Although it is a diminution from its marvelous action-packed predecessor, "Yojimbo", Akira Kurosawa's "Sanjuro" is nothing short of ecstatic entertainment. Once again we have Toshiro Mifune playing that anonymous, sword-wielding ronin without a name (the inspiration for Clint Eastwood's iconic character The Man with No Name) caught up in a struggle between two sides. However, this time he is jumping sides not between greedy town bosses, but a corrupt superintendent and a group of brave but reckless clansmen trying to rescue hostages from the enemy. And just like before, we have ecstatic excitement, lots of action scenes with surprisingly commendable saber duels, fantastic performances, witty dialogue, and a truly thunderous climax at the end.
"Sanjuro" is just one step below "Yojimbo" perhaps because Kurosawa did not originally intend to make a sequel to the said film and it is a very difficult challenge to build the second piece of the saga puzzle and make it equal to the first, let alone better. But just because it is not on the level of a masterpiece like "Yojimbo" does not mean it's not a heck of a lot of fun, because it is.
There is not one moment in "Sanjuro" that I did not enjoy. Toshiro Mifune's flawless acting coupled with Akira Kurosawa's one-of-a-kind direction takes a story that might otherwise seem kind of silly and makes it into an entirely plausible period piece as far as the human mind is concerned. And what's truly enjoyable is the fact that Kurosawa does not simply have one action scene after another. Again, he builds a solid narrative in which surprises and ideas are introduced for the audience. We like the ronin, but we identify most with the petrified, confused clansmen who aren't really sure which side Mifune is on. So when he pulls a tactic, we wonder with obfuscation along with them.
In short, "Sanjuro" is yet another tremendous entertaining opus from the master Akira Kurosawa. While it's not standing on the same tier as "Yojimbo" or some of Kurosawa's other films, it is a really enjoyable thrill ride. And the final climax, where Toshiro Mifune once again goes eye to eye with Tatsuya Nakadai is really, well, explosive.
"Sanjuro" is just one step below "Yojimbo" perhaps because Kurosawa did not originally intend to make a sequel to the said film and it is a very difficult challenge to build the second piece of the saga puzzle and make it equal to the first, let alone better. But just because it is not on the level of a masterpiece like "Yojimbo" does not mean it's not a heck of a lot of fun, because it is.
There is not one moment in "Sanjuro" that I did not enjoy. Toshiro Mifune's flawless acting coupled with Akira Kurosawa's one-of-a-kind direction takes a story that might otherwise seem kind of silly and makes it into an entirely plausible period piece as far as the human mind is concerned. And what's truly enjoyable is the fact that Kurosawa does not simply have one action scene after another. Again, he builds a solid narrative in which surprises and ideas are introduced for the audience. We like the ronin, but we identify most with the petrified, confused clansmen who aren't really sure which side Mifune is on. So when he pulls a tactic, we wonder with obfuscation along with them.
In short, "Sanjuro" is yet another tremendous entertaining opus from the master Akira Kurosawa. While it's not standing on the same tier as "Yojimbo" or some of Kurosawa's other films, it is a really enjoyable thrill ride. And the final climax, where Toshiro Mifune once again goes eye to eye with Tatsuya Nakadai is really, well, explosive.