Rating: 
Summary: I deducted a star for low bit rate
Review: This is the follow up to the excellent Yojimbo. The Criterion dvd for Yojimbo is outstanding, unfortunately the Criterion version of Sanjuro doesn't live up to expectations. The bit rate is considerably lower than any other dvd I have viewed, and while the video quality is by no means horrible, discerning videophiles will be unhappy. Unsophisticated viewers probably won't notice the difference, but if you are ordering the dvd version of Sanjuro, it is unlikely that you are an unsophisticated viewer ;) Nevertheless, no Kurosawa fan should be without this, seeing as how it is the only dvd version of this movie. Just don't expect the video quality of Criterion's dvd releases of Yojimbo or Seven Samurai.
Rating: 
Summary: a cool follow up to yojimbo
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.This film released shortly after the release of Yojimbo, has the same main character. In this film, Sanjuro withthe help of some friends eliminate corruption in his town and rescue his uncle was was jailed on trumped up charges. The film has a famous 'splatter' scene in the climax which is almost Hitchcockian because of the filmmakers use of chocloate syrup for the stage blood. (in B&W films, one cannot tell the difference anyway) The DVD only has a theatrical trailer for a special feature, but it is still worth getting for those interested in films like this.
Rating: 
Summary: Kurosawa's comedic samurai classic
Review: This sequel to Yojimbo, follows Sanjuro to a new town, with its own problems, and who other than him to solve them. The wise and witty Sanjuro over hears nine ignorant samurai discussing how the leader of their clan has been kidnaped by traitors, who wish to take control over it. Sanjuro steps in and immediately points out where their suspicions are wrong, and begins his plan to save the clan. The problem is these nine samurai aren't too bright, they are young and foolish, and ruin a lot of Sanjuro's plans, to great comedic effect. Women he saves complain about how he saves them. Time after time Sanjuro gets put into seemingly inescapable situations, and uses his mind to escape. But in the end, can this one brilliant mind, save a town of dumb minds? This film is very humorous, as Sanjuro being an out of place Samurai in a town that depends on him, yet continuously ruin his chances to help them. Toshiro Mifune as always displays his niche for acting, and plays this role greatly. And the master himself Kurosawa hit the nail on the head, placing the camera in all the right places, and editing the shots to perfection. The dialog is humorous and ironic. The young samurai so ill equipped to be samurai, contrasted with Sanjuro's mastery, creates a fun film that is laid back, proving Kurosawa can make both thematic explorations of life and truth, but also comedic action entertainment. There are a lot of sword fights here, especially one versus many, that will satisfy action fans. While I'd recommend Yojimbo over this, this one still is too good to pass up, highly recommended. 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: There's Nothing "Fine" About the Folks At Criterion
Review: Those of you who give rave reviews to Criterion's dvd releases should reexamine your views. Nobody charges more for such inferior quality versions of nevertheless excellent films...their dvd release of "Yojimbo," for instance, is a travesty. We are led to believe that it is the widescreen version of the film, but when text spills off of the edge of the screen, we know that there is still cropping going on. And I've NEVER seen such horrible scratches on any dvd anywhere... "Seven Samurai," meanwhile, has some very inaccurate english subtitles. Look closely...they mistake the word "because" for "become" at one point, and foul up in other instances as well. And how much did that dvd cost?!?!? And while they corrected some of the artifacts, they left many, many more. I guess they just lost patience? Non-Kurosawa Criterion films do not always fare much better. The widescreen version of "Time Bandits" is presented in "fake widescreen," in that the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen actually COVER UP parts of the original picture...you do not get more...you get less. Compare to the VHS version yourself and see. But again, check the PRICE TAG! Ridiculous! STOP GIVING CRITERION SUCH GLOWING LIP SERVICE! THEY DO NOT DESERVE IT! They are ripping off the consumer with pocket-gauging prices and half-baked dvd releases. Keep singing their praises, and they'll keep getting away with it.
Rating:
Summary: Not Akira Kurosawa's finest hour
Review: Trust me, I know the man was a genius, but everything he touched wasn't gold. I truly believe this movie was made because Yojimbo made a ton of money. This time Sanjuro is wandering around again and finds himself staying at a little hut for a night because the room was free. He overhears a group of young and very dumb samurai's talking about a conspiracy against their town leaders. Sanjuro then gets involved and lots of people DIE! I have some problems with this movie, in the young samurai group there are one too many guys in it, none of the characters are ever fleshed out, its like they are just one big person, which may have been the point. The film style is SLOPPY. Akira was on his coffee break while making this film! The climax is pretty generic, I don't think anyone is that dumb, its like the end of a children's cartoon. There are some really annoying things here, those two women are frustrating, why does that woman keep talking like she's half asleep and takes really huge teeth grinding breaths between words (notice how Toshiro keeps giving her that strange look, like he wants to break her jaw). You don't spend enough time with the characters to really care about them, Sanjuro looks more annoyed than anything. Which could be the hidden genius of this film, you hate the characters as much as Sanjuro does, he keeps scowling and calling them idiots throughout the whole movie, and I agree. But the film WANTS you to be on their side. Maybe its Sanjuro doesn't want to help these morons but he HAS to because injustice and evil is not right. And the film tells you through style instead of pouring down your throat like a lesser film would. But you spend half of the film watching these young run back and forth telling the group some breaking news, they all go rush to it and Sanjuro then stops them and tells them how dumb they are. This happens about 90 billion times throughout the film. If not that the film has some pretty entertaining bits in it, the sword fights are still fast and furious, the violence isn't as ugly as it was in the first film, the humor isn't as dark. And man, its just not a really good film. I think the ending is genius, and I like how it ends on a down note that Sanjuro hates everything even more after defeating his equal. The first film is much much better, but you should see this movie. Good DVD n stuff, yeah, ONE WHOLE cenimeter is missing from the sides, like you can actually tell, oh I'm such a slob now! Really, it doesn't matter, its the tiniest of cenimeters and you won't even notice!!
