll come out whole on the other side of .
You only get glimpses , but you come to think that Mifune's character does what he does because it is right , but is so hard-boiled he would never admit it and would berate you at the suggestion of any good faith . Much like Bogart's character in CASABLANCA denies any sentimentality , but always comes thru in the clutch . As Mifune says to a small family who kneel gratefully before him after he helps them , Don't cry ! I'll kill you if you cry ! . Also , an extremely touching sense of loyalty toward the old inn-keeper is displayed at the very end .
YOJIMBO is not one of Kurosawa's huge epics , but it is by far one of my three favorites of his films . It has the best theme music for any hero that I've heard . And the look on Mifune's face as he goes stomping off to the big showdown after the cooper has suddenly provided him with a sword is one of my favorite scenes in all of filmdom . You GOTTA see this one , and SANJURO too , if liked the first .
042 4 This is a wonderful crafted movie , which shows Mifune and Kurosawa at their best . This is one of the many films of Kurosawa , that inspired the westerngenre . Last man standing was the last obvious remake of Yojimbo , made in 1996 and starring Bruce Willis .
If you thought The seven Samurai was a good movie , but a little too long , check out Yojimbo - you won't be disappointed .
I can't wait for The hidden fortress being released , which was the main inspiration for Star Wars and once again a superb teaming of Mifune , Kurosawa and the Samuraigenre .
043 4 i have seen both the vhs and criterion dvd version of this movie , and if you have access to a dvd player , definitely pick this one up . the vhs version is great , but the criterion treatment puts the dvd version over . compared to the seven samurai criterion dvd , this disc has relatively few extras , but better chapter breaks . i would like to have seen an audio commentary ala samurai because of some of the more interesting characters ( ino the moron or the giant man , for example ) . information on who these people were and how kurosawa crafted his film would be a welcome addition to an already excellent dvd . the audio is clear as can be expected for a 40 + year old film ( and even better than many of the american films from the same time period on dvd ) , and the picture is pristine except for an annoying vertical scratch which appears for an exceedingly lengthy time ( meaning more than 60 seconds ) during the scene in which the ronin sanjuro reunites frees the woman from the six guards . all in all . . . an excellent dvd for the money ; i highly recommend yojimbo to anyone .
044 4 After having read so many positive things about the Criterion Collection , my expectations were high when I sat down to look at my very first DVD from that series : Akira Kurosawa's classic Yojimbo . I already own a copy of the VHS edition from Connoisseur Video ( sponsored by the British Film Institute ) , which is wide screen and the full 110 minute running time . But I definitely wanted the high resolution and greater durability of the DVD format . This new digital transfer was created from a 35mm composite fine-grain master said the sleeve of the DVD keep case . I was not disappointed on that score . I was however surprised to find that the DVD was made from a European distribution copy , with introductory credits in English instead of Kanji , and downright angry to find that this particular print was damaged in several places and disfigured by long vertical scratches running through several key scenes . If the people behind the Criterion Collection are aiming for the Cinephile segment , they need to do better than this ! Film lovers beware . . . .
045 4 I just saw this movie and I got to say this one of the best movies I've ever seen . This movie is supposedly the movie A Fist full of Dollars staring Clint Eastwood is based on , from what I've seen that pretty accurate . Sanjuro a charismatic anti-hero , that's often selfish , but deep down has a heart of gold ( sound familiar ) . The plot is one word DECEPTION a way to rid the town of fighting is to get both sides to destroy each other .
Every character is interesting and if not likable .
I'd give this movie a million stars , even if you hate reading subtitles check this one out .
Yojimbo - Remastered Edition ( Criterion Collection Spine #52 )
046 4 Kurosawa's YOJIMBO is a classic of the genre , and easily ranks as both my favorite Kurosawa and my favorite samurai flick . This is a must-see film !
