Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Executscan Expected more

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Robert J. Maxwell A Shakespearean story of passion and honor. Watanabe and Kesa are a happily married couple of the ruling class in 1330s Japan. He's a peaceful, kind, good-natured gentleman. She's quiet, obedient, and plays the koto with delicacy -- my kind of woman. But then there's the warrior Morito. He's headstrong and bullying. He develops a passion for Kesa. He constantly natters Watanabe, trying to chivvy him into a sword fight but Watanabe is too dignified and equally self confident. The public favors Watanabe and when he loses a horse race to the grimly determined Morito, his friends try to make excuses for him. "You refused to whip your horse, didn't you?" But it's infra dig. "No, he was the more skilled rider." Morito forces Kesa into a plot to kill Watanabe, so they can be together, but she loves her husband. I don't think I'll get into the plot any further.The thing is a visual pageant. You've rarely seen colors come alive in quite this way. Not lurid, like a slasher movie, but very carefully matched against one another. A crimson banner rises into a crisp blue sky. Damme, the Japanese and the Chinese have a taste for things like colors and composition.Morito's bull headedness come across as overdone. It's a weakness in these kinds of films. The bad guy tends to shout and rave loudly. Not always. The sword fights are graceless, quick, and bloodless. Kurasawa handled them with more style.It may be a little test of endurance to get into it at first. The opening has a narration explaining some of Japanese history that turns out to be of little relevance to the main plot. The story has nothing to do with politics. It pits reason and common sense against misplaced emotion. Try it for half an hour, then decide.

marymorad I saw this film in 1970 or 1971 in New York and have remembered it ever since. We came in late to a double feature and didn't see the title--I have been unsure of it all these years. It features impressive battle scenes, a heart-wrenching love story and beautiful cinematography. It is also the first film I ever saw that depicted medieval Japanese culture in all its glory. The beautifully photographed compound of the shogun is, by itself, worth the price of admission. There are many interior shots, showing beautiful rooms with sliding screens that figure in the plot. Now I would dearly love to see Gate of Hell again, but apparently it is not available on DVD. Criterion, here is a worthy quest for you!!

Michael Stewart I saw this film when new in 1954 in London, and still remember much of it today. It is a sad and poignant story, beautifully photographed and effectively directed. Costumes and scenery have an authentic air about them. It starts with a battle scene with the young women travelling in a small carriage under threat and in danger. It follows with her life being saved by the heroic action and bravery of a young warrior. He claims her for himself as a reward for his bravery but soon finds that she is already spoken for. Nevertheless he pursues her and insists on what he feels are his rights. This leads to friction in her family and eventually causes the tragedy of her death. It is a lesson in how selfishness can lead to unhappiness in another's life. I feel it is a film not to be missed and would watch it again if it were shown on UK TV. or was available on DVD

dwjjunk Being a fan of the "Samurai" genre, I was taken in by this film. I actually found this video at the local library. The visuals are wonderful, sword-play is very realistic, acting is excellent. The plot comes on strong, but becomes very predictable by the end. Still, worth checking out.