The Hidden Blade
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.49 You Save: $13.49 (68%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.63 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Hidden Blade
Movie Review: When the concern is self-serving "honor," then how easy it is for others to justify having you kill a friend.
Summary: 4 Stars
With Yoji Yamada's The Hidden Blade, set in the early 1860s, the age of the samurai was passing; the age of moviedom's bastardization of the samurai was sometime in the future. The Hidden Blade is one of three movies Yamada made based on stories by Shuhei Fujisawa. They all deal with the end of the rigid social caste system of the Tokugawa era, the cracks and corruption in the samurai code, and the effects of this on some of those in the samurai class whom we come to know. These movies aren't flash and slash epics or just cheap entertainment. The films in many ways are quiet, even when there is violence. Sadness and difficult choices are pervasive. The films, in other words, are wonderful. For the record, the three films are The Twilight Samurai (Tasogare Seibei) (2002), The Hidden Blade (Kakushi Ken Oni no Tsume) (2004) and Love and Honor (Bushi no Ichibun) (2006).
The Hidden Blade is the story of Munezo Katagiri (Masatoshi Nagase), a poor samurai who does his duty to his clan in a small village in the north of Japan. His father was forced to commit hari kiri unjustly, but the father submitted because obeying the lord was the core of his life. A friend of Katagiri's, Yaichiro Hazama, who earlier went to Edo, has been implicated in a treason plot against the shogun. Hazama is sent back to the village for imprisonment. At the same time, Katagiri's sister has married a good friend, his mother has died, and he has found a merchant husband for the family's maid, a young woman named Kie (Takako Matsu), the daughter of a farmer who had been trained in many skills by Katagiri's mother. We can tell there is affection and respect between the two, but the idea of marriage is never recognized because of the rigid separation of the four castes. Katagiri rescues Kie from the cruel marriage but cannot keep her with him. He returns her to her farmer father.
When Hazama escapes, Katagiri is ordered to go to Hazama, one of his best friends, and kill him in a duel. Hazama is a fine swordsman. Katagiri is almost as good. Katagiri learns his clan's senior advisor is venal and dishonest. Katagiri must obey, but afterwards, in disgust, takes his own actions. At last he secures his future, whatever that might be...but it won't be as a samurai.
If this all sounds mundane, it is and it isn't. In slightly more than two hours, Yamada lets us see these people's lives, everything from the rigid strictures of behavior and outward respect to how a servant washes clothes, from how to cut firewood to what a prisoner basket is, from what a poor samurai's house is like or a merchant's fabric shop to what it takes to train barely educated bumpkin samurai in gunnery and marching. It's all fascinating, more so because these are all more-or-less ordinary people in a system of rigid class inequities, where people have few if any options. Yet if Munezo Katagiri's story is told deliberately, it is never slow. Yes, we have a great (and not flashy) sword fight toward the end of the movie, and a fast and satisfying act of deadly justice to witness. The heart, however, of the movie's tension comes from Karagiri's struggle to obey the old rules while realizing how unjust and corrupt they can be. Masatoshi Nagase gives a marvelous performance...thoughtful, serious, underplayed. The movie ends with a mutual expression of love and commitment between Katagiri and Kie that is delightful and touching.
One of the fascinating aspects of Japan is how rigidly enforced and how accepted the social order was, and then how quickly and, in some cases, how ruthlessly it began to crumble. The samurai class, above the other three classes, was made up of warriors without wars. They sank into near irrelevance except for their privileges and social status. The merchant class, lowest of the classes, rose to power because they produced nothing of value, in the Buddhist sense, just money. Money proved more powerful than swords. By the end of The Hidden Blade it's clear that disciplined peasants bearing expensive firearms can take care of any charging, sword-bearing samurai they might encounter.
Movie Review: The Passing Of The Samurai: Beautiful Cinematography!
Summary: 4 Stars
The film "Hidden Blade" is a very good film. The character developement in the film is very well done. The films narrative deals with the changes that are taking place in 19th-century Japan. In the beginning of the film, Yaichiro bids farewell to his two comrades, Munezo and Samon, due to the fact that he now has a position within the shogunate in Edo. Kie, a young farm girl serves as the maid for the household where Munezo, his sister and mother live. As time passes, his sister marries his friend Samon, Kie the maid marries into a merchant family; and his mother eventually dies. As a result, he is left alone.
As the drama of the story continues, Munezo learns that Kie has fallen ill, and that the family will not allow him to see her. However, he breaks into the house and rescues her and restores her health. Meanwhile, the friend, Yaichiro, who earlier left for Edo [modern Tokyo] has come back as a disgraced and caged political prisoner. When Yaichiro escapes, Munezo is ordered to show his allegiance and innocence by killing his former friend. However, his friend is a better swordsman than he. When Munezo goes to see his former sensei [a master swordsman] he wishes to learn how to confront his former friend in a duel to the death.
Apparently, the mater swordsman, Toda, gave a secret movement with the sword to Munezo, not Yaichiro. This secret is known as the 'Hidden Blade.' And whomsoever has mastered it is apparantly invincible in combat. As Toda teaches him the hidden secret, word has spread that Yaichiro has taken refuge in a farm house. It is here that Munezo will attempt to ply his skill in taking down the escaped Yaichiro. The film is more of a drama, with very little samurai type action. This is not a Toshiro Mifune type film [how many are?] however, it does succeed in being a very good drama. Moreover, the cinematography is very beautiful. Recommended. It is slow paced, but nonetheless a very interesting film.
Movie Review: nicely done samurai movie with a certain thoughtfulness
Summary: 4 Stars
i like samurai movies, as well as both japanese and chinese films. the scenery is beautiful, the plot compelling and with some thoughtful reflection. The big ideas are understated and left undeveloped and just hinted at, for the most part. These are the westernization of japan, the demise of the samurai as a warrior caste and the rise of merchants. But most importantly the effect of technological change on long held customs and ideas(how does bushido operate in a merchantilist world?). There is a touch of romance that is uncommon in asian movies, certainly rare in japanese. There is a certain rebellion and deep questioning of tradition on the part of the movie (Yaichiro is basically right, the leadership is corrupt), the killing of the high official is an excellent touch and unexpected (at least on my part). There is little sword play, it is not a young boy's action movie but rather an adult-reflective film. The main point, killing a friend because the powers that be order it, then disillusionment but holding onto the best of tradition-honor, while looking at romantic love is an excellent theme that the movie certainly adds to the ongoing conversation. B+, worth owning.Movie Review: Tame & True
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is beautifully done; it shows the samurai culture and how it is changed by the 'modern' world; guns & artillery vs. the sword, as well as a new order moving in and how it affects the lives of those who live there. But this is not an action movie; rather, it is contemplative, I'd almost call it a drama. There aren't fight scenes every 15 minutes, in fact, the main character even remarks at one point that he's never drawn his sword. Also, the combat that there is is more 'accurate' to reality, rather than being a lot of spinning, jumping, and special effects. Its a quiet movie, with a good storyline and characters that you can care about. Very well done.
I only give it 4 stars out of 5 because it can be slow at times; and even for a fan of asian cinema, there are parts that can be difficult to understand. But overall this does not detract from the elegant tapestry that is this film. Its definitely worth getting.
Movie Review: A Fine Period Samurai Movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Having been thrilled by the director's movie "Twilight Samurai",
I ordered this film. By itself, it is good period drama of the
19th century Samurai period...basically the story of an honorable samurai in a dishonorable world. However, I felt that
the plot and motifs were quite similar to Twilight Samurai. Given the choice of the two films, I would recommend Twilight over this one. I didn't quite get the point of seeing two
very similar movies.