I won't delve into the plot , for if you're familiar with A Fistful of Dollars ( which was inspired by Yojimbo ) , then you already know the story . Kurosawa masterfully tells the tale of a lone samurai warrior ( played by the excellent Toshiro Mifune ) who wanders , by chance , into a town with dueling factions and what then befalls all . The black-and-white photography works well , nicely accentuating the town's corruptness .
If you enjoy this movie , then I would strongly recommend that you also see SEVEN SAMURAI ( another Kurosawa classic and again starring the incomparable Mifune ) .
[ A quick note regarding this DVD version . . . a number of other reviewers have reported problems . I haven't had any issues , myself - - the image appears in letterbox form on my standard-format ( 4 : 3 aspect ratio ) TV . And the image quality , for me , is more than adequate ( and MUCH better than when I had first viewed Yojimbo , many many years ago , as a 16 millimeter print that had been cropped to a 4 : 3 aspect ratio ) . ]
047 4 Yesterday I saw Yojimbo ( 1961 ) , a beautiful black and white movie directed by Akira Kurosawa . From my point of view , this dvd isn't Kurosawa best movie , but it is nonetheless a film that is worthwhile watching .
This fast-paced and morally ambivalent story is set in Japan , during the second half of the nineteenth century , a period in which old social structures were destroyed , and faithful samurais where left without masters . Those samurais had to wander in search of employment , and were called ronin . Sanjuro ( Toshirô Mifune ) , the main character of Yojimbo , is one of them .
Sanjuro stumbles into a small town that happens to be divided into two warring factions . He soon realizes that those factions are fighting over control of the village , something that seems to him a good opportunity to sell his services to the higher bidder . Sanjuro has flexible standards of morality and won't have misgivings about doublecrossing his momentary allies , when he deems it convenient to earn more money . His ultimate purpose is more complex , though : Sanjuro wants to rid the town of both bands . Unfortunately , his luck and the foolishness of the two bands can only last for so long . . .
On the whole , I think that this is a very good film , that even those not normally fond of foreign movies will like . Recommended . . .
Belen Alcat
PS : Kurosawa's best movie is , in my opinion , Seven samurai .
PS2 : The plot of this film was taken in 1964 by Sergio Leone in order to make the first spaghetti Western , A fistful of dollars , starring Clint Eastwood .
048 4 After watching Akira Kurosawa's magnificent Seven Samurai , I was hungry for more . So when I received another Kurosawa classic , Yojimbo , as a birthday gift , I watched it as soon as I could .
The film is about a wandering samurai , played by Toshiro Mifune , who comes to a small town plagued by wars between two rival gangs . The samurai - who calls himself Sanjuro Kuwabatake , though he admits that it's not his true name - decides to pit the gangs each other . In doing so , he hopes to free the town from the constant battles of the two gangs .
Toshiro Mifune is , as always , spectacular . I'd say that he is without a doubt the greatest Japanese actor who ever lived . He gives another wonderful performance as a gruff , clever samurai .
Akira Kurosawa's directing is fantastic ( isn't it always ? ) . If I doubted that he was a master after watching Seven Samurai ( which I didn't ) , this would have cleared it up . He has an unrivaled talent for cinematic storytelling . Truly a brilliant director .
Another part of the film which I loved was the music . Masaru Sato's score is really perfect . It really added to my enjoyment of the film .
This movie is brilliantly directed , memorably acted , and beautifully photographed . I thought it was interesting to see how similar this really was to A Fistful of Dollars ( which was a remake of this movie ) . There really is little difference , though Yojimbo is far superior to Fistful .
Yojimbo is an outstanding film , an undisputed masterpiece , and without a doubt one of the finest films ever made . I look forward to watching more of Kurosawa's films , and I will definitely check out the sequel to this movie , Sanjuro .
049 4 Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo has inspired many directors and been remade at least twice . Sergio Leone remade it into A Fistful of Dollars and it was later remade into Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis . Starring the great Toshiro Mifune , Yojimbo is full of great Kurosawa direction , macho swagger , and Mifune's unmistakenly anti-hero cool . Fans of Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name films need to make room to worship at the Alter of Mifune . Plotwise , it is not one of Kurosawa's finest films ( in my opinion ) but for sheer fun and coolness it's right up there . Yojimbo has been released as part of the Criterion Collection . The booklet that comes with the DVD provides a decent essay on the film but is still rather skimpy . Special features include a vintage theatrical trailer .
