Customer Reviews

Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection)

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love Toshiro Mifune. It's so wonderful to see him play this character. He cracks me up every time he does his little shoulder-twitch character trait. Brilliant!

SANJURO delves a little deeper into his samurai character. There's some themes about killing and comparisons of his character to a good sword that should be sheathed. Other than that, it is flat-out adventure on the menu!

Again, Kurosawa is a wonderful story teller. I find his work (the three films I've seen so far -- HIDDEN FORTRESS, YOJIMBO, and this one) to be so economical. He can add a wrinkle to the story with one word; one look. He truly transcends the language barrier because the storytelling is so good.

I thought Criterion did another good job with the transfer. The trailer does, indeed, feature Kurosawa directing Mifune in an action sequence, which is interesting. I wish Criterion would use pictures on its chapter lists. When I want to access a certain scene and am unfamiliar with the movie it is hard to do based on chapter names that make no sense to me. Other than that, no qualms about the rest of the DVD.

Next, I'd love to see HIDDEN FORTRESS on DVD. Criterion, are you listening ?

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. While it's Kurosawa's lightest samurai movie, it's still a solid action/drama flick with plenty of comedy sprinkled in.

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, 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.

I have been enjoying classic Japanese samurai films from childhood, and I have come to appreciate them more as I grow older.

This film is a must for those of you who appreciate a wry sense of humor and non verbal expression of wit. Toshiro Mifune (Sanjuro) plays the part of a jaded, cynical, but paradoxically honorable samurai to the hilt. The nine younger samurai reminded me of lion cubs who bound and growl with bravado while not realizing that they haven't the skills to bring down a sick sheep. Toshiro Mifune is the king of the pride, who gruffly smacks them back in line with his biting sarcasm.

My favorite character, however, is the wife of the kidnapped chamberlain whom the ten are trying to rescue. Her exaggerated but believable nobility and gentle femininity cow even the deadly and hardened Mifune, making him act like a school boy who is caught picking his nose.

All in all, the brief but stunning climax at the end of the film, with it's casual anticlimax, left me chuckling and applauding Kurasawa yet again.

This is a follow-up to Kurosawa's Yojimbo. This edition is brilliant as it has been digitally remastered and that we have the option of choosing either Dolby 2.1 or Dolby 5.1 for the sound. At last, we get to enjoy this classic masterpiece at its best. Mifune is as charismatic as always and the soundtrack helps to build up the legend that he has become as the leaderless samurai who simply called himself "Sanjuro". Yet, he steps into a difficult situation where the followers of a clan is to be annihilated. It's never been explained why he wants to assist the nine hapless and totally inexperienced samurais but he stays on to give them a helping hand to defeat another clan that's far more powerful and conniving than the earlier clan. Once again, Kurosawa thrives in bringing out to the forefront different elements of human natures. Ultimately, it's really survival of the fittest. Whilst Sanjuro is unkempt and uncultured, in the end, it's to be seen that he's really an unpolished diamond; a samurai with a heart of gold. The movie is entertaining to watch, funny at times and mostly, an anthropological study of humans at their best and worst. Once Sanjuro finishes what he sets up to do, he disappears into thin air and the person he saved admires him for being wise, for not wishing to be trapped into a clan with responsibilities but that he simply can be a free man. An absolute must if you are a Kurosawa's fan. Simply mesmerising!

