Sanjuro (Subtitled) (Wide Screen)

Advantages: Mifune at his gruff, unshaven best
Disadvantages: Subtitling puts some people off. Can't understand why!

...became Star Wars. Sanjuro marked the return of Toshiro Mifune as the sardonic, dismissive landless Samurai from Yoijimbo. Yet again, the photography is excellent - the period costumes and buildings beautiful to look at even in black and white. From one of the first scenes, in the grounds outside the Shrine, Mifune shows a drastic improvement in the art of Kenjutso since the earlier film, but it is the character of Sanjuro himself that makes the film ...
...disrespectful and abrasive man, but his actions show who he really is, an honourable man who can't let injustice slip by despite his own disillusionment. Someone who nevertheless is uncomfortable with any praise or thanks that may follow. Sanjuro, much like its predecessor involves a power struggle - this time within a small city in Japan between the old faction and the new power-hungry one. While primarily an "action" film, it still deals with perspective ... Read review

Advantages: Top quality film.
Disadvantages: Not a lot of DVD extras.

My collection of Kurosawa DVD's just keeps growing because he seems to have delivered every time. This is yet another film by the Japanese film-making genius that offers something different. Whereas 'Yojimbo' was a harder edged action film this sequel takes a far more light hearted approach, with genuine laughs along the way that aren't lost in the subtitles. Toshiro Mifune again stars for Kurosawa and as usual delivers in a way that only he can; ... Read review