Rating: 
Summary: THE example of page to screen mastery
Review: If your a beginning film buff looking to expand into Japanese films or a Japanese film sage this is the DVD for you. Based on Akutagawa's short story "In A Grove" , Kurosawa has transferred the page deftly and seamlessly to film. Short (compared to other Kurosawa films) and easy to understand ( hint: lighting {or lack thereof} and angles) make it enjoyable for anyone wanting to explore CINEMA.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Criterion Edition
Review: The recent Criterion release of Rashomon was, to me at least, very satisfying. While others are not totally satisfied with the picture quality, it's not really bad at all. It was, after all, a small scale low budget film (Kurosawa was still a relative new-comer- probably along the lines of Spielberg after Jaws), but there is nothing in the lines of picture and sound that detract from the viewing experience.And that experience is indeed a memorable one, between the artful collaboration of Kurosawa and Miyagawa. The four accounts of the incident are like the filming of the characters going into the forest....almost mystical, and surreal with strong contrasts in sunshine and shade, the sunlight (truth....?)itself being obstructed by the mysteries of the forest. The disc includes an intro by Robt. Altman, some material with Kazuo Miyagawa, the cinematographer, and an interesting commentary by film historian Donald Ritchie. The accompanying booklet has, among other things, selections from Kurosawa's autobiography and the original two short stories upon which Rashomon is based. While certainly not definitive, there is enough material to whet the appetite (at least) to one of filmdom's truly great masters, and is nothing that Criterion needs to be ashamed of!
Rating:
Summary: A great cinematic feat...
Review: Rashomon is a great cinematic feat. Filmed in 1950 and released here in the states in '51, it was very ahead of it's time. Akira Kurosawa, probably best known here in the states for The Seven Samarai, creates a puzzling movie that the mind can't help but ponder over long after the movie is finished. The simple plot is about three people. A warrior, his wife and a bandit. The wife is raped, the warrior is murdered and the bandit is captured. The story is being narrated to us by two men, a woodsman and a priest, both who witnessed not only parts of the crime but also the testimony of the wife, the bandit and even the warrior (via a medium) in court. What this movie eventually becomes is an experiment on truth and reality. As all the testimonies contradict each other, we begin to doubt each person's reality. The story is told 5 different times, none of them in agreement, and what we begin to realize is that Kurosawa is trying to show us how our reality is altered by our perceptions. The extras on the DVD are great, Criterion has succeeded again in putting together a great deal of extras that add to a movie that would easily stand on its own. Robert Altman introduces the movie, and talks about why the movie is one of his favorites. Also, a Kurasawa expert, Donald Richie, has recorded a commentary that helps the viewer really appreciate the subtle nuances of Rashomon, little points like how much silent film influenced Kurosawa. This movie is a classic and has influenced film makers in the states for years. Once you see it, you too can't help but be influenced by it.
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Summary: Must-see for writers, film fans, theater buffs and...lawyers
Review: This film is not only a classic, it is one of those watershed artistic creations that takes a place on those "best of" or "ten best ever" lists. Why should a relatively short Japanese film be such an achievement? Why should you see it even if you are not a fan of foreign films with subtitles, or of classic films in general? "Rashomon" tells a story of a rape and murder from four different points of view; that of the accused (played by Toshiro Mifune, whom some call the "John Wayne of Japan") and also that of the murdered man, the assaulted wife, and a woodcutter. All tell their story as witnesses to a silent priest. The telling of the tale involves flashback, perspective and...lying and deception. It is this depiction of the vagaries of human perception and truth-telling that make the film so compelling and so valuable for both literary study and for anyone in law enforcement or the legal field. As far as film technique, Kurosawa uses not only the flashback technique, but non-chronological storytelling and the use of body language.
Kurosawa's incredible grasp of human psychology makes the telling of Rashomon timeless and positively gripping. The DVD is a good but not stunning reconstitution of the original black and white film. It is not as crisp as one would hope, but we are lucky even to have these films; some of Kurosawa's films were chopped down into uniform film lengths of about 2 hours during WWII by the Japanese government (many of his films are notably longer) and aren't even available intact as director's cuts anymore. The extras are, of course, a joy for Kurosawa fans like me. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best.
Review: I have always loved Kurosawa's Samurai movies. From Yojimbo to the Samurai Trilogy, from Ran to Seven Samurai. I think his greatest two movies though are not samurai but more realistic (down to earth) movie dealing with the human mind. Red Beard is one and Rashomon is the other. I think Rashomon is a great movie to sit down and watch over and over again just to try and figure out the true answer in the movie. Yes, yet another movie that Director Kurosawa-san brought out Mifune-san as one of the lead actors, although this was one of the early years. I beleive that Toshiro Mifune is the greatest actor of all time. I beleived that he was a compassionate doctor in Red Beard, a very strong Miyamoto Musashi, and even a Noble Makabe Rokuroto in Hidden Fortress. In Rashomon, I actually beleived he was a little son of a gun thief and lunatic.
