Kurosawa's sequel to the magnificent Yojimbo is a fascinating sort of film - basically a semi-satire of Jidaigeki films in general which Mifune's hypnotically gruff and prowling nameless samurai haplessly tethered to nine clueless and near-identical fools who all hop and scurry about after him like meerkats.
It's gloriously physical and there are parts of it that are genuinely very funny (the semi closet-bound imprisoned guard is a particular favourite). There is a melancholy to it though - and the strikingly brutal ending is a terrible reminder of how lonely the world-weary ronin is in this strange world.
It's gloriously physical and there are parts of it that are genuinely very funny (the semi closet-bound imprisoned guard is a particular favourite). There is a melancholy to it though - and the strikingly brutal ending is a terrible reminder of how lonely the world-weary ronin is in this strange world.