050 4 This review is from :
Yojimbo [ VHS ] ( VHS Tape )
Kurosawa follows a simple story of a lone free-lance samurai ( Mifune ) who arrives in a town and is informed of the destruction that is caused by the war between two clans of ruthless gamblers . Then he decides to play the game in his own rules and annihilate the thugs through cunning and deception . Along the way , the brave samurai does not avoid a few harrowing moments where he nears death , but his excellent mastery of the sword , his quick thinking and his superior morality triumphs in the end . It is a tradional japanese film which does not have many battle scenes , or fantastically choreographed swordplay but very good acting .
051 4 Kurosawa follows a simple story of a lone free-lance samurai ( Mifune ) who arrives in a town and is informed of the destruction that is caused by the war between two clans of ruthless gamblers . Then he decides to play the game in his own rules and annihilate the thugs through cunning and deception . Along the way , the brave samurai does not avoid a few harrowing moments where he nears death , but his excellent mastery of the sword , his quick thinking and his superior morality triumphs in the end . It is a tradional japanese film which does not have many battle scenes , or fantastically choreographed swordplay but very good acting .
052 4 This Eastern Translation of Wild West Lore inspired Sergio Leonne to make the first Spagetti Western , A Fist Full Of Dollars . Viewing the two side by side is a real hoot ! Thanks so much for making this available .
053 4 This is a much tighter , sharper film than The Seven Samurai , Kurosawa's more famous work . It's shorter , for one , and more seems to happen .
' You pretend to be heartless , but you're really a nice guy , ' a peasant mockingly accuses Sanjuro , the jaded expert swordsman who is the ' yojimbo ' of the title . Sanjuro seems very representative of Kurosawa's vision - although he is unhesitant in taking life , and extremely detached in regard to the large-scale web of treachery he initiates , there is an unkillable spark of humanity somewhere inside him . After dispensing of the villians , he spares one young cohort , angrily chastising him : Go home ! A long life eating rice is best !
The cast of villians is classic , showing Bond-like touches of distinction ; Sanjuro's best and most menacing adversary , acted with a Kabuki-like poise and decadence , carries a pistol . In his strangely touching death scene , he idly asks Sanjuro : You're a good person , aren't you . . . Please , could I have my gun ; I feel sort of naked without it . . . He then prepares to shoot Sanjuro , finds he doesn't have the strength , and succumbs to death almost with a sigh . My main complaint in this area is that many of the villians are killed at once , with little fanfare , which is in keeping with the way in which death is treated in the film , but still seems disappointing .
While very little is explictly humorous , Kurosawa has a way of deriving very subtle black humor from the horror of the situation itself , and the very small extent to which most people are fazed by that horror . Sanjuro's casual attitude towards death is echoed by many of the characters , and I found myself laughing more than once .
The movie's one main flaw it has in common with the Seven Samurai - although it may be shorter , it's still very long . A lot of space is taken up by unimportant conversations , which aren't redeemed by an exceptionally realistic ear for dialogue ( although this may be more striking in the original Japanese ) . Especially considering its bleak import , it doesn't seem to have earned the right to go on for so long , but it's still a very good film .
054 4 This was the first Kurosawa and Mifune movie that I've ever seen and enjoyed it right away . Mifune powerfully and also amusingly portrayed an unemployed and masterless samurai who stumbled upon a small corrupt town on the eve of war . This ronin decided to use the situation to his own advantage as well as for the good of the town . What resulted was mayhem , madness and magic . This movie abounds with comedy and will leave you satisfied to the very end .
