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Chushingura Actors: Koshiro Matsumoto, Yuzo Kayama Director: Hiroshi Inagaki Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Format: Color, Widescreen Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 207 minutes Studio: Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2001-02-27 Buy from Amazon |
 "Visually stunning, chivalrous loyalty, bittersweet revenge."Chushingura is a bittersweet tale of of 47 retainers seeking to avenge the wrongful death and humiliation of their feudal lord. The story is based upon an historical event and was celebrated in a famous play by the bunraku (puppet theater) playwright, Chikamatsu. This film version is visually lush, and emotionally tugging. For the viewer, it is a great vehicle to put yourself into the time and mores of feudal Japan. I first saw this film when I was in high school and have been waiting 25 years to get a copy! Now I can have it in DVD! "One Of The Two Best Samurai Films Ever Made!"This film is one of the two best Samurai films of all time, the other being Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI. CHUSHINGURA ("loyalty") is based on a real incident in 18th century Japan, wherein 47 loyal retainers of a disgraced lord take a vow of vengeance on the corrupt nobleman who caused his downfall and death. The story is timeless, the acting is uniformly magnificent, the camera work is so gorgeous that any frame of this film could be hung in an art gallery, and the music is exciting and heart-lifting. It's a complex plot, following many separate individuals as their vengeance unfolds, so first-time viewers may get confused. No matter -- it all comes together at the end. Watch for the late great Toshiro Mifune in a cameo role as a Master Spearman who becomes drinking buddies with one of the 47, and who takes it upon himself to hold off the cops in the final showdown so that his pal and the other 46 won't be interrupted before they can find and behead the bad guy and fulfill their vow. I have watched this movie many, many times, and I always find something new and wonderful in it. Now that it's FINALLY available on video, don't miss it!! "The Best Movie Ever Made"This movie played for months at foreign cinema houses when it was first released. Based on some actual events in early 17th century Japan, it tells one of the most well-known stories in Japanese History. Inspired by the movie, I have visited the graves of the 47 Ronin at the Sengakuji Temple in Tokyo (right beside Sengakuji station on the Tokyo Subway System). The final encounter when the ronin lead by Oishi go in over the wall in the snow may be the most riveting in all world cinema. As a teacher and student of Japanese History, I am thrilled that the movie is now available on video. I will be teaching an entire course on traditional Japan around the video. Many thanks to those who made this movie available on video whoever and wherever you may be! Sandy Lydon, Professor of History, Cabrillo College, Aptos, California. |
