“Killing people is a bad habit…”
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Synopsis:
An older samurai (Toshiro Mifune) assists a group of naïve young clansmen in rescuing a kidnapped political official.
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Genres:
Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, Kurosawa’s follow-up to Yojimbo (1961) isn’t quite as masterful or well-known as its predecessor, but still has much to recommend it. It is more humorous and less cynical in its approach, and contains the valuable lessons that violence should be avoided when possible, and that strength and cunning can come in unexpected packages. Mifune is as compelling as always — he conveys more worldly wisdom in his right pinky than most other movie actors combined.
Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
- Beautiful imagery
- Plenty of unexpected humor (including Keija Kobayashi as the captured spy who hides in the closet but pops out every now and then to express his opinion)
- Toshiro Mifune’s powerful yet subtly comedic performance
Must See?
Yes. While not traditionally ranked among the top of Kurosawa’s oeuvre, it’s nonetheless critical viewing for any true film fanatic.
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Posted on July 5th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews
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