A timeless influential samurai adventure! Akira Kurosawa’s samurai thriller Yojimbo (1961) is a classic of the samurai genre for good reason. Short, quick, and to the point, Yojimbo finds its heart in the lead ronin trying to free a village from rival bandit gangs. The swordplay is exhilarating and well setup. Yojimbo’s influence cannot be understated as Kurosawa inspired Sergio Leone’s entire plot for the classic American Western A Fistful of Dollars. Pensive in tone, yet steadily paced, Yojimbo keeps you laughing at the ridiculously clever duping of the bandits by the lead samurai Sanjuro. Kurosawa’s writing is pithy and smart. His direction is phenomenal as he holds each draw of the sword in suspense by establishing how best to dispatch each bandit. Kurosawa’s editing jumps from gang to gang all while giving the audience a perspective through Sanjuro’s eyes. Kurosawa carefully lets his characters observe events and thoughtfully plot out their actions with rationality rare for action films like Yojimbo. Yojimbo sees a samurai wander into town by chance and accomplish great deeds at his own expense just for food and sake. It’s a neat story made iconic by Kurosawa’s deft writing, sleek editing, and peerless direction. Toshiro Mifune is outstanding as the stoic samurai named Sanjuro as he is either serene in his quiet grace or hilarious as he mocks the dangerous world of feudal Japan with his gleeful nonchalance. Mifune is fascinating as the solemn samurai for hire because his quiet persona hides his fast sword strikes. His gruff voice and powerful yelling are well met by Mifune’s imposing stocking stature. He delivers a contemplative gravitas as he plans on how best to deal with the rival bandit organizations. Toshiro Mifune is unforgettable as the dark kimono clad samurai Sanjuro in arguably his greatest role. He is so cool as Sanjuro that can see how he influenced Clint Eastwood’s nameless hero in A Fistful of Dollars. Tatsuya Nakadai is great as the young bandit Unosuke who revels in shooting down peasants and bandits alike. He’s interesting as a particularly clever villain for his charming antagonist, but also because he represents the dying samurai world as he wields a gun instead of a katana. He is as memorable as Mifune in Yojimbo. Yoko Tsukasa is sympathetic as the hostage Nui. Her cries for her husband and child are moving. I loved Isuzu Yamada as the manipulative bandit wife Orin and madame of her brothel. She is brutal and underhanded in the most entertaining way. Daisuke Kato is hilarious as the rotund brute Inokichi. I love his choice to bit his lip to look intimidating and funnier at the same time. Takashi Shimura makes a fun cameo as the lecherous rapist and sake brewer Tokuemon. Eijiro Tono may give the best acting in Yojimbo as the tavern keeper and moral guide for Sanjuro. Lastly, Atsushi Watanabe is hilarious as the elderly coffin maker The Cooper. Masaru Sato’s score for Yojimbo is a triumphant theme music that makes you want to jump up and start swinging a samurai blade with reckless abandon. He really adds an uplifting and fun musical accompaniment for Yojimbo. I cannot praise Sato’s score for Yojimbo enough as he lightens up the mood and ignites a fiery passion for samurai exploits in me when I hear his thunderous theme. Kazuo Miyagawa’s cinematography is clean with wide shots of the emptied town in anticipation of a duel or a fight. The few close-up shots are very effective emphasis on a dramatic moment. The medium shots capture every sword stroke and extra placement, so that you always catch all the action in Yojimbo. I like how Miyagawa allows scenes to breath from a distance, so that you can constantly see each person’s location relative to Sanjuro. Overall, Yojimbo is a fantastic Japanese samurai film from the master of the genre Akira Kurosawa. Toshiro Mifune earned his reputation as Japan’s greatest actor with iconic roles like Sanjuro the ronin samurai in Yojimbo.Read full review
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These films are beautifully shot. You wouldn't have "Fist Full of Dollars" with out Yojimbo. Check out these Samurai classics, starring Toshiro Mifune from "Seven Samurai" and "Sword of Doom."
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Kurosawa is a genius. All of his movies are must-owns.
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watching these movies on bluray was awsome even in black and white
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