Yojimbo [VHS] [1961]
![Yojimbo [VHS] [1961]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GTQWV5JQL._SL160_.jpg) RRP £15.99 Lowest New Price £10.00 
|
Parental Guidance Connoisseur Video Release date: Monday 9th of November 1998 Starring: Director(s): Format: Black & White, Single, PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen, Number of discs: 1 Running time: 105 minutes Language: English (Subtitled) Language: Japanese (Original Language) |
RRP: £15.99
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
This semi-comic 1961 film by legendary director Akira Kurosawa (Rashomon, Ran) was inspired by the American Western genre. Kurosawa mainstay Toshirô Mifune (Seven Samurai) is cast as a drifting samurai for hire who plays both ends against the middle with two warring factions, surviving on his wits and his ability to outrun his own bad luck. Eventually the samurai seeks to eliminate both sides for his own gain and to define his own sense of honour. Yojimbo is striking for its unorthodox treatment of violence and morality, reserving judgment on the actions of its main character and instead presenting an entertaining tale with humour and much visual excitement. One of the inspirations for the "spaghetti westerns" of director Sergio Leone and later surfacing as a remake as Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis, this film offers insight into a director who influenced American films even as he was influenced by them. --Robert Lane, Amazon.com
collection
Review date: 2009-04-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
Any collection that does not include this film.is not yet complete, if it has any faults i've yet to find them.
Reviews
A class act!
Review date: 2008-07-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
This was one of the first foreign films I ever watched.I was curious to see what the original idea was like,after watching'A Fistful of Dollars'The Japanese version was much superior,and hugely entertaining.Toshiro Mifune plays the wandering Samurai warrior brilliantly,as he gets the two rival gangs battling against each other.A timeless film,and a class act.I never tire of watching it!
"I'm not dying yet. I have to kill quite a few men first "
Review date: 2007-12-27 Rating: 8 out of 10
Yesterday I saw "Yojimbo" (1961), a beautiful black and white movie directed by Akira Kurosawa. From my point of view, this dvd isn't Kurosawa best movie, but it is nonetheless a film that is worthwhile watching.
This fast-paced and morally ambivalent story is set in Japan, during the second half of the nineteenth century, a period in which old social structures were destroyed, and faithful samurais where left without masters. Those samurais had to wander in search of employment, and were called "ronin". Sanjuro (Toshirô Mifune), the main character of "Yojimbo", is one of them.
Sanjuro stumbles into a small town that happens to be divided into two warring factions. He soon realizes that those factions are fighting over control of the village, something that seems to him a good opportunity to sell his services to the higher bidder. Sanjuro has flexible standards of morality and won't have misgivings about doublecrossing his momentary allies, when he deems it convenient to earn more money. His ultimate purpose is more complex, though: Sanjuro wants to rid the town of both bands. Unfortunately, his luck and the foolishness of the two bands can only last for so long...
On the whole, I think that this is a very good film, that even those not normally fond of foreign movies will like. Recommended...
Belen Alcat
PS: Kurosawa's best movie is, in my opinion, "Seven samurai".
PS2: The plot of this film was taken in 1964 by Sergio Leone in order to make the first "spaghetti" Western, "A fistful of dollars", starring Clint Eastwood.
ONE OF THE VERY, VERY BEST PERIOD SAMURAI FILMS
Review date: 2007-06-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
I never tire of watching this film. Mifune is here at his best, as the rogue ronin who manages to manipulate effectively and eventually eliminate two different gangs of criminals in a small Japanese village in order to liberate the subdued villagers. Mifune's Yojimbo is a cynical, misanthropic wandering samurai who helps out the villagers for no apparent reason.
It is easy to see how Clint Eastwood modeled some of his gunslinging cowboys on Mifune's incredible rendition.
magnificent and atmospheric Kirosawa at his BEST
Review date: 2007-03-24 Rating: 10 out of 10
Its no wonder that Sergio Leone used every last detail of Yojimbo to write A Fist Full of Dollars this film is bordering on perfection.
Toshiro Mifune tosses a stick in the air to see in which way to travel and the rest is straight out of legend.
The film has its comic moments,all the baddies look like they have come from a horror movie set,one in particular looks like Lurch from the Adams family but the entire plot down to the finest detail was used by Leone for his first Dollar film.
Mifune sucks on a straw whilst Clint sucks on a cheroot,even Wanderdios the crazy bell ringer is there and the undertaker.
Yojimbo is the film A Fist Full of Dollars should have been.Leones first outing lacks the style and cinematography of the final two but Yojimbo in Japanese ranks alongside Throne of Blood as one of the greatest Japanese films of all time.The atmosphere and comic dialogue is one of a master director at work and the film sets and special effects are trully excellent.
If there is only one Kirosawa film you should see then Yojimbo is it because the atmosphere and acting especially by Mifune are of the highest standard.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Isuzu Yamada
Eijirô Tôno
Yôko Tsukasa
Tatsuya Nakadai
Toshirô Mifune
Creators:
Toshirô Mifune (Primary Contributor)
Eijirô Tôno (Primary Contributor)
Kazuo Miyagawa (Cinematographer)
Akira Kurosawa (Editor)
Akira Kurosawa (Producer)
Akira Kurosawa (Writer)
Ryuzo Kikushima (Producer)
Ryuzo Kikushima (Writer)
Tomoyuki Tanaka (Producer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Connoisseur Video
Manufacturer: Connoisseur Video
EAN: 5022655001176
Binding: VHS Tape
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, Single, PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen,
Release date: 1998-11-09
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Running time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1961-09-13
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Japanese (Original Language)
Tech info, cast and quotes/trivia when available. Exclusions may apply with free delivery. Price and availabiltity subject to change
