Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection)
by Akira Kurosawa
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Keiju Kobayashi, Tatsuya Nakadai, Toshirô Mifune, Yûnosuke Itô, Yûzô KayamaDirector: Akira Kurosawa
Cinematographer: Fukuzo Koizumi
Writer: Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Ryûzô Kikushima
Writer: Ryûzô Kikushima
Producer: Tomoyuki Tanaka
Writer: Hideo Oguni
Writer: Shûgorô Yamamoto
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Japanese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-09-14
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Criterion
Movie Reviews of Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection)
Movie Review: Nine Naive Samurai: And One Experienced Ronin!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Sanjuro," by Akira Kurosawa is a highly recommended film. The film is a sequel to Kurosawa's film "Yojimbo," and as usual, the late, great Toshiro Mifune shines in this off-beat and at times comical follow-up to the earlier film. I have seen this classic many times, yet never tire of the non-verbal wit of Mifune as a completely different kind of ronin. Mifune's continual warnings to the young group of samurai on what direction they should proceed with, in order to help rescue the kidnapped Chamberlain, always falls on deaf ears. Moreover, it is up to him to continually rescue them. The films narrative follows the attempts of nine young impulsive samurai, who while planning to file a grievance of corruption within their clan to the local superintendent, is met with the timely arrival of a ronin named Sanjuro Tsubaki (Toshiro Mifune), who is not your typical ronin.
The Chamberlain of this clan, Mutsuta (Yunosuke Ito) has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner. He is being forced to sign a confession of corruption, lest anything happen to his wife and daughter. The nine young men are very naive, and do not realize that they need their wits about them in order to rescue the Chamberlain. Most of their actions are irrational. Moreover, their attempts to rescue the Chamberlain are ill-conceived. And due to the fact they are ALL naive, they wind up being a headache for Sanjuro Tsubaki (Toshiro Mifune), and a danger to themselves. These nine young samurai, who are led by the nephew of the Chamberlain, continue to make mistakes and never listen to what this ronin tries to tell them. They are not only naive, but arrogant as well. They do not realize that not only are they putting the Chamberlains life at risk, but theirs as well.
Plus, there is the presence in the film of Hanbei Muroto (Tatsuya Nakadai). Who like Toshiro Mifune, is one of the greatest actors that Japan has ever produced. [Films such as Harakiri, Ran, Kagemusha, etal]. You can tell in the film that Hanbei Muroto does not want to clash with Sanjuro Tsubaki (Toshiro Mifune): As he senses that this is no ordinary ronin. But will these two giants of cinema eventually cross swords in a duel? And will the nine young samurai finally wise up and listen to Sanjuro? Or will they meet a tragic end? As usual, CRITERION did an excellent job with the DVD transfer. This is a highly recommended film. I really like Yojimbo; but I give a slight edge to "Sanjuro", because it was one of the first Japanese films that I ever viewed, and there are many great memories for me when I view this wonderful classic. Plus, I really like the comical and nuanced character traits of Toshiro Mifune in this film. As I wrote before, his non-verbal wit is outstanding in the film. Once again the film is highly recommended.
Summary of Sanjuro (The Criterion Collection)
Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Kurosawa's tightly paced, beautifully composed Sanjuro. In this companion piece to Yojimbo, jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a "proper" samurai on its ear. Criterion is proud to present Sanjuro in a gorgeous Tohoscope transfer.Akira Kurosawa's sequel to Yojimbo is more lighthearted and less cynical, a rousing adventure with Toshirô Mifune reprising his role as the scruffy mercenary who becomes an unlikely big brother to a troupe of nine naive samurai. Shuffling into a secret meeting where the proud young men discuss the graft choking their clan, Mifune's Sanjuro scratches his scraggly beard and distractedly rubs his neck like some common peasant while giving them advice on appearances and truths: "People aren't what they seem," he warns the dubious lads. "Be careful." Naturally they aren't, and Sanjuro grudgingly adopts the well-meaning but hopelessly ill-equipped heroes, giving the starry-eyed youths a series of lessons in real-world honor and respect while saving their skins from reckless attacks and impulsive plans. It isn't the subtlest of Kurosawa's films--the repetitious lessons and speeches delivered to the thickheaded samurai are rather obvious--but it's one of his most entertaining. Mifune, gruffly at ease with the boys, is hilariously discomforted in the presence of a cultured lady, who sees through his shaggy exterior and imparts a little wisdom of her own. Mifune bounds into action in a number of impressive sword fights--wonderfully choreographed lightning-quick battles in which Mifune leaps all over the widescreen image--but an increasing sense of waste, of futility, hangs over the action scenes, culminating in a tense but meaningless duel of honor. The accompanying trailer on the DVD features brief behind-the-scenes glimpses of Kurosawa directing Mifune through an action sequence. --Sean Axmaker
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