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In director Akira Kurosawa's comedic YOJIMBO, a masterless samurai, Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), wanders into a town divided by two warring clans. After displaying his formidable swordsmanship before both clans in a brawl with street thugs, Sanjuro offers his services to the highest bidder. When one clan conspires against him, the .. Read more
| Starring | Toshiro Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Seisaburo Kawazu, Isuzu Yamada |
|---|---|
| Director | Akira Kurosawa |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller, World Cinema |
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In director Akira Kurosawa's comedic YOJIMBO, a masterless samurai, Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), wanders into a town divided by two warring clans. After displaying his formidable swordsmanship before both clans in a brawl with street thugs, Sanjuro offers his services to the highest bidder. When one clan conspires against him, the clever warrior switches his allegiance to the other side, with the ultimate goal of tricking the two equally despicable and foolish clans into exterminating each other. Sanjuro's authority is challenged, however, when Unosuke (Tatsuya Nakadai), a brother of one of the leaders, comes to town wielding a modern contraption: a gun. In the classic final showdown, the old world samurai is pitted against new world progress, and must use both his wits and physical prowess to survive.
Perhaps Kurosawa's most overtly comic film, YOJIMBO easily ranks with the director's finest work. In this reconception of the Western, Mifune plays Sanjuro, the tough mercenary of few words, to perfection, often allowing his subtle movements and swift actions speak for him. Throughout the entire film, Sanjuro is vigilant yet stoic, conceding that he finds the scenario entertaining and absurd, and essentially has nothing to lose. Mifune's outstanding performance, combined with Kurosawa's expert direction and Kazuo Miyagawa's beautifully balanced photography, makes for one of the finest, and funniest, films in Japanese cinema.
| Starring | Toshiro Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Seisaburo Kawazu, Isuzu Yamada |
|---|---|
| Director | Akira Kurosawa |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 45 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Swords and Sandals Films |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Japanese |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 1961 To Rent: DVD: 06 Nov 2000 |
Far from being just another vehicle for Mifune, this belongs in that select group of films noirs which are also... read more on Time Out
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Bo! Jimbo Selecta!!!
This is a fantastic movie and probably my favourite Kurosawa flick. I think Mifune is in his element when it comes to playing charismatic ronin.
... read more »
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Blinkin Brilliant
The best film to watch if you like Kuroswa now you know where Sergio Leone got his ideas for his westerns
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An Early Master Class In Classic Film Making.
By seeing some early Japanese works, especially from this director, you can see how some classic filming styles, characters attitudes and story lines were going... read more »
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The original and the best
I can remember watching this on TV years ago and loved it. I have also see the other remakes, from the western with Clint Eastwood to the Bruce Willis Last Man ... read more »
Action Movies: 'Lights… Camera… Action!' According to the Oxford English Dictionary filmmakers have been urging their performers to… you know… 'do something' at least since 1914. Not every director says it. Some delegate. Others prefer a simple 'Okay,' or 'Go', or 'When you're ready'. There's a story that the great B-movie director Sam Fuller liked to pull out a pistol and fire it into the air to kick-start the actors. Distracting, perhaps, but I guess it would clear up any worries about... Read more