virtualurth DVDs, Music and Poetry

Saturday, December 16, 2006

The Samurai Trilogy

by Peter Suciu

THE RATINGS

Movie: *** DVD: ***

Perhaps one of the very first fully envisioned film trilogies, Samurai and its two sequels actually represent one epic tale spread across three films. Whether it was to cut costs or to make the filming more manageable, the story is broken into three parts, each telling a relevant part of the main character’s story - a legendary seventeenth-century samurai named Musashi Miyamoto.

Musashi is portrayed by Toshiro Mifune (who is known for his countless samurai roles, including several of Akira Kurosawa’s films such as Yojimbo and The Seven Samurai). Musashi is a Japanese Robin Hood-like character, an unlikely hero who makes his entrance following a brutal civil war.

THE TRILOGY
While this is the Samurai film series, these are not b-movie hack and slash tales set in mist-filled Japanese forests, nor are they the epic and sweeping battles of the kind showcased in Kurosawa’s Ran (the battle of Sekigahara is shown very briefly in Samurai I). In stead, these films have been dubbed Japan’s Gone with the Wind, and like that epic US release, the substance of the films lies in its character development and the turmoil the characters face - not the civil wars that are the background to each story.

THE MOVIES
Samurai I: Musahi Miyamoto
Following the battle of Sekigahara, Musashi Miyamoto and his friend Matahaci find themselves on the defeated side. Instead of the grand victory and glory Musashi had anticipated, he finds himself a defeated fugitive. The pair seek shelter with a widow and her daughter. Musashi is seduced by the widow, but then remembers that he loves (and is betrothed to) Otsu, a woman from his village.

Musashi (known at this point in his life as Takezo) returns to his village, while the widow and her daughter head to Kyoto. Matachachi’s family doesn’t believe Musashi’s story and he is arrested for treason. Musashi is spared but must leave the village and redeem himself.

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
This second film, despite its action-sounding title, involves Musashi’s quest for spiritual enlightenment as the young warrior continues his training to become a true samurai. The violence that Musashi faces convinces him that violence in itself is not honorable, and he moves towards redemption as his skills improve.

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Lacking the sheer action of the previous two films, this final film follows the hero, Musashi, as he struggles with questions dealing with what makes a worthy warrior. As a victor in sixty duels, Musashi has become a legend in Japan, but he begins to face younger and more ambitious rivals looking to make a reputation for themselves-something that is in direct conflict with Musashi’s beliefs.

Like many roles that Clint Eastwood would later play, Musashi turns his back on his former ways and hopes to spend out his days as a farmer. But an ambitious upstart named Kojiro is determined to meet Musashi in combat. Does he succeed? You have to check it out for yourself.

THE DVDS
The films are best seen together as one epic story, and therefore it would have been nice to have them released as a box set. However, they are still able to tell self-contained stories as stand-alone films.

The presentation is in full frame (1:33:1), so nothing is lost in the transfer. All of the DVDs are somewhat grainy, but that is due more to the film stock of post-war Japan than by a failure on Criterion’s part. It’s just nice to be able to see these grand films on DVD.

The discs contain the films and their corresponding theatrical trailers. As an added bonus, each disc includes an excellent mini-booklet detailing the story and some background on the real character that Musashi is based on.

HIGHLIGHTS
Samurai I briefly shows the battle of Sekigahara, one of the most epic in the Shogun Civil Wars of seventeenth-century Japan.
Samurai II features some well-choreographed and realistic swordplay. This film also showcases the training of a samurai.
Samurai III deals with the issues of honor and what it entails. Musashi has gained honor, but at the cost of killing others forcing him to question his choices in life.

NITPICKS
The background included in the books would be better on the discs themselves, and there should have been some mention made of the late Toshiro Mifune’s long career as an actor in Japan and later in the United States. Mifune, who died in late 1997, was as established as being the leading “samurai” actor as Clint Eastwood or John Wayne for their western roles. Like his American counterparts in their period films, one can not think of a samurai without thinking of Mifune.

Final Word
The Samurai Trilogy is not Shogun Assassin (itself edited from two Sword of Vengeance films) or even a Kurosawa film. While Kurosawa is the true master of Samurai films, Hiroshi Inagaki’s films offer another and possibly darker look at the Edo era of Japan’s history.

Features

Languages: English(AC-3), French(SS)
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Sound: AC-3
Other Features: cast , prod. crew , biography , movie trailer , production notes
Sides: 1
DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

DETAILS
Criterion Collection (1954, 1955, 1956) Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki

Starring:
Toshiro Mifune, Rentario Mikuni, Kaoru Yachigusa