Chushingura

Rating:
Summary: Epic Saga of Loyalty!
Review: One of the greatest veiws into the Japanese culture, Chushingura is the story of the 47 Loyal Retainers. The story, originaly written as a play and performed as a puppet show and a play, is sweeping and enthralling. Beautifully panoramic, the costumes are very acurate(especially the weaponry and how it was worn in that era) and shows the majesty and treachery of fuedal Japan. Although this movie is about three hours long it wraps you up and carries you away to a time when people put their lives on the line on a daily basis, something that most modern people cannot directly relate to but yearn for the opportunity! A masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Does not live up to the reviews I've read
Review: Starting and ending quite interesting, the bulk of this film contains extremely subtle drama that is as exciting as a de Balzac novel. The slow pace alienates the viewer and some of the sub-plots almost seem tacked on. Filmed very well but well short of brilliant. The acting and direction, however, are superb. Toshiro Mifune has a very minor role despite being pictured on the cover.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece!
Review: The famous story of the 47 "ronin" (masterless samurai) avenging the wrongful death of their Lord has been told many times in print and on film. In this version, directed by Inagaki, all of the elements of this fascinating story are beautifully and thoughtfully told in what is one of the high points of the cinematic art. The story is a timeless one of morality and duty. The imagery in this film is unforgettable. I have been fortunate to have seen this film twice. Even though the last time is at least twenty years ago it is still fresh in my mind. I welcome this release on video. This is, in my opinion, one of only a very few true film masterpieces.

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Two Best Samurai Films Ever Made!
Review: This film is one of the two best Samurai films of all time, the other being Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI. CHUSHINGURA ("loyalty") is based on a real incident in 18th century Japan, wherein 47 loyal retainers of a disgraced lord take a vow of vengeance on the corrupt nobleman who caused his downfall and death. The story is timeless, the acting is uniformly magnificent, the camera work is so gorgeous that any frame of this film could be hung in an art gallery, and the music is exciting and heart-lifting. It's a complex plot, following many separate individuals as their vengeance unfolds, so first-time viewers may get confused. No matter -- it all comes together at the end. Watch for the late great Toshiro Mifune in a cameo role as a Master Spearman who becomes drinking buddies with one of the 47, and who takes it upon himself to hold off the cops in the final showdown so that his pal and the other 46 won't be interrupted before they can find and behead the bad guy and fulfill their vow. I have watched this movie many, many times, and I always find something new and wonderful in it. Now that it's FINALLY available on video, don't miss it!!

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Two Best Samurai Films Ever Made!
Review: This film is one of the two best Samurai films of all time, the other being Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI. CHUSHINGURA ("loyalty") is based on a real incident in 18th century Japan, wherein 47 loyal retainers of a disgraced lord take a vow of vengeance on the corrupt nobleman who caused his downfall and death. The story is timeless, the acting is uniformly magnificent, the camera work is so gorgeous that any frame of this film could be hung in an art gallery, and the music is exciting and heart-lifting. It's a complex plot, following many separate individuals as their vengeance unfolds, so first-time viewers may get confused. No matter -- it all comes together at the end. Watch for the late great Toshiro Mifune in a cameo role as a Master Spearman who becomes drinking buddies with one of the 47, and who takes it upon himself to hold off the cops in the final showdown so that his pal and the other 46 won't be interrupted before they can find and behead the bad guy and fulfill their vow. I have watched this movie many, many times, and I always find something new and wonderful in it. Now that it's FINALLY available on video, don't miss it!!

Rating:
Summary: A Classic of Japanese Film
Review: This film is, hands down, one of the best samurai films ever made and cherished by many Japanese. A simple mention of "chushingura" or the "47 retainers" conjures images of snow-swept feudal Edo (Tokyo) and stealthy samurai enacting a long-awaited raid to revenge their deceased master.

The plot revolves around an intrigue at the shogun's court. A venal official named Kira uses his position to extort money from the visiting daimyo, or feudal lords.