Another good, but short role is played by Minoru Chiaki. It seems that he always gets the same role and always short. He also stars in a few other movies with Mifune/Kurosawa.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good blackandwhite movie
Review: The word "Rashomon" has long become a must-have-and-used word in the Orient as to interpretate the very same thing by different person with different point of views. The word "Rashomon", in modern days in America, can be used to explain how the Republican and the Democratic Parties to view and pitch or approach any agenda so differently such as Tax Cut, Health Care, Social Security, Foreign Policy, National Defense(oh, shall I say, the newly popularated "Homeland Security" by the Republican government?). The word "Rashomon" can also be miserably used to explain why the Islamic people hate the Jews or Americans, but we Jews or Americans never hate anybody but themselves when watching a NFL or NBA game won by the teams they never like or support enough to buy their merchandise. The word "Rashomon" only tell us, there always some other different explanations or views by different persons, in different ages, sex, moods, or in different time frames. Nothing is absolutely right or wrong, only depend upon where, how, why you choose to stand. The word "Rashomon" is a too deep philosophic word, yet a word you should grap at a certain moment or certain time to remind you and all of us, always leave some room or space to yourself and others, your world is sometime not the exactly world other people live in. Your very own birthday is already long past 24 hours earlier in the Far East, 3 hours ago in the East Coast, 2 hours ago in Central region. Even almost every single track house looks alike to the next or around, the furniture in each house is never the same. "Rashomon" is also the word to remind you how important the word "Tolerance" is.
Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa's breakthrough film
Review: Akira Kurosawa, known as one of the greatest directors of all time, got international attention with this film, that opened up the Japanese film market to the world. Released in 1950, this film, along with the director won many coveted awards. The story is simple, but at the same time the film is very complex. Tajomaru, a bandit, played wonderfully by the great Toshiro Mifune, is accused of raping a woman, and murdering her husband, in the woods. Tajomaru, the woman, a witness, and the man himself (speaking through a medium) tell their version of the events. The thing is each one tells a different story, with their own perspective on the events, and perception of those involved. So as each story is told we go into flashback and see the different events, and how the characters act differently. The film from a technical standpoint is perfect, with innovative use of the camera, and editing. Acting is done superbly, with each actor, playing a slightly different version of their characters in each flashback. The script cannot get better, based on two short stories. The film is very serious, and is a meditation on the nature of truth.Its about how truth is relative, and how we each have a different viewing of events, tastes, and concepts. It is also about how each person makes up their own truth, lies, to deceive themselves. Our ego is so big we need to comfort it, and keep it safe from harsh reality. In all this film is perfect, and is even sometime called Japan's Citizen Kane, in the way it impacted Japanese filming. The two films have many similarities. If you enjoy serious films, investigating the nature of truth, and ourselves, see this film. 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: The elusive nature of truth
Review: A film about the subjective nature of truth, Rashomon is a startlingly original film from Japanese director Kurosawa. Well known and regarded for his classic samurai films, Kurosawa's rich and sharply observed personal films are often overlooked by most fans of Japanese cinema. It has more to do with Kurosawa's unconventional approach to storytelling than anything else. Like Hitchcock, Truffaut, Kubrick and Spielberg, Kurosawa uses the camera as truth detector. When a young woman is raped and her husband is killed, we are asked to interpret their various stories and figure out who's telling the truth. We realize, in the process, that everyone and no one is being completely truthful for a variety of selfish personal choices. We also begin to question the subjective nature of truth and personal observation about the world. Mifune is marvelous as the rapist/killer/lover (you decide which hat he truly wears)in an unexpected role. He's just as compelling here as he was in The Seven Samurai and other Kurosawa epics. The Criterion transfer is crisp rendering the black and white photographer in stark, sharp images whose beauty belies the ugly truth underneath it all. The extras include a running commentary by a Kurosawa scholar and loads of goodies including the original US run theatrical trailer. Given the age of the film and condition of the negative, the transfer is nearly flawless having none of the flaws I've seen in many video transfers and new prints of the film. I'd highly recommend Rashomon for fans of Japanese cinema as well as anyone who likes entertainment to be more than a giant meatball.
Rating:
Summary: This is...
Review: ...one of the best movies ever made...anywhere. Powerful acting, a thought-provoking rumination on the nature of memory, truth and self, and the gorgeous work of Kurosawa make this a masterpiece. It has stood the test of time remarkably well...It is neither dated nor has it lost any of its' power over the years. Spellbinding!!!! (I have never employed that overused often pretentious word before, but Rashomon actually deserves the praise).
Rating:
Summary: A classic all the way
Review: This will be short and to the point- If you call yourself a movie fan than watch Rashomon. IT is a true example of pure cinema magic. You won't regret it!
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