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Kagemusha - Criterion Collection Actors: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki Director: Akira Kurosawa Number of Items: 2 Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 180 minutes Studio: Criterion Collection Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2005-03-29 Buy from Amazon |
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From Amazon.com essential video The 1970s were difficult years for the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Following the box-office failure of his 1970 film Dodes'ka-den and an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Kurosawa was unable to find financial backing in Japan, and he made his acclaimed 1975 film Dersu Uzala in Siberia with Russian financing. With only partial Japanese backing for his epic project Kagemusha, the 70-year-old master then found American support from George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, who served as coexecutive producers (through 20th Century Fox) for this magnificent 1980 production--to that date the most expensive film in Japanese history. Set in the late 16th century, Kagemusha centers on the Takeda clan, one of three warlord clans battling for control of Japan at the end of the feudal period. When Lord Shingen (Tatsuya Nakadai), head of the Takeda clan, is mortally wounded in battle and near death, he orders that his death be kept secret and that his "kagemusha"--or "shadow warrior"--take his place for a period of three years to prevent clan disruption and enemy takeover. The identical double is a petty thief (also played by Nakadai) spared from execution due to his uncanny resemblance to Lord Shingen--but his true identity cannot prevent the tides of fate from rising over the Takeda clan in a climactic scene of battlefield devastation. Through stunning visuals and meticulous attention to every physical and stylistic detail, Kurosawa made a film that restored his status as Japan's greatest filmmaker, and the success of Kagemusha enabled the director to make his 1985 masterpiece, Ran. --Jeff Shannon From Description In his late color masterpiece Kagemusha (The Shadow Warrior) director Akira Kurosawa returned to the samurai film and to a primary theme of his celebrated career—the play between illusion and reality. Sumptuously reconstructing the splendor of feudal Japan and pageantry of war, Kurosawa creates a soaring historical epic that is also a somber meditation on the nature of power. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Kagemusha for the first time in its full-length version. |
 "A Shadow Cannot Exist Without the Man"Kurosawa's beautiful film Kagemusha is a meditation on subjects that have haunted the director throughout his career in cinema: the doppelgager or double, (which brings to question identity and how identity is formed, and where identity is located; is it in appearance, world views, actions, attitudes or loves? How does individual choice create a man? What if one's choices were different?) transformation (all Kurosawa heroes go through a transformation) the tragedy of war (note the elegaic images of horses struggling in death throes in the aftermath of the massacre at the film's conlcusion) and despair (Kuroswa has investigated despair as few other filmmakers have...from The Lower Depths and Stray Dog to Ran, many of his films meditate deeply on human hearts without hope). I cannot help but think that Kagemusha's deep feeling comes from the autobiographical: a man (the thief, played by Tatsuya Nakadai) must assume the role of the Lord (or, why not...they say it in the film..."Tenno"...or Emperor...used to describe Kurosaw himself). Kuroaswa must have wondered, in his time of financial difficulty, after the dismissal of "Dodes-Kaden", after his suicide attempt, after losing his status, during his struggles to find financing for Kagemusha...he must have thought about what it is to assume a role of great authority, and to be dismissed from the role that gave his life meaning. Tatsuya Nakadai being ejected forcibly from the castle...retainers throwing clods of mud and stones after him, like a stray dog being pelted and driven from the gates of a house...maybe Kurosawa felt that this is how his life had been. He has said, "I am afraid that me minus movies equals nothing". His identity, so involved in the creation of film, in making his meditations and dreams communicated through the medium of film, and the life that grew up around the creation...the friendships, the experiences, the world of making that makes a world...it must have been horrible for him to realize how fragile and easily shattered that world could be! Federico Fellini once said in an interview that criticism felt somehow impertinent...that his work was a reflection of who he was as a human being, and to judge one's work seemed an insult. I remember this as I think about Kagemusha and the other films of Akira Kurosawa. It is with great humility that I approach my thinking about these films, and would refuse, even if forced, to rank them. That really would be impertinent, and an insult to a life dedicated to the highest good an artist can achieve: an honest look at human experience with the intent of understanding the mysteries of the human heart.  "One of Kurosawa's best films."I had Kagemusha for several years on VHS, before going exclusively DVD. I remember Kagemusha as one of Akira Kurosawa's best movies, in my opinion, second only to Throne of Blood. I was awaiting the delivery of the Criterion edition of this movie with great excitement. It was a letdown. Be warned that this is the mutilated Francis Ford Coppola version, and not the original one! Almost the whole magnificient battle at the end of the movie has been cut. As it is not violent by today's standards, one can wonder why? And while the quality of the movie is OK, I had expected it to be much better. One can only hope that one day Kagemusha will be issued in a complete version, so we can watch this movie in all it's splendour, and the way Kurosawa wanted it to be. "Far interesting than most of the nowaday's crap movies"Just amazing. This is not for someone who looks for actions/fighting. This is for someone who has an interest in Japanese culture and views storyline & character development as most important elements in the movie.  "Very much worth it!"Believe it or not, even though the film is 180 minutes, I was hoping it would just keep going. Kagemusha is such a depressing movie, but it's also so good! The only problem (which the commentators note) is the music as it's too "Hollywood" for the setting of the movie. But that's a minor point. I've enjoyed everything by Kurosawa and Kagemusha is one of the better films. Of his later colour samurai films, if you had to choose between Ran and Kagemusha, Ran is by far the superior film - and from what I've read Kurosawa would agree. Still, the extras make this package extra nice. And just so you know, the essay by Donald Richie is not the same as the one in Mr. Richie's book on Kurosawa (also available on Amazon). So once again, Criterion delivers an exceptional package! "Kagemusha - Not Kurosawa's Best - But Good"If you love Kurosawa's movies because of great characters and story line, this movie may disappoint you. There are lots of characters but the story is difficult to follow. Shintaro Katsu (the classic Zatoichi actor) was originally cast in the main role but due to arguements with Kurosawa he was replaced by Tatsuya Nakadai. This is good because while Katsu was fabulous as Zatoichi, you just can't picture him playing a feudal lord. Nakadai is convincing. As we was later in Ran. The costumes are gorgeous and the scenery wonderful, but the story is not as crisp as Seven Samurai or as compelling as Ikiru. But I still enjoyed the movie for all the other Kurosawa features, high winds, heavy rain, panoramic shots, great close-ups and costumes. Nakadai is also wonderful in Sword of Doom, Yojimbo, Ran and Kill!. Hara Kiri was too gruesome though his acting was good. Also, the Criterion Collection versions are wonderfully done in DVD format. I always look for their version if available. Now can we get Drunken Angel on DVD please? |
