Rating: 
Summary: Criterion does it again...
Review: i have seen both the vhs and criterion dvd version of this movie, and if you have access to a dvd player, definitely pick this one up. the vhs version is great, but the criterion treatment puts the dvd version over. compared to "the seven samurai" criterion dvd, this disc has relatively few extras, but better chapter breaks. i would like to have seen an audio commentary ala "samurai" because of some of the more interesting characters (ino the moron or the giant man, for example). information on who these people were and how kurosawa crafted his film would be a welcome addition to an already excellent dvd. the audio is clear as can be expected for a 40+ year old film (and even better than many of the american films from the same time period on dvd), and the picture is pristine except for an annoying vertical scratch which appears for an exceedingly lengthy time (meaning more than 60 seconds) during the scene in which the ronin sanjuro reunites frees the woman from the six guards. all in all...an excellent dvd for the money; i highly recommend "yojimbo" to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard boiled detective with a sword
Review: FYI: More than just "inspired by", the source for the story is Dashiell Hammett's first novel "Red Harvest" whose protagonist is the nameless Continental Op. "A Fist Full of Dollars", and "Last Man Standing" were all based on the same story. Read the book then watch each of the films. The connection is obvious. The experience is fascinating and more than the sum of its parts.
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Summary: FOR A FISTFUL OF RYOS
Review: Akira Kurosawa's YOJIMBO is a samurai movie set in Japan in 1860. That period was characterized by political turmoils and deep social changes. Samurais found no masters anymore and had to survive by selling their wit and their arms if they didn't want to turn into ronins, into mad warriors. In the far country, they could appear as substitutes of the law officers who didn't dare to show up.Toshiro Mifune stars as the no-name samurai who will benefit from the war going on between two gangs in one of these out-of-the-law towns. At this point, if you're an average movie lover, you will have recognized in YOJIMBO several themes used two or three years later by numerous italo-american filmmakers responsible for the revival of the western genre between 1962 and 1970. In fact, while I was admiring the skill of Toshiro Mifune, I couldn't refrain myself from counting the numerous situations borrowed by Sergio Leone in his Eastwood trilogy. Close-ups of the ugly faces of the outlaws, use of the widescreen format in order to film in the best possible way the streets duels, a musical score which haunts your mind and is part of the action, bloody details (the hand in the dog's mouth...) and a great sense of humor. I love Sergio Leone's movies but I think that it's of the utmost importance or simply by politeness to remember that YOJIMBO is the first Spaghetti western and that Akira Kurosawa has practically invented the myth of the no-name stranger. A scene access, colour bars and a trailer as bonus features. Great sound for a great musical score but, unfortunately, a master copy with such defaults as lines or white and black spots. A pre-Clint DVD.
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Summary: Before the Revolution.....
Review: I mean the technological revolution; super special effects and surround sound etc. If you want your action/adventure straight-up, with simple, but brilliant, black and white cinematography that doesn't move as much as dances across the screen, a music score that brings you to the edge, not only of your seat, but to the very threshold of the story, a director at the peak of his considerable creative powers and a STAR that defines macho without effort or histrionics, then this is the only film from where to start or finish....because it is the epitomy of the genre'. Throw in the intelligence inherent in the script and storyline (adults communicating with adults) and the irony embodied therein and you have one of the great movies ever. It is clever, it is exciting and it is informative. How? We are able to observe a man who is all we could hope to be (and rarely are) and see how he handles a dicey situation that would intimidate a lesser creature (ourselves). He makes it look easy. And he uses his brain. Hey, we could do that! Because Kurosawa and Mifune did, maybe we can. Or at least believe that it could be done. The result would be good over evil, peace in lieu of disruption, and a sense of the power within us all to control to some degree the events around us. This is not bad stuff to contemplate and aspire to. Kurosawa leads us to it, Mifune makes it delicious and we drink it in. Salute.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive Mifune performance
Review: For all that Mifune appears to have needed Kurosawa to bring out the best in him, and for all that this is one of Kurosawa's best, this is realy Mifune's film. If you have ever enjoyed Mifune in any film, you must see Yojimbo. You'll see bits and pieces of this character in every subsequent movie, bits that weren't there in previous movies. By the way, the outline of the plot is identical to a Dashiell Hammett "Continental Op" novel, "Red Harvest".
