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The Twilight Samurai Director: Yôji Yamada Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, Closed-captioned Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Studio: Empire Pictures Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2004-12-28 Buy from Amazon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 "Very Delicate and Impressive Samurai Story" I have only seen the Japanese version w/ English subtitles...which is probably the only way to go. This movie is essentially intelligently pieced together. It gives the viewer a chance to picture how some of the samurai struggled towards the end of the Tokugawa period as they were losing their reign on Japan. Basically a story about a samurai whos wife passed way and is left to care for two young daughters, along with a senile mother. There are few fight scenes, but even an action lover may still be drawn into the slower tempo paced story. These movies are few and far between and deserve some recognition. Actually, I believe in one of the American Award shows, Twilight was nominated for best foreign film. This movie is top-notch with a great story, setting, pacing, acting, and understanding. You will definately appreciate the original Japanese language w/ English subtitles as the original actors know how to deliver the lines. So do yourself a favor, and check out that particular version. "Simply awesome - a must see, and own" I'm the type who will only buy movies that I REALLY love, so my collection is fairly small. "The Twilight Samurai" will be joining that collection very shortly. This movie is a wonderfully told story with compelling characters, great acting, and awesome visuals. At times it's humerous, other times very sad, and yet at the same time it can be very suspensful. You find yourself truly caring for the main character, the "twilight samurai", which I think is a sign of a great story and great buildup. Definitely worth checking out if you like a great story with lots to offer. "One of the best films ever!" I honestly could not believe that actors could be this good. Hiroyuki Sanada (Seibei) portrays the humble, quiet, yet skilled samurai with perfection. Rie Miyazawa (Tomoe) plays the gentle, caring, yet strong willed childhood friend with a sweetness I have rarely seen in a film. I have always been a fan of Chinese wuxia (similar to samurai genre) because I liked the romantic views of an age that is long lost in history. An age where respect for elders, dignity, honor were themes integral to the way of life. And of course I was always fascinated by the fighting abilities of the characters. This film portrays its times with a simplicity and genuiness that is very touching to the audience. If there is one word I would describe the film, I would say "honest." It remains true to what actual pre-Meiji times would look and feel like. Instead of portraying a hero that is invincible and without vulnerability, it describes a man who is very much vulnerable because he really doesn't want to fight. He wants to be with his two young daughters after the death of their mother. He wants to rekindle that friendship that he has with his long time lover Tomoe. In far too many films do we feel this deep attachment to the main character, as if he could be a member of our own family. We want him to survive, yet we do not know that he is going to come back alive. Thus there is real fear and palpitation because we do not want his daughters and mother to suffer. Now some of you may view this as blasphemy, but it is better than Seven Samurai. Even while watching that, I did not really feel a real sense of danger for the villagers or for the main characters. This is even more evident in Hollywood films of late like The Last Samurai. I liked that film but upon reflection and comparing it to this film, it was really sub-par. Even the inevitable death of Kasumoto in that film was not completely touching because we anticipated it and it seemed premeditated. Ken Watanabe is a fine actor, but I seriously doubt that all the military men would bow down to him and a Caucasian in real life. Pretense is something I dislike very much, and so The Twilight Samurai just felt special in the way that it remained very realistic. This film is by far the best of its genre because it remains romantic and realistic at the same time, a feat I thought was not possible. "Wonderful" Certainly not a hack-and-slash samurai flick (which I also love), this is a wonderfully deep and moving story of a lower-rank samurai just at the end of the Tokugawa era. It feels more like the psychodrama which it is, than an action movie. My wife and I loved it. "sweet Moses this is good stuff!" This movie is a kind of beautiful combination of the existential concerns of Kurasawa's Ikiru with his Samurai films. It reminded me of the mission and I was instantly in love with the protagonist's two daughters. This is a drama. The fighting means nothing except in it's contrast with the two daughters. Swords to Plowshares - is there nothing more beautiful than watching children grow? Highly recommended.