I am a big fan of Akira Kurosawa movies. Mifune, as admitted  by Kurosawa himself in public, is a big part of Kurosawa's magic. So I picked this movie to see Mifune working with another director. Well Kurosawa work is a pretty high bar and this movie is not even close. I had to give up after 1.5h of watching.  The reviews talked about beautiful cinematography and gripping story keeping you on the edge of the couch.

For me "Gripping" story was seriously undermined by many historically inaccurate aspects, some bordering on plain silly. Consider this: the movie is set in year 1600 AD. At this time Japan just went through what is known as "100 years of war". A historic civil strife which decimated Japan's population and ruined its economy. According to this movie it somehow strengthened feudal Japan's postal service. Because peasants and bandits send and promptly receive letters. Apparently all peasants are literate and are masters of calligraphy.
Important peasant characters run around wearing exquisite silk robes which Paris Hilton would not mind wearing. The robes stay spotless no matter how many times (a lot, do not even try counting) the character gets knocked to the ground.
Sword-fighting scenes are mediocre at best. Director creates a notion that an amateur swordsman with a *wooden" sword routinely facing dozens of men armed with real swords and spears, comes out without a scratch. This is absurd. Check out Kurosawa sword scenes.
Apparently Musashi, the greatest swordsman of all times, is a wussy. Yes, he cries a lot in this movie.

Cinematography: There are lots of hilly country shots in the movie (often very dark). But they do not quite jell with the story so effect is lost. A lot of the movie is shot against very dark background. Director was definitely trying to to tell us something by constantly putting his characters into almost complete darkness. I do not know what director's message is but I have 2 ideas:
1. Movie producers saved BIG on sets and decorations
2. It is an artistic expression of rural Japan longing for electricity.

I can go on. For example in the scene of battle Musashi goes berserk despite his side routed by the enemy. Next shot - battle has ended (his side lost) Musashi gets up from the ground. He is unharmed. Then why was he laying on the ground? Did he get exhausted from running or what?

Nothing quite makes sense. Mifune's acting is very decent but director does not make full use of it. We barely see his face.
I am a big fan of Akira Kurosawa movies. Mifune, as admitted  by Kurosawa himself in public, is a big part of Kurosawa's magic. So I picked this movie to see Mifune working with another director. Well Kurosawa work is a pretty high bar and this movie is not even close. I had to give up after 1. 5h of watching. The reviews talked about beautiful cinematography and gripping story keeping you on the edge of the couch. For me "Gripping" story was seriously undermined by many historically inaccurate aspects, some bordering on plain silly. Consider this: the movie is set in year 1600 AD. At this time Japan just went through what is known as "100 years of war". A historic civil strife which decimated Japan's population and ruined its economy. According to this movie it somehow strengthened feudal Japan's postal service. Because peasants and bandits send and promptly receive letters. Apparently all peasants are literate and are masters of calligraphy. Important peasant characters run around wearing exquisite silk robes which Paris Hilton would not mind wearing. The robes stay spotless no matter how many times (a lot, do not even try counting) the character gets knocked to the ground. Sword-fighting scenes are mediocre at best. Director creates a notion that an amateur swordsman with a *wooden" sword routinely facing dozens of men armed with real swords and spears, comes out without a scratch. This is absurd. Check out Kurosawa sword scenes. Apparently Musashi, the greatest swordsman of all times, is a wussy. Yes, he cries a lot in this movie. Cinematography: There are lots of hilly country shots in the movie (often very dark). But they do not quite jell with the story so effect is lost. A lot of the movie is shot against very dark background. Director was definitely trying to to tell us something by constantly putting his characters into almost complete darkness. I do not know what director's message is but I have 2 ideas:
1. Movie producers saved BIG on sets and decorations
2. It is an artistic expression of rural Japan longing for electricity. I can go on. For example in the scene of battle Musashi goes berserk despite his side routed by the enemy. Next shot - battle has ended (his side lost) Musashi gets up from the ground. He is unharmed. Then why was he laying on the ground? Did he get exhausted from running or what? Nothing quite makes sense. Mifune's acting is very decent but director does not make full use of it. We barely see his face.