Rating: 
Summary: An amazing film but...
Review: ..could someone give us a definite answer as to if Roy Scheider's haunting narration is missing or not? I refuse to buy this DVD if that has been altered.
Rating:
Summary: No reason to die means no reason to live. . ..
Review: A stunning film about the great Japanese writer whose spectacular suicide at the Japanese Defense Headquarters shocked the world.If you haven't read Mishima's novels, I suggest that to get to the heart of the man you read his " The Way of the Samurai: Yukio Mishima on Hagakure in Modern Life " it's a working through of the ancient samurai classic, which poses the question of how to live like one--in a modern Japan inhabited by businessman and golfers. The answer, though not fully admitted by Mishima, is that there's no way in hell. Nor is there much hope for artists, romantics, knights or anyone else who follows the dictates of his soul on this planet. Go to college, have kids and be grateful if Sony hires you. Even though Mishima is not explicit the reader will see this is a suicide waiting to happen. "Why live on and be despised as a bungler or a fool?" (Hagakure) What this film captures brilliantly in its theme is the essence of a man who suffers through the knowledge that not only has his youth has gone and with it, the hope for better days, but more importantly, the realization that his life has been ultimately irrelevent. Why? Because, quite simply, it is a mistake to survive the death of one's country. . . Predictably, as with Mishima's writings, this film has garnered tons of awards but has not proven a tremendous draw among the golfers and businessmen. They need to dismiss him as a crank: A repressed bisexual with an over inflated view of masculinity, a political radical, a crazy artist, someone in dire need of medication. In short, anything but a mirror to the world we live in.
I find it hard to praise this film highly enough, from the use of "theater sets " for the 'fictional' segments---taken from Mishima's novels and short stories, that are interspersed between the biographical sections of his life. To Phillip Glass's outstanding musical score. The saddest moment in the film is not his doomed and impassioned speech to the Japanese Defense Ministry soldiers--who shout him down as he bows to the emperor, nor his subsequent ritual seppuku. Far more poignant is an earlier scene in which Mishima, on the small stage of a hotel convention floor, stands with a handfull of followers, attired in dress uniforms looking like something out of a Japanese Loyola Military Boy's Academy--addressing a few, scattered reporters as to how they should not be dismissed as "toy soldiers" as his Japanese critics contend, but should be viewed instead for what they are, a "spiritual army". The incongruity of the carpeted floor, the waiters clankingly removing the dishes to make way for the next convention, the bored reporters---I mean where does this guy think he is anyway? Among Samurai?
Rating:
Summary: didn't see the original narration...
Review: but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Many of the reviews given about this film (on dvd) seem to be highly disappointing. While I have not seen it in its original narration (on vhs) I would still highly suggest seeing this film. I was quite taken by the imagery provided with Schrader's direction. I watched this film on a whim. I wasn't at all educated about the man Mishima from which the film was created. It added new insight in my quest for new knowledge of the world. After watching this documentary style film I am intrigued to know more about Mishima and his writings. Schrader does an excellent job of keeping the viewer visually entertained. Even though I was watching it from the viewpoint of English subtitling I was able to feel the emotions portrayed through the actors. I must admit, however, that at times I became lost in where the 'plot' was taking place. (Scenes of his life were played out in black and white while his literary works were played out in color.) I felt it was a wonderfully developed film. In addition, I should comment about the life of Mishima being caught in an unsual inner turmoil with the schizophrenic disorder (as mentioned in the dvd's special features section). With that, it makes for a perfect blending of the scenes (his real life vs. his work) played out in this film. It's almost as if you can 'see' what Mishima might have 'seen' in his life. The chaotic mixed with variances of a seemingly normal life of a writer. There is much more to be learned about this man's life. It is a great introduction which helps an outsider discover a new culture within the literary world. I know in my discovery of the film I am going to research more into Mishima's life. Take a gamble and watch the film. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much it pulls you in and keeps your attention.
