This movie is separated from Kurosawa's masterworks like "Rashomon" and "shichin no samurai" by such a gap that it is difficult to accept that they were produced by the same director.
Of course there is the problem that the story is already known to most watchers. But this id not the real problem. Kurosawa does not succeed in creating any tension and psychological depth. He indulges in battle scenes or in exaggerated acting. The film is moreover devoid of the masterly depiction of architecture which is so typical for many Japanese films. In this respect "Kumonosu jo" may be compared to his later "Kagemusha" and not to his masterworks. Or even the masterworks of Ozu and Mizoguchi. (4/10)
Of course there is the problem that the story is already known to most watchers. But this id not the real problem. Kurosawa does not succeed in creating any tension and psychological depth. He indulges in battle scenes or in exaggerated acting. The film is moreover devoid of the masterly depiction of architecture which is so typical for many Japanese films. In this respect "Kumonosu jo" may be compared to his later "Kagemusha" and not to his masterworks. Or even the masterworks of Ozu and Mizoguchi. (4/10)