One feudal lord, Asano, citing the samurai code, proudly refuses to pay Kira. A scuffle erupts. In the fight's aftermath, Asano is forced to commit suicide for disgracing the court.

The scene then shifts to Asano's home, where his loyal samurai hatch a plan to kill Kira.

Their plot unfurls over years - years in which their are laughs, deceptions and romances. But beneath the trifles and within the heart of each of the 47 sworn samurai lies a deadly fighting spirit preparing, concealing and mustering a coup that will rock all of Japan.

This film rises to the top of the stack of Japanese films for three reasons: 1) sophisticated theme, 2) authenticity and 3) a strange sense of surrealism (surreal music, surreal timing and the quality of restraint and mystery central to Japanese culture).

The film's lavish widescreen format, muted colors, visual beauty and striking soundtrack all make this a definitive version of the classic tale.

The movie lasts over three hours, and that may be much for someone not intrigued by Japan's past or the samurai code. But for ambitious film fans with such interests, I recomend it wholeheartedly.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is a terrific epic Samurai film that takes its time telling its story, but the wait is definitely worth it. Not as good as SEVEN SAMURAI (but then what is?) yet a classic nonetheless. Beautifully atmospheric and evocative of the best of Japanese filmmaking in the early 1960's.

Rating:
Summary: A touching telling of the 47 Ronin story
Review: This is an excellent film relating the true story of the 47 vassals of the Asano family who avenged their dead lord. The story is briefly as follows: in 1701, Lord Asano, ruler of a section of western Japan, was grievously insulted by Lord Kira while in the Shogun's castle. Asano attacked Kira with his sword to avenge the insult, wounding Kira slightly. For drawing his sword in the castle, Lord Asano was forced to commit seppuku (suicide with a sword) and his domain was confiscated by the government. His samurai warriors were out of their jobs, and 47 of them, under Chamberlain Oishi, united to avenge their master on Lord Kira. For taking the law into their own hands, they too were forced to commit seppuku. This film is very good, and can only be criticized on the grounds that it moves quite slowly. However, it is a fine film overall; I've watched it several times and still enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: great movie...bad dvd
Review: This is one of the best movies about samurais anywhere and provides a masterful telling of the 47 ronin story. It is a shame that the dvd picture quality does not do the movie justice. The movie deserves a good print and this is not it. You'd think for the price Image Entertainment would do better.

Rating:
Summary: One of Masterpieces - both actors' play and plain beauty!
Review: This movie is fantastic! Set in Tokugawa period Japan, it describes a story, which shook Japan in seventeenth century. Young lord Asano (for those, who do not know the history of samurai, the clan of Asano was a prominent clan assisting Tokugawa in his quest for power) coming from very conservative clan is insulted by a corrupt official. In rage he draws the sword in the Shogunal palace - a grave offence punishable by seppuku. He is ordered to commit suicide without a proper investigation of all facts and his counterparty, lord Kira, lives on. Shogunate orders to abolish Asano clan leaving all samurai ronin and several dosens of samurai swear the revenge. By this time private disputes in Japan were to be resolved by the Shogunate. However, the law and the moral contradicted on this point as both Confucian and samurai codes of honour did not allow samurai to live "under the same sky" with lord Kira, who was the cause of their lord's untimely death. The samurai found themselves in conflict of rules of moral and laws and decided to act pursuant to the former.
Scenery is beautiful and actors' play is amazing. I keep recalling Oishi's time at the teahouse with children and geishas when he is told of one of the samurai (his former subordinate) committing seppuku. He sheds tears yet he manages to conceal this from others! Another powerful scene is when one of samurai is attacked during the raid but saved by his own son. The old samurai rebukes the son, but then we see that he proudly smiles when his son turns away. In addition, the raid schenes have some good fight scenes as well.
As opposed to Holliwood mainstream movies, all feelings in this movie are shown somewhat "indirectly" and every scene has many "sub-contents". I highly recommend this movie to everyone who is interested in serious cinematography: you will find yourselves wanting to rewatch this movie again and again.