055 4 Yojimbo is yet another Kurosawa classic , one whose international reputation has led it to be remade a number of times . No number of remakes will ever come close to the quality of this one . From the opening shots of a grubby , wandering Mifune as Sanjuro , to its downbeat ending , there's not a false note in Kurosawa's Eastern-Western . Nowadays the plot of a masterless samurai turning two warring sides of a town against each other is well known , so Yojimbo has lost a little of the impact it must have had upon its release . This in no way detracts from the quality of the film , however . Mifune is perfect as the scratching , grumbling , often bemused Sanjuro , and a fine cast is his equal . Tatsuya Nakadai is memorable as a samurai-cum-gunfighter , threatening the town with a gun he carries around like a toy . Daisuke Kato is another standout , playing the brother of one of the town leaders , with his peculiar looks and mannerisms .
Kurosawa , as usual , shows his absolute command of the medium , eliciting note-perfect performances and a stunning range of shots ; sand-swept streets and spying neighbours abound . He maintains the dark - and blackly humourous - tone of the film consistent throughout . The memorable scene of Sanjuro's entrance to the town as a dog goes by with a severed hand in its mouth is both hilarious and disturbing at the same time .
Criterion's release of Yojimbo is much better than their subsequent Sanjuro effort . The picture here is crisp and the subtitles are good for the most part . Yojimbo is easily one of Kurosawa's best films ( and that's saying a lot , in a back catalogue of mostly excellent films ) . If you haven't seen it , buy it . If you have bought it , watch it again !
056 4 While this great movie has been a pattern for American Westerns it is itself an American Western translated into Japanese . It is so great that it was made into A Fistful of Dollars and , more recently , a Bruce Willis movie . This movie is even set in 1860 , has all the wind and dust blowing around , a one street , wooden building town being held prisoner by two warring and corrupt factions . And it stars the incomparable Toshiro Mifune . What more could you want ? Well , maybe that the widescreen was just a tad wider so we could have seen the WHOLE movie . But it is still pretty good . Just don't expect a completely pristine and digitally restored print . But this is pretty good .
This is a great story full of interesting twists and turns with lots of villains who need to be forcefully exited from the story . There are some wonderfully memorable figures such as the idiot brother of one of the bosses , the huge muscleman ( think the Jaws character in the Bond films ) , the protective old man who distrusts everyone , dislikes the samurai , but comes to be his savior , the wife and madam of one of the bosses who really runs the boss and is hated by everyone , but she can't seem to grasp why .
As the story begins , The Samurai With No Name throws a stick into the air and it lands pointing down a road . Without knowing what awaits him , he heads down the road into this story . When he gets into town he in turn meets the soldiers of each of the bosses .
Mifune's character decides to pit them against each other in order to clean up the town . He is able to manipulate both sides quite well until a side incident arises that he involves himself in and ends up getting his manipulations found out . The samurai is nearly killed , but of course finds a way to make a desperate escape to set up the final showdown . All of this is extremely well done and wonderfully involved and at a certain point you don't care which clan is winning because you want both of them to lose and be utterly destroyed .
This has been a very influential film and it deserves to be . I am glad Criterion has made this film more widely available so we can know and appreciate the original rather than just seeing it second hand through the remakes .
057 4 Yojimbo means bodyguard . Sanjuro is a poor masterless Samurai . He wanders into a town that has two groups fighting each other for control over the territory . When they see Sanjuro's skill at fighting they all want him on their side . Sanjuro realizing how evil and annoying both side is , he very cleverly plays tricks on them , switching sides behind their backs , and taking advantage of them . Soon though he is caught betraying one side , and they beat him up and imprison him . But he still is clever and escapes . Now the fight is on . This film has the best direction and acting you can get . The story is entertaining , humorous , suspenseful , and tragic . The dialog is very witty . There is not much action though . Also , don't expect much intellectual concerns , or moral stands as is present in other Kurorsawa films . This is not Kurosawa's best film , but it is still a classic , and I highly recommend this to fans of Japanese or Samurai films , and anyone who appreciates world cinema . This film also has a sequel simply called Sanjuro , as well as a couple western remakes . 5 stars .
