At time of writing Yojimbo presently sits as the 115th highest rated movie on IMDB, it's not the only one of Tohos movies in there either. Generally I disagree with IMDB's top 250, and this is no exception.
Feeble compared to the considerably superior Seven Samurai (1954) it tells the story of a lone samurai who arrives in a small town tormented by two gangs. In a bid to save the town he plays mind games with them both in an effort to get them to kill one another off.
The plot is simple but well handled, the film looks the part and it's character development is great. As if that wasn't enough we have legendary director Akira Kurosawa behind the camera and Toshirô Mifune in front of it. Mifune is great and is on form here, but is it just me or does he always play essentially the same character?
I wasn't that keen on the films finale, I also felt that it dragged in places but regardless is a watchable Toho effort and a must watch for fans of the genre.
Enjoyable but top 250? Hardly.
The Good:
Some great comedy
Looks very crisp for its age
Toshirô Mifune is on form
The Bad:
Drags in the middle
Finale could have been handled better
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
The Great Khali was a Japanese actor in the 1960's
Toho movies give me sake cravings
Feeble compared to the considerably superior Seven Samurai (1954) it tells the story of a lone samurai who arrives in a small town tormented by two gangs. In a bid to save the town he plays mind games with them both in an effort to get them to kill one another off.
The plot is simple but well handled, the film looks the part and it's character development is great. As if that wasn't enough we have legendary director Akira Kurosawa behind the camera and Toshirô Mifune in front of it. Mifune is great and is on form here, but is it just me or does he always play essentially the same character?
I wasn't that keen on the films finale, I also felt that it dragged in places but regardless is a watchable Toho effort and a must watch for fans of the genre.
Enjoyable but top 250? Hardly.
The Good:
Some great comedy
Looks very crisp for its age
Toshirô Mifune is on form
The Bad:
Drags in the middle
Finale could have been handled better
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
The Great Khali was a Japanese actor in the 1960's
Toho movies give me sake cravings