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Kagemusha Reviews

1980

70
from 4099 members

Just as many American studio-era directors found acclaim abroad that was denied them in their home country, by 1980 Akira Kurosawa's reputation outside Japan exceeded his esteem at home. As uncompromising as ever, he found considerable difficulty securing backing for his ambitious projects. Unsure he would be able to film it, .. Read more

Starring	Tatsuya Nakadai, Kenichi Hagiwara, Takashi Shimura, Daisuke Ryu
Director	Akira Kurosawa
Genres	Action/Adventure, World Cinema

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Critic's review of Kagemusha
View all critics' reviews (3)
- Though acclaimed as a magnificent return to form, Kurosawa's first Japanese film since Dodes'ka-den is something of a... read more on Time Out
- 44948
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
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Most helpful member's review of Kagemusha
View all members' reviews (33)
- - 10
  - 0
  A real masterpiece
  
  The explosion in CGI technology has meant it is now possible to show battle scenes with ..ooh..trillions of people. Trouble is, with one notable exception, they... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 82014
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Bobnessuk
  - 169 reviews
  - LONDON
  - 16 Mar 2005 at 11:12
Most recent members' reviews of Kagemusha
View all members' reviews (33)
- - 0
  - 0
  not a bad film
  
  this film does have some very good bits, but I can't help but feel it is for die hard Japanese fans who would understand the concept of the film better.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1116345
- - cheesekake
  - 758 reviews
  - uk
  - 03 May 2012 at 18:45
- - 2
  - 0
  This defines 'great movie'
  
  Hollywood has rarely been able to replicate the atmospherism, depth of emotion, and profundity that is contained in this movie, amongst a host of other non-... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 979131
- - a2ed
  - 30 reviews
  - UK
  - 05 Apr 2011 at 09:16
- - 2
  - 0
  Kagemusha: THE MOVIE
  
  Beautiful. I have not seen enough Kurosawa films but after watching this I will make sure that I see them all. From the direction, cinematography, photography, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 975200
- - oli74
  - 44 reviews
  - olisykes74@gmail.com
  - 22 Mar 2011 at 11:04
- - 1
  - 1
  Slightly Disappointed
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  I had great hopes for this film, and never reading a synopsis before seeing a film, I tend go by ratings and other less distinct criteria. This was the first ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 759477
- - habana999
  - 2 reviews
  - Dunstable
  - 19 May 2009 at 00:12
- - 0
  - 0
  Slow-e-musha
  
  As a visual spectacle you cannot help but marvel at this Japanese epic, and I would recommend it as a worthwhile 'change of pace' from the Western ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 657924
- - a customer
  - Cardiff
  - 12 Nov 2008 at 15:49
- - 0
  - 0
  Customer Review
  
  I found this film slow in the extreme, and the battle scences short and well to be honest daft. I'm sure this must be a classic, but not in my opinion. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 579524
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 23 Jun 2008 at 15:22
- - 0
  - 0
  Mushy
  
  Didn't like this as much as Kuro's other films, the soldiers running around aimlessley even if they were shot against vivid backdrops made this look ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 550454
- - Rich123
  - 4 reviews
  - Dartford
  - 07 Apr 2008 at 20:05
- - 0
  - 0
  Worth watching
  
  There's some lovely cinematography here - and a good story. Agree with previous reviewers however that some of the marching scenes are a bit gratuitous, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 433876
- - a customer
  - England
  - 25 Apr 2007 at 21:58
- - 0
  - 0
  Nice long film
  
  It's so refreshing to watch a Kurosawa in colour! The scenes were well shot, and historically accurate. However, the film did drag on for a long time.
  
  Report this review
- 410367
- - Mortalprins
  - Croydon, Surrey
  - 09 Feb 2007 at 09:28
- - 0
  - 0
  Epic
  
  Not a bad film but the plot seems to have little point. Maybe more relevant to the Japanese.
  
  Report this review
- 410274
- - Quickie
  - 33 reviews
  - Wales
  - 08 Feb 2007 at 20:04
View all members' reviews (33)

- - 10
  - 0
  A real masterpiece
  
  The explosion in CGI technology has meant it is now possible to show battle scenes with ..ooh..trillions of people. Trouble is, with one notable exception, they... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 82014
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Bobnessuk
  - 169 reviews
  - LONDON
  - 16 Mar 2005 at 11:12
- - 6
  - 1
  Not Kurosawa's greatest
  
  Aside from some interesting uses of colour (deep and rich reds pervade nearly every scene) and the occasional memorable set-piece, there's not much to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 304448
- - Tinderbox
  - England
  - 04 Jun 2004 at 13:56
- - 5
  - 0
  Hard Work
  
  I love Kurosawa?s work but this film was hard work. I found that the likenesses between the lord, his brother and the double made it hard to follow things at ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 22863
- - Toejam
  - East London
  - 25 Oct 2004 at 08:50
- - 5
  - 1
  Another masterpiece! ...
  
  Another masterpiece! The obvious large budget and high profile of this film separates it from kurosawas earlier films but i am undecided to whether it improves ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 29859
- - Sam#36
  - TANSLEY
  - 08 Mar 2004 at 10:09
- - 2
  - 0
  Epic
  
  Kurosawa's film is an epic tale of 16th Century Japanese feudal society and has all of his trademarks - great cinematography, attention to detail, long ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 232901
- - Hoss
  - 197 reviews
  - Surrey
  - 14 Apr 2006 at 14:36
- - 2
  - 0
  Kagemusha: THE MOVIE
  
  Beautiful. I have not seen enough Kurosawa films but after watching this I will make sure that I see them all. From the direction, cinematography, photography, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 975200
- - oli74
  - 44 reviews
  - olisykes74@gmail.com
  - 22 Mar 2011 at 11:04
- - 2
  - 0
  This defines 'great movie'
  
  Hollywood has rarely been able to replicate the atmospherism, depth of emotion, and profundity that is contained in this movie, amongst a host of other non-... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 979131
- - a2ed
  - 30 reviews
  - UK
  - 05 Apr 2011 at 09:16
- - 3
  - 3
  Slow but strong epic
  
  Kagemush is one of Akira Kurosowa's war epic's. The basic plot follows a civil war between three rival warlords, Shingen, Nobunaga and Iesayu.
  read more »
  
  Report this review
- 8829
- - Lowki
  - 40 reviews
  - Cheltenham
  - 03 Jul 2004 at 19:29
- - 1
  - 1
  Worth watching - but ...
  
  Worth watching - but the least enjoyable film by the director that I have seen.
  
  Report this review
- 42131
- - a customer
  - ARMAGH
  - 25 Jul 2004 at 19:32
- - 0
  - 0
  quality samurai epic
  
  involving storyline, interesting characters, universally well acted, fine set-piece battles - everything you could ask for from a samurai epic. it's not ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 155906
- - a customer
  - london
  - 02 Oct 2005 at 11:10

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Critics' reviews
- Though acclaimed as a magnificent return to form, Kurosawa's first Japanese film since Dodes'ka-den is something of a... read more on Time Out
- 44948
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
- "...A sweeping epic of the times of clan wars in 16th century Japan....Tatsuya Nakadai is extraordinary..."
- 10384
- - Variety
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...[Kurosawa's] most physically elaborate, most awesome film, full of magnificent views....Majestic..."
- 10383
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Kagemusha
  
  Just as many American studio-era directors found acclaim abroad that was denied them in their home country, by 1980 Akira Kurosawa's reputation outside Japan exceeded his esteem at home. As uncompromising as ever, he found considerable difficulty securing backing for his ambitious projects. Unsure ...