058 4 This is the most easy to digest of all the Kurosawa samurai movies I've seen - better than its sequel ( but what isn't ) , shorter than Seven Samurai , and less cheesy than the Hidden Fortress . Toshiro Mifune in this film reminded me a bit of Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven - characters that are both good and bad , but you root for them anyway BECAUSE they're both good and bad , and thus so believable as characters . Simple but great plot , and the cinematography is of the usual Kurosawa masterpiece quality . Don't miss this .
059 4 For many Seven Samurai might have been Kurosawa's best movie , but Yojimbo isn't too far behind . This movie is crafty and funny . Not happy funny , but more dark funny . Mifune is a trip to watch in this film . Even more delightful than in Seven Samurai . It's hilarious how his character ( Sanjuro ) masterfully manipulates the two warring factions into destroying each other . His plans were going all well until . . . . . well I can't give the story away , you'll just have to buy the Dvd and watch it . But if you buy the movie and watch it , never take your eye off Mifune . Look at his face , the ways how is eyes move up and down , the startled look he'll give sometimes or the look of contemplation as he devices his foxy and cunning schemes . Mifune is a brilliant actor and plays the silent ( or laid back ) role quite well . Better than any other actor I've seen . Even Clint Eastwood . Mifune was Eastwood before Eastwood was even Easstwood .
Yojimbo gets 5 stars .
060 4 If you are a favorite of korusawa this is a must . This film as others such as 7 Samurais are the basic for the famous spagettiwesterns that made Clint Eastwood famous . The coresponding Eastwood film to Yojimbo is an exact copy . I do beleive however that Korusawa in his black and white captures the people and details few other directors can match.Get it ! !
061 4 After seeing this movie it amazes me that it predated so many of the westerns that we so love and think about . So much of the imagery that I associate with westerns ( ie : showdowns , posses , drawing at high-noon ) is present in this film . If this movie had never been remade into Fistfull Of Dollars it would have been an incredible shame because I know that this movie ( or maybe 7 Samurai ) was what introduced many , many people to the amazing world of foreign and / or Japanese films . After seeing this , it's no wonder at all to me that so many filmakers and writers cite Akira Kurosawa as a huge influence on their development . This movie , more than any other before it really solidified in my mind the concept of The Anti-hero . Toshiro Mifune once again re-invents himself as a Samurai and manages to string you along on his journey as a Samurai truly intent on having his way with the people of this town . A masterpiece .
062 4 This is one of my all-time favorite films . In plain and simple terms , it's just one of the best adventure yarns ever to see the screen . Kurosawa was masterful in his direction , and Mifune and his co-stars give flawless performances . Far better than the creditable remake by Eastwood and company . I never get tired of watching YOJIMBO , and highly recommend it to any true film fan . This Criterion disk is up to their usual very high standards . Do yourself a favor and nab this baby for your dvd collection .
063 4 This is one of the better movies I've seen in a long time . Yojimbo ( the Bodyguard ) is about an out of work samurai at the end of the Tokugawa period .
The opening scene is fantastic . You get the hero striding down dusty roads with a certain apathetic cockiness . You don't see his face for several minutes in the beginning ; there's just this great swaggering music with over the shoulder camera shots . I knew within the first three minutes this was going to be great . The main character ( who refuses to give his name , and uses an alias that translates to Mulberry Field as its what he sees looking out the window when he's asked his name ) is enigmatic , laid back , and not feeling a sense of urgency about anything . He has a bizarre sense of morality , wishing to rid the town of evildoers ( by way of killing though . ) He accomplishes this by being his own man , playing the weaknesses and insecurities of the two warring sides against one another , using his wits and wielding a mighty quick blade .
The acting is magnificent ; I just couldn't believe how good it was . Acting this is good is rarely seen these days .
In addition to the comedic elements the movie is also unpredictable . There are countless scenes were you don't know the bodyguard's fate .
This was my first Kurosawa film , but it definitely won't be my last .
