Rating: 
Summary: A phenomenal film in everyway
Review: I have to confess my bias at the start: Akira Kurosawa is easily one of my two or three favorite directors. If forced to sit down and do a list of my 25 favorite films, SEVEN SAMURAI would be in a tie for first, and two or three others would join it on the list. This was the first movie that Kurosawa made that was widescreen, and therefore the first that will derive maximum benefit from DVD. (Read through the early reviews of the DVD of SEVEN SAMURAI to see some of the confusion over this.) His use of the wider angle is magnificent, presenting the view with extraordinary vistas again and again. Kurosawa never seemed to struggle with the technical aspects of filmmaking, and would later make a similarly effortless transition to color. This is one of Kurosawa's finest films. It is difficult to say that it is his best, since his very best films are among the greatest ever made. Suffice it to say, that the film bears in every way the mark of greatness. The camera work is flawless. Though black and white, the film is gorgeous to look at every moment. The acting is impeccable, with Mifune giving a somewhat difference performance in this one. If we are more accustomed to think of him as a more fiery character, as in RASHOMON or SEVEN SAMURAI or THRONE OF BLOOD, in this one he is magisterial and aristocratic. I think the parallels to STAR WARS are rather overblown, and anyone coming to this film looking for tones of George Lucas rather than Akira Kurosawa just may find themselves disappointed. Yes, there is a princess, and yes, there are some very small plot parallels, and yes, there are two comic characters included to provide light entertainment and to move the plot along. But none of these are crucial elements of THE HIDDEN FORTRESS. But I do think the STAR WARS references bring up a very interesting point about Kurosawa: more than anyother foreign filmmaker in history, Kurosawa is the one with the easist relationship with American culture. People who normally dislike foregin film can respond powerfully to his films. I once showed SEVEN SAMURAI to a group of high school boys. These kids were almost in a state of mutiny, because 1) the film was black and white and 2) it was subtitled. But by the end of the evening they were all entranced and had become fans of the film. I think the reason they responded so easily was partly because Kurosawa was a cinematic genius, but also because he had absorbed so much of American culture and film technique in his films. Just as many American films have borrowed directly from his work, so he borrowed from American sources. Many of his films bear evidence of extensive exposure to film noir and American Westerns, and several of his plots are borrowed from American and Western sources. One example: much has been made of the fact that A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS was based on Kurosawa's YOJIMBO, but it is not as often noted that YOJIMBO was based on Dashiell Hammett's RED HARVEST, in which the Continental Op goes to the town of Personville (or, as a Brooklyn-accented character in the book pronounces it, Poisonville) and turns two warring criminal factions against each other. But if you haven't seen this film, do so. Without any question one of Kurosawa's very finest films.
Rating: 
Summary: The Hidden Fortress and Star Wars
Review: I'm not sure that it is helpful knowing that George Lucas found inspiration for his "Star Wars" films in Kurosawa's historical epic, "The Hidden Fortress" (1958). Oh, there are a number of matters of content that seem quite similar. Though Kurosawa's story takes place in sixteenth century Japan and Lucas sets his in space in the future, the basic struggles are the same-the restoration of power to a princess and her clan. Some would compare Toshiro Mifune's General Rokurota Makabe to Harrison Ford's Hans Solo in "Star Wars" (1977), though there may be more commonality shared with Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker. And the two peasant farmers, pawns in the turmoil of sixteenth century Japanese civil wars, are easily identified as precursors of the "Star Wars" droids, R2-D2 and C3PO. However, when all is said and done, the comparisons are only superficial. It may be more constructive to note some aspects of humor and character that are utilized in general. Kurosawa has always been willing to develop exaggerated characters. The peasant farmers, with their quick shifts between cowardice, bickering , and thievery are good examples of this. Certainly the first two of these traits were incorporated in the character of C3PO (the mechanical humanoid), but R2-D2 shows none of these characteristics. There is, however, an overall sense of humor that permeates both "The Hidden Fortress" and the "Star Wars" films-as well as a strong sense of nobility in the central characters, Rokurota and Skywalker. That said, "The Hidden Fortress" seems to me to have clearly been made by a superior filmmaker. Both are good at telling the story. The "Star Wars" films rely heavily on special effects, to the extent, I think, that these are the central features of the films. "The Hidden Fortress," while a relatively light weight work for Kurosawa, involves much more subtle character development achieved by means of acting skill revealed through visual compostion and unenhanced camera work. This was Kurosawa's first use of Tohoscope, a Japanese widescreen process. And he uses the screen frequently to develop character. Over and over again he uses the wide screen to develop and reveal character. The peasant farmers are certainly more complex than the droids, though they are simplistically exaggerated. Kurosawa chose to explore the situation of these piteous beings, buffeted about in the feudal wars of sixteenth century Japan, in visually reinforced wide screen long shots in those final scenes on the plains. The code of the samurai is central to an understanding of "The Seven Samurai" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "Sanjuro" (1962), and even "Rashomon" (1954). These are all great films centered around the samurai class in Japan's past. From the ninth century, samurai warriors followed a strict code of ethical behavior known as "bushido," which remained orally transmitted for generations. Briefly it is a way of life in which the warrior's honor and purpose are tied closely to the needs of his master. In this respect, he was to be selfless. His was not to understand or concern himself with politics-only to defend with honor the family or clan he served. For such a man the ideal was to be without fear-to always move forward in his employer's interest-without fear of death-only fear of dishonor. Toshiro Mifune's character in "The Hidden Fortress" is a military general, but his devotion to the creed and to his princess can be explained relative to this code. His daring, too, extends from that. So, too, his reputation reflects that of an accomplished samurai. An especially strong scene in this regard is the duel scene in which Rokurota's skill and bravery are what are prized and respected by his opponent. Above all, The Hidden Fortress remains a great adventure permeated with humor and nobility. While the force in the "Star Wars" sense is never mentioned, it remains a tacit part of Rokurota's nobility.
Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa at his best
Review: This video should delight all but those who shrink at the thought of subtitles. It is a rousing, humorous adventure that also gives westerners a fascinating glimpse into a very alien culture. Early Kurosawa such as "Hidden Fortress" is much better than the pretentious films he made from around 1970 on. Early in his career the director made sure he had a solid story; in his last two decades he padded weak stories with long, boring scenes filled with characters making oh-so-profound statements like, "Life is hell." Life is not hell, but watching "Ran" is.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting! - But Home Vision's widescreen still falls short
Review: The VHS from Home Vision is supposed to be in widescreen format, yet I do not understand why it is still not in the original aspect ratio of the film. The picture is "cut off" at the edges - clearly evident in the opening credits where the Japanese names on the left and right are partially covered. Such disregard results in scenes of 'half-bodied' characters on the left and right edges of the frame, especially in many compositions of the two farmers. The same mis-treatment happened to 'Ran' from Fox Lorber; and I thought Home Vision's productions would be fine as earlier I saw its 'Yojimbo' and found no problems with its widescreen presentation. I hope Home Vision would care to comment. Despite the flaw, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It is a finely-judged balance of serious adventure and light-hearted satire at the same time. Kurosawa achieved and sustained the contrasts in the film at several levels, most of which are flashed out through the film's main characters with beguiling effect. If, somehow, you have been put off by the pessimism and darkness of many of Kurosawa's films, this is the film that would make the difference. By the end of it, it is hard not to have on your face a smile that can come only from a most satisfying and heartwarming experience. Exciting, entertaining and enchanting, the film actually suprises with its economy and simplicity. It is yet another lesson from the master to other film-makers on how good story-telling alone can carry a film to the height of great entertainment without the indiscriminate resort to special effects and gross sensationalism that Hollywood is so fond of.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden Fortess: another masterpiece by Kirusawa
Review: I often wondered about my taste in men when after seeing Star Wars I found myself favoring Darth Vader over the heroes. Darth seemed the quintessential general, CEO, or any other take charge kind of guy, while the heroes seemed like bumpkins. Hidden Fortress is reputed to have been Lukas' prototype for Star Wars, and after seeing the former, I now know why I felt as I did about the latter! In fact Darth Vader is the hero in Hidden Fortress, facing staggering odds with only his own courage and generalship to carry the day. And the bumpkins are in fact bumpkins! A fun film to see, especially if you are a Star Wars fan, but even if you're not. This film is not a sci-fi epic but a period piece set in Japan's heroic past. The director's feeling for cinematography is evident here as in Throne of Blood, although for shear visual beauty, the latter is by far the better of the two.
Rating:
Summary: A well-deserved 5 stars...superb stuff from Kurosawa!
Review: Until George Lucas cited this movie as one of the main influences for "Star Wars", it probably would have been remembered as one of Kurosawa's forgotten masterpieces--not as revolutionary as "Roshomon", not as edgy as "Throne Of Blood", not as epic as "Ran". Fortunately, we have this film in public consciousness today and we are better off for it. The movie is remarkably restrained for all the action that goes on in it. Toshiro Mifune is at the top of his game as the samurai who must protect his princess during precarious situations. Kurosawa's direction is quite honestly sublime, particularly in his direction of Mifune (as usual), the two bumbling thieves who must assist him more out of desperation than devotion to his princess, and in particular his handling of the sword-fighting scene about 2/3 into the picture. It is striking due to the flashy action that does NOT happen--everything is in the body language of the actors, and it is great stuff. Thank you George, for not allowing this gem to fade into obscurity!
Rating:
Summary: Criterion
Review: Just letting you guys know, Criterion will be releasing the definitive version of this film on DVD in a few months!
Rating:
Summary: A TRUE MASTERPIECE
Review: This is a timeless masterpiece. The characters are well established, true and colorful. The story is captivating, well paced and believable. Despite the frugal props, the foreign language and the black and white film, it comes out as one of the best films ever!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best action movies ever made-- and a very amusing
Review: Hidden Fortress is one of the best action movies ever made (as one might expect from Kurosawa). It is also a quite amusing comedy. The princess is beautiful and the hero is valiant. The duels and battles are beautifully paced.
Rating:
Summary: A Tour de force, yes...
Review: This is a movie that aims to please, from the spectacular slave revolt in the beginning, to the fantastical characters of a stoic-arrogant general's (Mifune in his muscle-man mode --- whoa!) mission to deliver his princess to safe territories. The sexual innuendos involving the general and princess, however, are a bit disturbing in hindsight. But what the heck. Worth mentioning, however, are the performances by Minoru Chiaki (in his last role for Kurosawa I believe - but correct me if you will) and Kamatari Fujiwara --- as the bumbling and greedy to the core farmers "helping" Mifune. They are simply hilarious and adorable, much more complex characters than R2D2 and C3PO! The opening scene, with the farmers stumbling into the frame and followed by a stray soldier's murder, is classic.
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