Yojimbo (1961)

Let the Blades Speak!
In the early `60s I entered in touch with Japanese filmography when I was attending an introductory course at Buenos Aires' University. Since then I've come to appreciate Japanese delicate and sophisticated film language.

Outstanding director Akira Kurosawa author of "Ran", "Seven Samurai", "Dreams" and "Kagemusha" is also the creator of "Yojimbo" (1961).

The anecdote is situated around 1860 when the long period of the Shogunate was ending giving rise to the Meiji Restoration.
Chaos and lack of order is plainly shown in the movie.
The story is as follows: Sanjuro a samurai without master (a ronin) enters a small village that is daily devastated by two enemy gangs fighting each other ruthlessly.
Sanjuro is a professional bodyguard and the situation is theoretically favorable for him to display his skills and earn good money.
Nevertheless the ronin is also the possessor of the old ethical tradition of the true Samurai so instead of mindlessly profiting from the situation he will try to mend the situation all by himself.
A typical Kurosawa's epic film ensues.

Each scene is aesthetically perfect yet full of action.
The black and white photography due to Kazuo Miyagawa is just perfect. Playing with light and shadow every photogram is a beautiful piece d'art.
Musical score is composed by Japanese Academy multi awarded Masaru Sato, underlining subtly each scene.
Toshiro Mifune's performance as Sanjuro was recognized with many awards: Volpi Cup from Venice Festival, Best Actor Kinema Junpo Awards and Blue Ribbon Award.
This is a great movie for Samurai film lovers and general public too!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

"I'm not dying yet. I have to kill quite a few men first "
Yesterday I saw "Yojimbo" (1961), a beautiful black and white movie directed by Akira Kurosawa. From my point of view, this dvd isn't Kurosawa best movie, but it is nonetheless a film that is worthwhile watching.

This fast-paced and morally ambivalent story is set in Japan, during the second half of the nineteenth century, a period in which old social structures were destroyed, and faithful samurais where left without masters. Those samurais had to wander in search of employment, and were called "ronin". Sanjuro (Toshirô Mifune), the main character of "Yojimbo", is one of them.

Sanjuro stumbles into a small town that happens to be divided into two warring factions. He soon realizes that those factions are fighting over control of the village, something that seems to him a good opportunity to sell his services to the higher bidder. Sanjuro has flexible standards of morality and won't have misgivings about doublecrossing his momentary allies, when he deems it convenient to earn more money. His ultimate purpose is more complex, though: Sanjuro wants to rid the town of both bands. Unfortunately, his luck and the foolishness of the two bands can only last for so long...

On the whole, I think that this is a very good film, that even those not normally fond of foreign movies will like. Recommended...

Belen Alcat

PS: Kurosawa's best movie is, in my opinion, "Seven samurai".
PS2: The plot of this film was taken in 1964 by Sergio Leone in order to make the first "spaghetti" Western, "A fistful of dollars", starring Clint Eastwood.

A Fistful of Ryo
"This town is full of men who are better off dead"

The great samurai/mercenary Sanjuro strolls in with a master plan--eliminate much of the vermin that are plaguing this town. After he immediately shows his lethal skill with the sword, rival forces try to enlist him to give them an edge in battle.
Director Akira shows his admiration for American Westerns in this one. It has a very Old West feel--with the wide empty streets cutting through the center of the town. Lots of saloons on the sides. There is dust and leaves blowing around--I maybe even seen a tumbleweed pass through.
Then there is the classic shootout at high noon. Or actually a slash out, swords instead of guns. Sanjuro outwits both opposing forces and gleefully watches as they kill each other.

This is great entertainment, plus it had an important impact on the movie industry. Supposedly it spawned the "spaghetti westerns" with the subsequent Eastwood flick Fistful of Dollars. Later another twist was conjoured up called Last Man Standing. Additionally, there is a companion film to Yojimbo titled Sanjuro, which I got a little bored with.
This particular edition of Criterion has no special features, but it's much cheaper.