Companion piece to 1961's nihilist comedy *Yojimbo*. Not so much a sequel or prequel but rather a redux sort of thing. *Yojimbo* was a boffo hit in Japan (and drew raves from all over the world), and Kurosawa, whose quest for cinematic art never precluded showmanship, gave the audience more of what it wanted: even more action, more comedy, more Toshiro Mifune than in the previous movie. A legitimate criticism of *Sanjuro* is that it somewhat lacks the originality of *Yojimbo*, in particular the End-Of-The-World rancidity in tone, atmosphere, and characters. The liner notes in Criterion's DVD even go so far as to call this movie "sunny" (what an insult! Mifune's samurai would cut your head off if he heard you call him that). "Sunny" is not the apt adjective to describe the sudden, explosive violence in the film; the body-count is too appallingly high to laugh off. The violence here still hurts, and there's a lot more of it here than in *Yojimbo*. Kurosawa may have become weary of the whole samurai genre: a very nice patrician lady admonishes Sanjuro with "good swords stay in their sheaths"; he remembers this advice following the satirically bloody, over-the-top climax. The slice-and-dice duel between Sanjuro and his enemy is, I think, Kurosawa's way of saying, "You want violent action? I'LL give you violent action!!" Though it's designed to elicit shocked guffaws, the evident disgust with the whole samurai mindset leaves the larger impression. For that matter, the old "code of honor" is represented by 9 good-hearted samurai who also happen to be idiots. Just because there might be something worth fighting for here, unlike in *Yojimbo*, the bloody work required to ensure the victory of Good still leaves a bloody stain on the psyche. (Significantly, there was no "three-peat" in the Sanjuro series.) Considering all that, the amazing thing is how entertaining and funny *Sanjuro* remains. Of particular note is how discommoded Mifune appears whenever a pair of very civilized ladies (i.e., the antithesis of himself) show up. When the 9 good samurai keep waking Mifune up with their excited gibbering is also a classic. *Sanjuro* is a minor masterpiece fully deserving of standing alongside *Yojimbo* on your shelf.

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This film released shortly after the release of Yojimbo, has the same main character. In this film, Sanjuro withthe help of some friends eliminate corruption in his town and rescue his uncle was was jailed on trumped up charges. The film has a famous 'splatter' scene in the climax which is almost Hitchcockian because of the filmmakers use of chocloate syrup for the stage blood. (in B&W films, one cannot tell the difference anyway)

The DVD only has a theatrical trailer for a special feature, but it is still worth getting for those interested in films like this.

The great Toshiro Mifune stars as bedraggled ronin Sanjuro in Akira Kurosawa's classic "Sanjuro". Mifune, a crafty, cynical masterless samurai ambles into a feudal village and is immersed into a conflict among local clans. He sides with the clan of the local chamberlain who has been kidnapped along with his wife and daughter by the village's corrupt superintendent.

The chamberlain's nephew is a member of a group of youthful samurai alligned wih the kidnapped man. Mifune mentors the group of nine young warriors as they plot to rescue the uncle from a large force of the superintendent's men.

Mifune, an atypical portrait of a samurai nonetheless guides and schools the young warriors in their plot, displaying formidable martial arts skills. He sets himself up as an anti role model for the young men, in this way teaching them the ideals of a samurai. At the film's conclusion, he bids the group adieu, unwilling to be tied down in servitude to any particular cause or clan.

This 1963 film by Kurosawa is relatively short in comparison to his great epics, (Seven Samurai) however it certainly does not lack in depth, vision and scope, but more particularly, its obvious parody on the genre itself. Sanjuro makes fun of all the Samurai cliché's that Kurosawa made famous. In fact this is a very funny film, yet manages to retain the genre's core themes - courage, loyalty and humility.

Tushiro Mifune plays the lead role of Sanjuro, a reluctant anti-hero who lacks in basic manners, those elegant aspects of the Samurai warrior we've come to expect; constantly scratching his chest under his kimono, rubbing his beard and nose and continually yawning while saying it like it is. This character is not as extreme as his role in Seven Samurai, though they're similar. Tushiro Mifune in my opinion is one of the most intense actors on screen. Even when he's funny, you can feel that the man is tremendously dangerous.

The plot is a simple one. There's an uprising in the clan, power is shifting, and Sanjuro reluctantly helps a group of young lads rescue their aunt and the clan lord who has been kidnapped by the insurgents. These young lads continually make mistakes while Sanjuro constantly has to dig them out again. A few of these predicaments are hilarious and Mifune's devil-may-care attitude only adds to the humour.

It is a shame that Kurosawa's films are shot in black and white because there are certain scenes of the Japanese countryside that would be spectacular in colour. However the beauty of these shots are still magnificent despite the lack of colour.

