Miyamoto Musashi - 1944 - B/W - Fullscreen- DVD Extras
Directed by the legendary MIZOGUCHI Kenji! Miyamoto Musashi vs Sasaki Kojiro!
This is a story about Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous swordsman in Japanese history. This movie is one of the greatest to portray Musashi as the great swordsman and romantic hero that he was in life. Filmed in Showa year 19 (1944) while Japan was engulfed in "Kuraitani" ("the valley of darkness" aka World War II) facing defeat, yet despite the hardships of the time they still managed to produce this unforgettable masterpiece. Unfortunately, many other japanese films were destroyed during the war.
The time was in Keicho era (1596-1615). Nonomiya Nobuo and Mataichiro (brother and sister) visit Miyamoto Musashi in Sagano, and ask him to teach them the ways of the sword, so they can avenge their murdered father. Musashi declines their request stating the sword isn't for revenge. However, they don't give up and Musashi finally decides to accept their request. The brothers Hidarimoto Kurodo and Magoshiro who murdered Nobuo and Mataichiro's father, learns that the brother and sister are taking lessons from Musashi. Realizing that they are in trouble, they decided to ask Sasaki Kojiro for help. After Musashi left Nobuo and Mataichiro's hiding place, the Hidarimoto brothers and Kojiro attacked them, and Mataichiro is brutally killed by Kojiro. A devastated Nobuo again visits Musashi and reports of Mataichiro's death, now pleading for Musashi's immediate help. Once Musashi hears of this, he summons the code of bushido within, sets off determined to destroy his arch-enemy Sasaki Kojiro, once and for all! (The famous duel took place at Ganryu Island in the year 1612).
The director, Mizogushi Kenji has perfectly adapted the literary classic written by Yoshikawa Eiji. It was unusual for Mizoguchi to embrace the theme of "Bushido" in a film like this, yet the portrayal of Musashi remarkably showed his warm-hearted personality. With it's great timeless story, great action, and direction by one of the greatest Japanese masters it's not an understatement to call this movie a real collectors treasure. And it's probably one of the "oldest" surviving samurai films available now with English Subtitles. Because of the age of this film, some film elements such as grain/lines and washed out scenes are present, but overall very nice, enjoyable and highly recommended!