064 4 Lone swordsman Sanjuro travels the Japanese countryside in the late 1800 ' s . He comes upon a small town where two clans fight each other for power . Both clans decide that hiring Sanjuro to fight for their side could mean that they are victorious . The cynical but just Sanjuro uses this to play out the two clans against each other , creating confusion with every move . When he discovers that one of the clans hold a family hostage
Main character Sanjuro is portrayed by the fantastic Toshiro Mifune . His minimalist approach to acting is second to none . Just like Takeshi Beat Kitano , he is able to say more with the raising of an eyebrow than most actors do with a thousand words .
It is also a humorous film . Not humorous in the South Park way , but rather a dark sense of humour . Moments like when a grateful family that Sanjuro has rescued kneels before him and he shouts Don't cry , I'll kill you if you cry ! are funny , and there are plenty of these short , humorous moments .
This movie has been remade two times : first out was A Fistful of Dollars , which was OK , but nowhere near as good as the original . Then came Last Man Standing which is nothing short of sacrilege . Imagine Beavis and Butthead making a version of Stanley Kubrick's 2001 - A Space Odyssey and you'll get an idea of how bad it really is .
065 4 Yojimbo , meaning ' bodyguard ' in japanese , is the tale of a wandering Ronin ( played by the back-stretching Toshiro Mifune ) , who comes across a small town with a big problem . Two warring families have divided the settlement right down the middle and anyone who is not in with one of the gangs , is in for some trouble . That is until Sanjuro ( Mifune ) , turns up with a few ideas of his own . The first minute of the film I like especially . It shows Sanjuro tossing a stick in the air , waiting for it to land on the dusty ground in front of him to decide which way he should keep on walking ; very good . It shows us just how masterless this man is , not even master of himself , he leaves his decisions to fate and destiny .
Sanjuro shows up in town and quickly demonstrates his sword-wielding prowess in a street brawl ( of sorts ) , which prompts the two rival families to bid for his services . But Sanjuro is crafty , and , knowing he can survive on his razor-sharp cunning , not to mention his razor-sharp sword , he plays both gangs against each other . This is where things start to get entertaining . . . You will love Mifune's beard scratching , shoulder-blade rolling antics , and no doubt this film will spark an interest in Kurosawa's work . He also made ' The Seven Samurai ' and ' Sanjuro ' , amongst others . This film was later remade as the Western ' A Fistful of Dollars ' , with Clint ( and even later as ' Last Man Standing ' ) , and ' The 7 Samurai ' as ' The Magnificent Seven ' . And that is essentially what ' Yojimbo ' is , an Eastern-Western , totally original in its plot , using swords instead of guns , and Japanese Samurai culture instead of the American West . Highly entertaining , interesting and humorous , well worth a look for anybody , especially fans of Kurosawa's work .
066 4 Fistful of Dollars is the remake of Yojimbo . . . from the halfway point on , it is an almost scene for scene remake .
Each complements the other very well and I'd recommend watching them back to back .
As for that other remake of Yojimbo , Last Man Standing . . . well , don't bother with it .
067 4 From the time that a stick is tossed at the fork in the road in the beginning , to its climax , this movie has the subtle pleasures of humor and irony . The greed of both sides is played to the upmost with the great Toshiro Mifune in the middle stirring up the trouble , saving the village and hopefully his own neck .
068 4 Sure , because everyone is dead ! This movie was way ahead of its time with its amoral , cynical worldview . It's amazing to see this after The Seven Samurai . For one thing , I now realize why Tishuro Mifune is considered such an amazing actor . This character is absolutely nothing like his Seven Samurai character , but he plays both brilliantly .
I also love how Kurosawa suggests samurai are only as good or bad as the times they live in . In fuedal society , they were loyal policeman who served and protected village farmers even when there was no material reward . In the collapsed society of 1860 Japan , they serve and protect no one but themselves . And rather than prevent massacres like the seven samurai , they cause them . Kurosawa wants us to see that if Mofune hadn't ignited them , they would have been too cowardly to ever kill each other . The aborted battle with Mofune gleefully watching over the bell tower is the perfect example : each side is terrified of the other's swords !
