Rating: 
Summary: Tremendous Movie Experience
Review: Kurosawa made a great film here, one of his best. Like "Seven Samauri", this is an epic adventure, with spectacular black-and-white photography, that throws everything but the kitchen sink in. This one's tighter and better edited than "Seven Samauri" though - it doesn't drag, and keeps the viewer tightly engaged throughout its length (139 minutes).If you like movies, you'll like this. The film is often mentioned as a primary influence on "Star Wars". Well, it is. George Lucas as much as admits this in the short interview present on the DVD. "Star Wars" fans probably become angry at film snobs pointing out the debt that film owes to this one, and at claims that this is the better movie. Well, they're both great, fun movies. And this one is undoubtably an influence on the other one. The print on this DVD is excellent. The film looks crisp and glorious (black-and-white) with a minimum of picture debris.
Rating: 
Summary: A quiet adventure that needs no Lucas
Review: The making and premise of Hidden Fortress shows again Kurosawa's ability to display stories for a vast audience. Almost with comedy as his goal he starts the movie (much like Yojimbo but, without the biting parody and satire) from the perspective of two very off-beat characters (played to perfection by two famous actors in the Kurosawa acting guild). And too, much like another movie, Seven Samurai, Toshiro Mufine's character doesn't really come into the movie until later (also adding to the subtle comedy and interaction with the, as Lucas says in the dvd extra "the R2-D2 and C3PO character sketch"). The cast is good but if you look too closely you might become annoyed with the young princess at first, but lucky for her it's played out well by Mufine and another actress in a smaller role (who protects her from the two main off-beat characters in a moment of perversion). All the characters in the movie are cast very well and each one seems to have his/her friend/enemy. For instance, the opposing general that takes on Mufine in a long (and somewhat funny) spear duel. Over all one can't help but to like this movie for what it is: a coming of age story mixed with an escaping from difficult odds mixed with the comedy of errors and finding allies in unexpected characters. However, after the veiwing of the really unneeded Lucas extra, you could easily pick out the obvious inspirations/stealing? of the film that ran over into the Star Wars films (probably to the chagrin of the die hard Star Wars nerd, yes, 'ol George just didn't make it up on his own, but much like John Woo does, he, for lack of a better word "borrows" from the "true" source, and then mixes into the fray all sorts of other "borrowed" material). There really is only one thing that didn't sit well with me in this dvd and that is probably the same reason 50% of consumers bought this movie: to see what they heard was the main inspiration to the great George Lucas archives. But, you wanna know something, I really don't care. [...] This is only one film among the greats out of the country of Japan (and many of us are still waiting for "real material" to be included on these special dvd's). Who of us wouldn't long for "Dreams" or a special release of Kurosawa's early films? Nevermind the countless rip-offs of the Japanese cinema, let's go back to the basics and do another great release like the awe-inspiring Criterion Seven Samuria or Rashomon.... After reading Donald Ritchie's book on Kurosawa you can see the influence of the Noh theater in Hidden Fortress. One of Kurosawa's early works was this movie called "They Who Step On The Tiger's Tail", and this movie (The Hidden Fortress) is a possible remake of the older period piece which is also famous in the Kabuki and Noh plays. Though here, in this dvd, Kurosawa had more freedom to do as he pleased as a director not inhibited by govermental or military censorship. The movie itself is a mixing (or clash) of modern and ancient ideals. Kurosawa's lighthearted drama is a great movie to watch in these respects. It's only too bad this (and a whole bunch of other fine material) wasn't included on the dvd format. Only if the obvious Lucas plug was taken out, then we could have had something of real interest to watch and learn. And perhaps this is too much to ask the mega-corporate Criterion, who have re-released so many movies. Perhaps a more fresh approach by another company not just interested in profit would give us in the appreciative audience something to rant about.
Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa having fun makes for a Great Adventure Epic!
Review: This is very lighthearted fun compared to Kurosawa's other films. It is also very funny and the two mumbling peasants are great fun, they are clearly George Lucas' inspiration for R2D2 and C3PO. The great Toshiro Mifune is also great in his role, again his screen pressence is commanding and demans attention, you can also tell he was having fun. This is one of the best adventure films of all time, it is one cliffhanger after another. It's only flaw is that it is a bit overlong, and some characters are not fully realized, but this is barely noticeable, since the films' main objective is to entertain, and it succeeds handsomely at that. I would recommend this film for those beginning to get interested in Japanese cinema, since it's lighthearted and the story is easy to follow, also they will get hooked on Kurosawa, which in itself is a good thing. All in all, great entertainment, I'm glad Criterion adopted it! A solid 8.5 out of 10!
Rating: 
Summary: ON THE ROAD
Review: This Kurosawa film became popular among STARWARS' fans after they learned it was the basis of the first STARWARS movie. The latter is by far the better film. The strictly by numbers script has 2 would be mercenaries retreating from a war they thought would bring them fortune. Unfortunately, they fought on the losing side. They are a couple of low comics; the sort that in Shakespeare only high school English tearchers seem to think are funny. These 2 are so low they seem to have permanently scrapped knees. By turning them into androids George Lucas actually gave them personalities. Amidst their misadventures they meet a samurai (Mifune) who is protecting the princess of the defeated army and is trying to get her back to her own country so she can literally raise a new army. He tricks these 2 into helping them. The princess' acting style is all DEPORTMENT IN ATTITUDE. She seems to be auditioning for the lead in ILSA, SHE WOLF OF THE SS. Along the way they meet a religious dancing sect who dance something that looks like it wants to be a parody of the monkey dance in KING KONG but it doesn't quite come off. This whole movie doesn't quite come off & one suspects that Kurosawa's only interest was in seeing what he could do with the CinemaScope screen. He was able to do a great deal as his later movies show.
