This is about as good as movies get. It was shocking to me just how influential this film is. Kurosawa may have been aping John Ford but his technique transcends here. It's proto-Spielbergian in the way it's photographed. The opening shot is an obvious influence on the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the camera moves are exactly what early Spielberg was all about.
Mifune plays the ultimate anti-hero in a town of bad and worse. Yes, there's comedy, but there's also splashes of dead serious. In the end, it's fun, and serves as something half way between a parable of 'crime doesn't pay' and a gleefully, almost nihilistic escapade.
No, I think it's fair to refer to this movie as a black comedy. I laugh out loud throughout the film. I think the problem people have is that the relatively humorless remakes (though at least one of them is a classic in its own right) make one think the original is supposed to be a similar exercise in pure badassery. In reality (especially when taken in context with the director's entire body of work) the supersamurai elements are meant to be ridiculous, I think made perfectly clear by Mifune's hysterical performance.
From a description here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1161271
"Although Kurosawa included many funny elements in his earlier films, this is his first out-and-out comedy. The make-up of his villain characters is heavily distorted, and their actions while fighting are choreographed for humour."
Man, what a great movie! Kurosawa brings in every element for this one. Comedy, with a touch of drama and violence, he weaves them all with such grace. I was reminded of James Bond, with the flashy music and the lone hero. Seen now his influence is captured throughout westerns and crime dramas hence. Kurosawa is pure genius and we all owe something even if we dont get it.
Toshiro Mifune's crusty ronin charmed the pants off me in Sanjuro, but Yojimbo is the much darker companion piece (the original, made the year before), getting laughs from its violence almost throughout, though Kurosawa's jokes play out more as a matter of framing and camera reveals. I sometimes had difficulty keeping track of the rival gangs and businessmen, but not enough to hamper my enjoyment. Solid kickassery, though Sanjuro will always be my first love.
Oh come on.... Over the last few months I have suspected there is some sort of self appointed clique who get their kicks from manipulating lists to get their placings higher up, or film positions tweaked. Today somehow they got Yojimbo into the 'comedy' list. So it has comedic moments, but no way should this be in this list.. Although I guess there is a bunch of 14 yr old boys laughing their socks off at the idea of what film they can get in any list.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 17
SLionsCricket
Superb movie! Just blew me away! Amazing music and characters and a surprisingly immersive storyline make this one of my all time favorites!A+
Dieguito
One more brilliant movie of Kurosawa about old Japan and another perfect performance of Toshirô MifuneOldBoyFTW
Amazing movie. How to describe the music? Magical? Perfect? Simply genius?CSSCHNEIDER
This is about as good as movies get. It was shocking to me just how influential this film is. Kurosawa may have been aping John Ford but his technique transcends here. It's proto-Spielbergian in the way it's photographed. The opening shot is an obvious influence on the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the camera moves are exactly what early Spielberg was all about.Scratch47
Mifune plays the ultimate anti-hero in a town of bad and worse. Yes, there's comedy, but there's also splashes of dead serious. In the end, it's fun, and serves as something half way between a parable of 'crime doesn't pay' and a gleefully, almost nihilistic escapade.slickrick
"That was all very amusing"Jumping Elephant
It would be nice if iCM would include the aka "Yojimbo".DeathShrike
No, I think it's fair to refer to this movie as a black comedy. I laugh out loud throughout the film. I think the problem people have is that the relatively humorless remakes (though at least one of them is a classic in its own right) make one think the original is supposed to be a similar exercise in pure badassery. In reality (especially when taken in context with the director's entire body of work) the supersamurai elements are meant to be ridiculous, I think made perfectly clear by Mifune's hysterical performance.ricer11
From a description here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1161271"Although Kurosawa included many funny elements in his earlier films, this is his first out-and-out comedy. The make-up of his villain characters is heavily distorted, and their actions while fighting are choreographed for humour."
Flops
I saw all the remakes before I ever saw this. If you like this movie, you should watch Sukiyaki Western Django.seithscott
Man, what a great movie! Kurosawa brings in every element for this one. Comedy, with a touch of drama and violence, he weaves them all with such grace. I was reminded of James Bond, with the flashy music and the lone hero. Seen now his influence is captured throughout westerns and crime dramas hence. Kurosawa is pure genius and we all owe something even if we dont get it.Gilles Debil
Great music.Siskoid
Toshiro Mifune's crusty ronin charmed the pants off me in Sanjuro, but Yojimbo is the much darker companion piece (the original, made the year before), getting laughs from its violence almost throughout, though Kurosawa's jokes play out more as a matter of framing and camera reveals. I sometimes had difficulty keeping track of the rival gangs and businessmen, but not enough to hamper my enjoyment. Solid kickassery, though Sanjuro will always be my first love.few visible scars
Oh come on.... Over the last few months I have suspected there is some sort of self appointed clique who get their kicks from manipulating lists to get their placings higher up, or film positions tweaked. Today somehow they got Yojimbo into the 'comedy' list. So it has comedic moments, but no way should this be in this list.. Although I guess there is a bunch of 14 yr old boys laughing their socks off at the idea of what film they can get in any list.ghostoni1
amazing movie.plot and is awsume
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