Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stupid people are dangerous, 15 Mar 2006
The sequel to Akira Kurosawa's classic "Yojimbo" is very different in tone -- rather than a straightforward grizzled-anti-hero-cleans-up-the-town tale, it's a comic story about the grizzled hero getting stuck on a ship of fools. It's a a solid action/drama flick with plenty of comedy sprinkled in -- a brilliant parody of the sort of films that Kurosawa was famed for.
A gang of idealistic young nobles are gathered in a decaying house, talking about how they are trying to battle local corruption. Suddenly a scruffy warrior (Toshirô Mifune) who calls himself Sanjûrô Tsubaki, appears and tells them who is lying and who isn't -- and that after confiding in the treacherous superintendant, they're being set up for an ambush.
After he saves their butts and drags the none-too-bright young men into hiding, he begins concocting a plan to save one young man's uncle, who is being held as a political hostage. After rescuing the lord's wife and daughter, Sanjuro and his band of fools continue with their plots to save him from the evil superintendant -- and he teaches his bumbling co-conspirators that exalted social position isn't what keeps you alive...
Kurosawa isn't known for having made goofball comedies, and as comedies go, this is a pretty subtle one. But there's a definite comic flair to this film, from the pampered prisoner offering nuggets of wisdom to the silent "happy dance" that all the young noblemen do. At the same time, there's a poignant note to Sanjuro's regrets about the men he's killed -- including men much like himself.
Even steeped in comedy, Kurosawa's creativity is still intact -- to give the feel that people are running, he shows short, rapid shots of several young men running down different streets. There are a few flaws (a lot of people get cut down without a speck of blood) but only a really determined nitpicker would let it bug them. And the finale is a shatteringly brutal scene, reminiscent of a western shoot-out, where you almost expect Sanjuro to put on a white cowboy hat and spit.
Mifune is wonderful as the grubby, grumpy samurai who is like an "unsheathed blade," and who has more brains than his little gang. He gives the character a lazy, languid air, sort of like an unexploded land mine. His followers are well-acted, though they don't have much individual personality. And small supporting roles -- like the kindly, prim noblewoman and the friendly prisoner in his little closet -- are very well-drawn.
Lurking under the comic flourishes is an intelligent film with likable characters, solid writing, and plenty of action. "Sanjuro" is as good as the film before it, though in a slightly different way.
|
|
|
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An original display of artistic talents!, 17 Oct 2004
By A Customer
Akira Kurosawa continues what can only be described as a laid back epic, where a lone Samurai, played by Mifun, again stumbles upon a matter of crisis, where he may offer his services to put things right again, for his own benefit of course. This Samurai takes money and food for his talents, and does so with side-splitting character, that leaves your eyes watering long after laughing, and this 'character' is brought to life through the amazing talents of Mifune. After a number of mistakes made by the foolish chamberlain's supporters ( A man involved in politics, who was going to rid the system of the corrupt leaders, but proved to be too ugly to gain favour, and so was kidnapped) to find and rescue him, it ends up taking the simplest of minds to prove the most tactile and reasonable, and the from experience, the Samurai can offer victory. A very engaging, well polished and entertaining watch, worthy of any DVD collection, and of course it would be, its Akira Kurosawa!
|
|
|
13 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Film, as good as Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, 1 Oct 2000
By A Customer
Mifune struts around being grizzly in yet another accomplished performance. The film shows many sides of the characters, humour not being the least. A thoroughly enjoyable tale that is well worth adding to a collection and watching time again.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
![Yojimbo [1961] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411DFJD1XFL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Toshirô Mifune
![Seven Samurai [1954] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q66BEGKQL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Toshirô Mifune
![Throne Of Blood [1957] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51THBEET5YL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Toshirô Mifune
![Hidden Fortress [1958] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KXEXCCSSL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Toshirô Mifune
![Ran [DVD] [1985]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XKJ2P%2BuQL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Tatsuya Nakadai
![Sanjuro [VHS] [1962]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51H1PJKJVZL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Yojimbo [1961] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411DFJD1XFL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Rashomon [1950] [Special Edition] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PZsI4JyYL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Seven Samurai [1954] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q66BEGKQL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Amazon Home