This is a good picture that ranks as high as Kurosawa's best with a humorous and adept performance by Tushiro Mifune. Excellent.

Technically the translation of this movie onto DVD should have been made with a minimum of respect to the original masters. Unfortunately it didn't occur.

The original Tohovision aspect ratio is cut down to a semblance of widescreen, evident by the partial kanji lines at the edges of the movie screen in the beginning of the movie.

This may only be annoying to an afficionado and fanatic such as myself, but when you factor in the mastery over the medium that Kurosawa displayed again and again, regardless of genre, you have to feel cheated at the missing slivers of the edges.

If you've seen the movie in the theater, a good art house, with a love for the medium, you will feel unbalanced when reviewing this downsized version, although it isn't as bad as Criterion's butchering of 'Seven Samurai' which is cut down to an unviewable 1.33x1 aspect ratio.

In this movie Kurosawa and Mifune build on the character and mystery of Sanjuro, the bodyguard anti-hero of Yojimbo(Bodyguard). The standing joke with Sanjuro is his identity, which remains a mystery even after politely giving it to everyone who asks.

He helps the righteous, but inexperienced young samurai of a castle-town, who have discovered corruption within the ruling clan. The gruff, but pedagogueic, method with which he out-argues and teaches the young samurai throughout the movie, shows not only his love for justice and soft spot for people who can't help themselves, but also hints at a deeper knowledge of political intrigue and leadership than one would expect of an average samurai gone ronin.

My recommendation is to buy this criterion insult to the masters only if you haven't seen the original tohovision format, or you don't mind the snippets missing on the sides.

Further i wish that this, as well as 'Seven Samurai' and all other Toho produced movies, can be remastered in their proper format. Maybe you would be so kind as to write Criterion and give them a piece of your mind.

For further investigation into the brilliance of Toshiro Mifune and the 'Sanjuro' character I'd recommend 'Zatoichi vs. Yojimbo'

What is the line uttered by Toshiro Mifune as he looks out of the screened house into the garden of camelias? The "lady" asks him his name, he looks out into the garden and the trees overladen with flowers and says his name is.... "Camelia...30 year-old (going on 40)." Oh Toshiro! You crack me up! Self-deprecating humor is so much fun.

Mifune uses this in Yojimbo, too, this spur-of-the-moment self-invention. Who is this samurai, this ronin, anyway? Well, he surely looks sketchy enough for the kids who need his help not to trust him entirely. Confusion and hilarity ensue because of their lack of faith.

Mifune does everything you want Mifune to do: he hitches his shoulders as he walks away, he runs, "like Groucho Marx, only speedier", he scratches his beard, scratches his hairline, (the finger creeping up through the inside of the kimono..and what the heck is that, anyway? He always has his arms out of the sleeves, close to his body, the empty arms of the garment, hanging...what is that all about? It's cool, though, when he is running, then, as he slows, and approaches what will be his prey, his arms descend into the kimono sleeves, terminating in his clenched fists....I love that! ). Mifune yawns, grunts, makes rude and hilarious comments, slices and dices the bad guys, and goes through a transformative change. He's intelligent and a shrewd judge of character, this guy...so expect him to see through ruses, to know whassup..to be one step ahead of everyone else.....his only slip-up is the idiocy of the well-meaning but bumbling kids he is herding. The rest of the cast: Shimura shows up, and so do some of Kurasawa's other favorites, and it is darn good to see them, expanding their repertoire of characters.

This one is played for comedy, and is accessible, delightful, so much fun! I have the very deepest affection for this film. A moment that always pleases me to the bottom of my being is the moment when the captive celebrates with the kids, the music is loud and celebratory, and they are dancing and holding hands and laughing...then, they realize that they are too loud, and quiet down...and then they realize that the captive is out of his cupboard, and he oughtta be back in the cupboard. Just these little transitions, so charming, just LOVE IT!
The plot is exciting and fun, with actions and counter-actions, with strategy and wit, and action-packed, and tight and wonderfu, and I think your life will be made better if you watch this film. Last scene, blood spurt, goodbye, Toshiro's back? CLASSIC.