Rating:
Summary: A bodyguard I want to engage...
Review: I had a very enjoyable time to see "YOJIMBO", with Mifune's splendid role and funny character. He was quite clever that all of FOOLS was completely destroyed by his wonderful sword and a knife. Sanjuro of Mifune is very courageous character. But the same time, Mifune is very good at acting "A SISSY" In "IKIMONO NO KIROKU" by Kurosawa, Mifune has a unbelievable role. I want to make all Mifune fans see it! Some may say DELICIOUS, other may say NO! But, where is "IKIMONO NO KIROKU" on amzon.com? moreover, I dont know WHERE "MUHOUMATSU NO ISSHOU" IS. I am sure that "MNI" by Inagaki Hiroshi must be the masterpiece of Mifune, getting a great prize on international festival of film in Venezia in 1958. I'd love for All Kurosawa-Mifune fans to see "YOJIMBO","SANJURO","HIDDEN FORTRESS" AND "IKIMONO NO KIROKU" as well as "SEVEN SAMURAI" Dont forget "MUHOUMATSU NO ISSHOU"(not Kurosawa). I wonder why "INK" and "MNI" cannot be watched in the U.S.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie but not great
Review: I found Yojimbo to be rather boring actually - the movie takes a long time to unfold - not as long as Ran certainly (which I have never watched past the first scene). Eventually the climax is okay, but this is not as entertaining as Seven Samurai or the Hidden Fortress.
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Summary: If you own "Fistful of Dollars" buy this (and vice-versa)
Review: "Fistful of Dollars" is the remake of "Yojimbo" ... from the halfway point on, it is an almost scene for scene remake. Each complements the other very well and I'd recommend watching them back to back. As for that other remake of Yojimbo, "Last Man Standing" ... well, don't bother with it.
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Summary: Kurosawa's Best - - A Samurai Western!
Review: I taped this off of TV when Turner Classic Movies had their month dedicated to Akira Kurosawa. I sat down, started up the tape, and didn't move until the movie was over. Even though I am still exploring Kurosawa's film, I think this is one of Kurosawa's greatest films. It has wonderful, richly created characters (the best being, of course, the lead character). The story and direction brilliantly walk hand in hand. A nameless ronin (played by Toshiro Mifune)stumbles into a border town and finds two feuding families and, seeing an opportunity, hires himself out as a yojimbo (bodyguard) to BOTH sides. Kurosawa always said that he was influened by American westerns (and vice versa), but it is really something you have to see for yourself, when he combies samurai films and westerns -- no easy feat! If you've never laid eyes on any of Kurosawa's movies, what better film to start with than this one? Incidentally, this was remade into "A Fistful of Dollars" with Clint Eastwood. Speaking of that, am I the only person who thinks that Toshiro Mifune and Clint Eastwood look alike? I think it's in their piercing eyes.
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Summary: No film do I love more!
Review: Some people may have seen my earlier review. I first saw this at age 11 and thought it was boring and didn't watch it again since. Then I watched it a few months ago years later and I can't believe how good this is! I am VERY happy to see a DVD release of this. This doesn't really lack features. It has a gorgeously crystal clear video Tohoscope transfer and some trailers as well as a Dolby digital sound. That's plenty for me! Anyway, Toshiro Mifune's protrayal of the samuari, Sanjuro, is hilarous and the whole film show some real sarcastic humor. From the scene in the opening of the dog trotting down the street with a hand in his mouth to the hilarously violent climax. Kurosawa is trully one of the greatest film makers ever. And Masaro Sato delivers a wonderful booming score. I watched the film again today and find that it's better than Ran. This still doesn't quite make it up to Rashomon, Ugetsu, Matango, Kwaidan, and Gate of Hell though. If you love Kurosawa, move your pointer over to the buy button, and click it.
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