Ultimate Samurai Miyamoto Musashi [DVD] [1961] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

I've seen this series probably about 35 years ago when it was shown on a local Japanese televison station. This is an epic samurai movie series, in my opinion right up there with the Seven Samurai and anything else Akira Kurosawa or Toshiro Mifune ever did. The battle scences are awesome and the cinematography is just beautiful! They simply don't make movies like this anymore. The best comparison I can make is that this movie series has the scope and feel of something like Gone With the Wind, samurai style. Up to now, most people have only heard about or seen the Toshiro Mifune version of Miyamoto Musashi, which was called "Samurai". I've seen that version and it pales badly to this production. Kinosuke Nakamura is simply fantastic as Miyamoto Musashi and is surrounded by an excellent supporting cast.

The movies show the spiritual development of Musashi from a drifter seeking fame and fortune to finally understanding and embracing the true spirit of the samurai. The movie series builds up to the ultimate clash between Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, Musashi's arch nemesis, truly one on the best samurai confrontations ever filmed.

If you love Japanese samurai movies or just plain appreciate a well crafted and beautifully filmed movie, I highly recommend this series. I've hoped and prayed they would one day put this movie out on DVD and now my prayers are answered!! Order it by all means!

Ask an American samurai-film fan about legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi) on film, and they will probably think of Inagaki Hiroshi's Samurai Trilogy staring Mifune Toshiro. Ask the same thing to a Japanese samurai-film fan, and they will most likely think of this series, the five-film series by Uchida Tomo and staring Nakamura Kinnosuke (Portrait of Hell). Both are adaptations of Yoshikawa Eiji's famous novel Musashi, but in Japan the Uchida/Nakamura version is by far the more famous.

While I love the Mifune Toshiro, in Inagaki's trilogy it is hard to separate the actor from the role, and it is much more "Mifune as Musashi" than Nakamura's performance here. Over the five films, Nakamura develops the character of Musashi from the wild beast of his youth to the sage warrior who duels on Ganryu island. Nakamura was a kabuki actor who transferred over to film, and his acting style is more nuanced than Mifune's energetic performance.

Uchida's "Miyamoto Musashi" follows Yoshikawa's novel faithfully, from Takezo and Matahachi's survival at the Battle of Sekigahara, to Takezo returning alone to their home villiage and romance with Matahachi's fiancé Otsu. After three years of study, the wild Takezo is transformed into the educated warrior Miyamoto Musashi and sets out to test himself against the great fighters of Japan. Lurking in the background is Sasaki Kojiro, who watches Musashi's development as a sword fighter and who waits patiently for Musashi to refine his craft until the two face off at there famous duel at Ganryu Island.

This set contains all five films in Uchida's Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi - The wild youth of Takezo, who would become Musashi, and his relationship with Otsu, the former fiancé of this best friend Matahatchi, and who would be the love of Musashi's life

Duel at Hannya Hill - After devoting three years to study, Musashi's first test of his new skills is against the swordsmen of the Yoshioka Dojo and the spearmen of Hozo'in Temple.

Birth of the Nito-ryu Style - Musashi's next target is a duel with the famous sword master Yagyu Sekishusai, which leads to the creation of Musashi's renowned two-sword technique.

Duel at Ichijyo-Temple - Musashi's ongoing fued with the Yoshioka Dojo comes to a conclusion when he must face off against all seventy-three of its members.

Duel at Ganryu Island - Finally, the most famous duel in Japanese history plays out again on screen as Musashi stands against Sasaki Kojiro and his massive sword, the Drying Pole.

Animeigo has put out a beautiful collection of these five important films. (Although I have come to the conclusion that Animeigo can't help but put out a beautiful collection, because their standards are so high!). The five films are packed in space-saving slim cases, and extras include commentary by Stuart Galbraith IV (The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune) on the first film, and program notes and trailers for all films.

A mere 5 years after Toho's Samurai Trilogy on the life of Miyamoto Musashi, (staring Toshirô Mifune), finished with the 1956 Samurai III: Duel At Ganryu Island... Toei Company, their competitor, decides to do it all over again with a five part series staring Yorozuya Kinnosuke!
They're similar, but different, and both top quality programs easily worth watching... with maybe an extra star to the Toshirô Mifune version (hey, it's got Toshirô Mifune!). But at this price and a running time close to ten hours, this set is a steal! It's quality all the way! Thank-you Animeigo!