Rating:
Summary: "Poetry written with a splash of blood"
Review: Director Paul Schrader uses three interwoven films to tell the life of the eccentric Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. The film opens with the last day of his life - the day he committed seppuku after siezing Army headquarters - in color and on location. Scenes from Mishima's early life appear in black-and-white, and dramatizations of his novels are presented on luminous, eerie stage sets designed by Eiko Ishiosha. Everything is underscored by Philip Glass's portentous and driving music that makes the events of Mishima's life seem inevitable. Mishima was disgusted with modern bourgeouis Japan, and like many other writers, sought to break out of the subdued emotional mileau of democratic capitalism into something more intense via sex and politics. The sex was S&M and homosexuality, and the politics were of the most rabid form of monarchism. The music and the imagery work together to produce a hint of the sense of dissociation that one experiences in such extremes. It seems almost that Mishima is being driven, albeit willingly, by a powerful force to his final end. The Schrader's (Paul, Leonard, and Chieko) have done as well as any biographer to provide insight into Mishima. Ken Ogata is a fine Mishima despite being considerably more heavy-set than the delicate-featured writer. Even if one knows nothing about Mishima, the film is a fascinating and hypnotic experience. 'Mishima' is one of the best films I've seen, and I'm frustrated that it's not available on DVD yet. Incidentally, the best book of Mishima's to read first is the autobiographical 'Confessions of a Mask'
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Summary: A True Original
Review: Director Paul Schrader's sumptuous and operatic telling of writer Yukio Mishima's life and stories rivals all films released in the past ten years for filmmaking originality and daring. Critics scream for something different and this film was totally ignored! Go figure. Discover it for yourself and you will marvel at the cinematography by John Bailey highlighted by the music of Phillip Glass. This film deserves more than just a cult following.
Rating: 
Summary: Where is Roy Scheider's wonderful narration?
Review: Do not buy this DVD!!! Buy the VHS copy instead. It is extremely important to note that something very weird has happened to Roy Scheider's original and wonderful narration to this film -- on this DVD the narration is either performed by some flat and dead voiced wannabe, or something has gone terribly awry with the audio quality of the narration. Whatever it is, it is not like the original version. You have been warned.
Rating:
Summary: PERFECTION
Review: I dont throw around the word perfect very often, especially when it comes to movies. I am a fan of both Schrader and Mishima. This is by far Schrader's best film, a labor of love that was flawlessly executed. His style, direction, storytelling, excetera, captures the spirit of Mishima's soul. The film is a poem that stikes on the notes of both Mishima the storyteller and Mishima the man. Movies this well crafted from the writing, directing, the preformances,editing, music, and right down to the film stock are few and fortunate for those lucky enough to view them. This movie should be revered and acknowledged as one of the most pure examples of perfect cinema.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Favorite Films Ruined on DVD
Review: I had never heard of Mishima before seeing this movie on videotape in the mid-1980's. Since that time I have read many of Mishima's books and have enjoyed some of them thoroughly. The movie, a masterpiece, featuring some of the finest music ever recorded by Phillip Glass along with beautifully stylized and award-winning cinema photography and the most provocative words that could be culled from works by Mishima was narrated perfectly by Roy Scheider. When I read Mishima's books, I had a very difficult time separating Roy Scheider's voice from that of Mishima and, in a strange way, Mishima's works were better for that voice. In the transfer to DVD, another narrator replaced Roy Scheider's contribution and, the masterpiece virtually destroyed. To me this is a lesson in how delicate the creative elements comprising a film can be. Change one element and the entire work can be altered beyond artistic recognition. The behind the scenes documentary "Inside Mishima" is a nice addition but the main feature is not worth seeing in this form. What were the producers of this DVD thinking? I hope they rethink this release someday so film buffs can re-discover, what may very well be, Paul Schrader's finest film to date.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Favorite Films Ruined on DVD
Review: I had never heard of the writer Mishima before seeing this movie on videotape in the mid-1980's. Since that time I have read many of Mishima's books and have enjoyed most of them throughly. The movie Mishima--a masterpiece--features some of the finest music ever recorded by Phillip Glass (he won more than one award for this score). The beautifully stylized, award-winning cinema photography and set design heighten the most provocative phrases and ideas that could be culled from Mishima's own writing. And all of these separate elements came together with the flawless naration by Roy Scheider. When I read Mishima's books, I had a very difficult time separating Roy Scheider's voice from that of Mishima and, in a strange way, Mishima's works were better for that voice. In the transfer to DVD, another actor replaced Roy Scheider's contribution, and the masterpiece virtually destroyed. To me this is a lesson in how delicate a film's creative elements can be. Change one part and the entire work can be altered beyond artistic recognition. The behind the scenes documentary "Inside Mishima" is a nice addition--but the main feature is not worth seeing in this form. What were the producers of this DVD thinking? I hope they rethink this release someday so film buffs can re-discover, what may very well be, Paul Schrader's finest film to date.
Rating:
Summary: Will wait to purchase my favorite film ever!!!!!
Review: I have not seen this DVD version but because of the comments on this list I shall wait to buy it (would however have been realy exciting to get on DVD) until they put back the original narration.
Sigmar Thormar
Iceland
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