Rating:
Summary: Camelias
Review: What is the line uttered by Toshiro Mifune as he looks out of the screened house into the garden of camelias? The "lady" asks him his name, he looks out into the garden and the trees overladen with flowers and says his name is.... "Camelia...30 year-old (going on 40)." Oh Toshiro! You crack me up! Self-deprecating humor is so much fun.
Mifune uses this in Yojimbo, too, this spur-of-the-moment self-invention. Who is this samurai, this ronin, anyway? Well, he surely looks sketchy enough for the kids who need his help not to trust him entirely. Confusion and hilarity ensue because of their lack of faith.
Mifune does everything you want Mifune to do: he hitches his shoulders as he walks away, he runs, "like Groucho Marx, only speedier", he scratches his beard, scratches his hairline, (the finger creeping up through the inside of the kimono..and what the heck is that, anyway? He always has his arms out of the sleeves, close to his body, the empty arms of the garment, hanging...what is that all about? It's cool, though, when he is running, then, as he slows, and approaches what will be his prey, his arms descend into the kimono sleeves, terminating in his clenched fists....I love that! ). Mifune yawns, grunts, makes rude and hilarious comments, slices and dices the bad guys, and goes through a transformative change. He's intelligent and a shrewd judge of character, this guy...so expect him to see through ruses, to know whassup..to be one step ahead of everyone else.....his only slip-up is the idiocy of the well-meaning but bumbling kids he is herding. The rest of the cast: Shimura shows up, and so do some of Kurasawa's other favorites, and it is darn good to see them, expanding their repertoire of characters.
This one is played for comedy, and is accessible, delightful, so much fun! I have the very deepest affection for this film. A moment that always pleases me to the bottom of my being is the moment when the captive celebrates with the kids, the music is loud and celebratory, and they are dancing and holding hands and laughing...then, they realize that they are too loud, and quiet down...and then they realize that the captive is out of his cupboard, and he oughtta be back in the cupboard. Just these little transitions, so charming, just LOVE IT!
The plot is exciting and fun, with actions and counter-actions, with strategy and wit, and action-packed, and tight and wonderfu, and I think your life will be made better if you watch this film. Last scene, blood spurt, goodbye, Toshiro's back? CLASSIC.
Rating:
Summary: Mifune among the 9 bumblers - enjoyable and humorous
Review: Who would have thunk you could have a funny samurai movie? I guess you can have comedic westerns, so why no a humorous samurai? The samurai genre is the Japanese western, after all. Here, Yojimbo (Mifune) comes upon 9 bumbling samurai who are caught up in the crossfire of a political coup in their clan. Trying to sort out who is what is half the fun. Mifune tries to get these guys out of several jams, but each time they do something to get him into even more trouble. There are several nice comic touches of the old woman who wants the samurai to rescue her husband without being too violent because killing can become a habit. My favorite is the enemy guard who is kept in a closet, but who comes out when he has some commentary to contribute and then walks back in and closes the door. I don't want to spoil to joy of these scenes by telling you too much about them. There is some good samurai action and one particularly gory scene that you will have to discover for yourself. But this is a very enjoyable film that is put on this very nice transfer by Criterion with a number of interesting extras.
Rating:
Summary: Does he ever get tired of greatness?
Review: Yet another fine example of how films should be done, Sanjuro is a continuation of Yojimbo; I hesitate to call it a sequel due to the common belief that sequels are always inferior to the original. In Sanjuro we find Toshiro Mifune reprising his role as Sanjuro Tsubaki(Sanjuro has a habit of changing his last name to whatever is around him at the time.) Sanjuro yet again wanders into a dilemma and has to lead a group of "pretend" samurai to set things right. The first and last lessons about being a samurai are both "the life of a samurai is far from glamorous". at the beginning, sanjuro runs into the young samurai and begs, the young samurai scold him so Sanjuro prooves his skills, and becomes the master to the naive children. Sanjuro fixes the problem, all the while cracking jokes at the expense of his students. When it is time to leave, Sanjuro teaches his final lesson, in a surrealy ultra violent finale.
Rating:
Summary: Lesser sequel to Yojimbo, but still good
Review: Yojimbo's sequel, Sanjuro, while surely the lesser film, is no less enjoyable. Originally a different story that was later rewritten for Mifune's samurai character, this time Sanjuro chooses sides with a group of young samurai against a corrupt official. With his help, they manage to defeat the official and rescue two women hostages. The story is much simpler this time around, but Mifune is the whole show here. His character, so wonderful in Yojimbo, is just as much fun in Sanjuro. Watching him rub his stubble in thought while he surprises people with the skill hidden under his rough exterior is a great joy and I can't imagine any other actor being able to pull it off. His easy confidence is an inspiration to "not judge a book by its cover." The final duelling scene is notable for a tremendously bloody battle between the defeated official and Sanjuro. The carnage is almost laughable in its volume, but somehow Kurosawa makes it work in the context of his story. Those who have not seen Yojimbo would still enjoy Sanjuro as it is simpler and thus more acceptable to a mass audience, but viewing them together gives one a fuller portrait of this enigmatic freelance samurai. A man who seems to always show up when he is needed, and then move on before he has worn out his welcome.
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