Of course , he isn't completely amoral . He does rescue the woman being held captive and only gets himself into trouble as a result . Earlier he said he is greedy because being a samurai is dangerous and dirty work . But up until that point in the movie , it's neither . He's more self-aware than he lets on : he knows that his samurai's life is dangerous because he is bent on protecting the innocent even when he tells himself he's only bent on auctioning himself to the highest bidder .
But for the guilty ? He happily keeps the coffin maker in business and gets paid to kill men who are better off dead .
069 4 I'll confess - I saw Leone's FIST FULL OF DOLLARS before the original YOJIMBO and enjoyed the western very much ( I own the DVD ) . However , after seeing YOJIMBO , my vision of FIST FULL has declined , shrunken slightly in the shadow of its father .
For a foreing language film , YOJIMBO is so visual and superbly made that a toddler could follow it , but it's complex and intriguing enough that an adult would want to . The story is lean and mean , and , unlike nearly every move made today , no unnecessary character and backstory junk is floating around to cloud the narrative .
Most foreign films and classics are great - for students and buffs . This one can be enjoyed by anyone . If you haven't seen it , get up right now . Get in your car . Speed to your local video rental store . Buy the movie-style microwave popcorn . Go home , and buy this thing off Amazon , because it should be in your collection . If you're so anxious that you can't wait until UPS arrives , well , I guess you shoulda thought of that before you left the video store , genius !
See this . Own it . It doesn't get much better .
070 4 Yojimbo just kicks [ butt ] . Toshiro Mifune makes Clint Eastwood look about as tough as a crying schoolgirl . Mifune's ronin is a man without so much as a shadow of fear . You can just look at this guy when he's coming at you with his samurai sword , and you know you don't stand a chance .
The great thing about the ronin is you have no idea who this guy is or where he came from . You can only guess he was a high-ranking officer , or trusted vassal of a local daimyo . But now , in the new order , he's obsolete . So he turns to the road , and improves the world by eliminating the corrupt , the greedy , and the gangster-dogs who rob the honest .
Unlike most movies these days , the bad guys in this movie are show being bad . They are dirty , cowardly , stupid pack animals who are just begging to be cut down by ronin's sword .
So , buy this movie . Or at least rent it ! If you like Westerns , you'll love this one . Even though it's an Eastern . The DVD is sparse on extras , but the English subtitles are very good and the translation is right on , much better than in previous versions .
- - JJ
071 4 Mifune , Mifune , Mifune . This guy truly makes the movie . His all too familiar take no [ bull ] attitude will resonate with American audiences . His meddling and pitting together of the forces of a small village is very believeable and will have many cringing to see if he can pull it off . His athleticim is given full voice here and one particular scene was copied and reworked into Star Wars : A New Hope . You will recognize it immediately . Truly , though the plot of this film grows steadily into a finale that will impress even today's action fans . The dark humor is beyond Elmore Leonard and the action beyond Blade minus the special effects . Many viewers of martial arts pictures expect long drawn out swordfight sequences . What they don't realize that , real Japanese sword fights last about as long as sumo matches do . Even the most advanced swordsmen have at most two chances to either dodge or counter their opponent's moves before one of them is either killed or loses a limb . kendo is designed to quickly [ terminate ] not to put on a lengthy show . This is evident here as well as in the sequel Sanjuro .
072 4 Yojimbo is both an influential film and an incredible mess . Kurosawa never finds the right balance between the comedic and violent moments in the film . The cinematography is nice , but the film is often too contained indoors . The performances from some of his usual collaborators is good , but the film just doesn't live up to it's lofty reputation . The pace of the film is slow , and you never become emotionally invovled with the charcaters to really care what happens to them . Kurosawa is a great filmmaker , and has made much better films like High and Low ( 1963 ) . And like High and Low , Kurosawa is his best when working in contemporary times .