Rating:
Summary: Much more than your average medieval epic
Review: This movie is much more subtle than a lot of people give it credit for. Ostensibly, it's a typical medieval epic with knights, princesses, swordplay. But the point of view is almost completely from that of two peasants, who never think of anything except their own survival and greed, and yet who manage -- almost in spite of their best efforts -- to save the princess several times. As someone else has written, this movie is "big fun."
Rating:
Summary: May the Fortress Be With You
Review: This is another of a series of great perfomances of Toshiro Mifune. If you are not familiar with his work this movie is a great place to start, and if you have any movie mania in you, you will more than likely want to view more of his after this one. A lot has been made of the Star Wars connection, which is that the plot of this movie was borrowed by George Lucas. If you are an avid Star Wars fan, this is a must have for that reason alone. Although I must say that watching The Hidden Fortess doesn't make me think about Star Wars, or visa versa. A great movie, directed by one of the greatest; Akira Kurosawa. Several other of his films were "remade" in America, with the original, to my mind always being the best. (Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven; Yojimbo/A Fistful of Dollars; Sanjuro/For a Few Dollars More)
Rating:
Summary: Greed, Girls, and Generals
Review: "Hidden Fortress" ("Three Bad Men from the Hidden Fortress" is the original Japanese title) is Kurosawas attempt to make a film that is pure entertainment. Think of it as his "Jerry Bruckheimer" flick. A cast of thousands (indeed, the largest cast ever assembled for a Japanese film at that time), lust for gold, honor and dishonor, epic swordfights, cute girls, mistaken identity and a dangerous flight through enemy territory are the layers of "Hidden Fortress." Big fun. Being Kurosawa, he could not help but slip in social commentary and wisdom. There is depth here not found in the casual blockbuster. Yet, it lacks the careful insight of his more focused work such as "Ikiru" and "Seven Samurai." I love "Hidden Fortress" and consider it a good balance to heavier films. I am not always in the mood to work for enlightenment. Sometimes I just want to be entertained. The Criterion Collection DVD is fantastic. Criterion seems to be working to include more extras in there DVD releases, and the George Lucas interview is nice. The picture, sound and translation are all impeccable.
Rating:
Summary: Treasure.
Review: *The Hidden Fortress* turns out to be, thank goodness, just a wee bit more than simply "A-Primary-Influence-On-George-Lucas'-*Star Wars*". (One is almost inclined to hold that fact against the movie.) Besides being "A-Primary-Influence . . . Etc.", it also happens to be Kurosawa's first widescreen film. The "Tohoscope" (i.e., Cinemascope) format reveals the director's uncanny, really almost preternatural, genius, right from the opening scene with the two peasant farmers grumbling at each other as they trudge through some godforsaken desert. Suddenly, a fierce-looking soldier comes into view, wounded; the peasants stare in fright at something coming their way . . . and you are hooked for the duration. A pleasantly unpretentious epic. Simple folk motifs, unmuddled morals, and sweeping action make for an exciting, thoroughly accessible movie-watching experience. And for gravy on your mashed potatoes, *The Hidden Fortess* also boasts the largest female role in the Kurosawa canon: a ravishing young Princess, stranded in enemy territory, who must be led back to her Kingdom. Toshiro Mifune, a grumpy general, gets to do the honors. Along for the trip are the aforementioned peasants, tied to the noble cause for the most ignoble of reasons -- pure greed. Their constant bickering with each other, like a married couple, combined with their humorous one-track-mindedness about a hidden stash of gold, makes you root for them much more than you probably should. All in all, simply a must-have for Kurosawa devotees. [And the DVD is another great product from Criterion, by the way. Besides the great picture (with correct aspect ratio) and restored sound, you even get a short interview with the Dreaded George Lucas.]
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest motion pictures ever!
Review: When I first viewed Hidden Fortress I had the mind set, "I'm sure it will be interesting, but will it be as good as "Yojimbo" or "Seven Samurai". I was pleasantly surprised. Kurosawa engulfs the viewer with beautiful camera shots, great action, and superb acting. I could not pull my self away from this movie! The criterion transfer is one of the better I've seen...This is definately a keeper if you enjoy foreign movies, or any movies for that matter. I have loved watching movies since I was young, so when I can honestly say this is one of the greatest movies I've seen, it is competing with many movies. If nothing else, see it once, and hopefully it will entrance you as much as it did I.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best Kirosawa film
Review: I like almost any of his other works better. It just feels like the story is arbitrary. It's not bad, it's just not his best. I'd rent it before I'd buy it. It's a great move if you compare it to movies now. I just love watching scenes (action scenes especially) that are not edited every 2 seconds and that aren't zoomed in so close to the faces of the actors that you can't tell what's going on... This movie is great in that respect.
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