The Hidden Fortress (1958)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Memorable, crazy movie

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

As this film opens we see two peasants bickering; they sold what little they had to seek their fortunes in war and ended up on the losing side. They aren't even free for long as they are captured and forced to dig for treasure by their captors. Luckily they escape again and as they are sitting down to eat find a gold bar hidden in their firewood. The look for more but soon another man appears he tells them he is Rokurota Makabe, a famous general, but they don't believe him… they do however decide to go with him when he tells them he has the rest of the gold; unbeknownst to them the 'mute' accompanying the general is a princess wanted by the local warlord. They will have to avoid enemy forces and resist their own greed in they are to get back home with a share of the gold.This is another classic from director Akira Kurosawa which nicely mixes drama and comedy. The fact that the two main characters were driven by greed rather than any noble motivation made them funny as each attempt they made to get rich by double-crossing each other and the others in their party was doomed to failure; Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara do fine jobs in these roles. Equally good is Toshirô Mifune who plays the general; a more serious character but still able to provide a few laughs as well as some action. Misa Uehara is likable as the tomboyish Princess Yuki; a good strong female character. The story flows nicely and doesn't seem overly long despite being well over two hours long. If you are a fan of Kurosawa's other works or Japanese cinema in general this is a must see.These comments are based on watching the film in Japanese with English subtitles.

Lured by gold, two greedy peasants escort a man and woman across enemy lines. However, they do not realize that their companions are actually a princess and her general.Although for some of us, the name Toho calls to mind the films of Honda (notably "Godzilla"), it also allowed Kurosawa to make some of his best work -- this film, as well as "Rashomon". One has to admire a studio that was willing to make both artistic pictures and cheesy science fiction.I love that George Lucas used this film as inspiration. Not just the "princess in disguise" bit, but the whole concept of having the plot follow two bumbling, comic characters. Not knowing much about Lucas, I would never have pegged him to be interested in Japanese cinema, or maybe even classic film at all. Unlike Martin Scorsese, he never struck me that way.

This Film from Japan's Premiere Filmmaker will take more Effort from Americans to Embrace, but it is so Charming and Beautiful that it will Win the US Audience Despite its Buffoonish and Annoying Comedy Duo.There is much more here to Ogle and Awe as Kurosawa really knows how to Fill a Frame. Every Scene is a "Picture" that uses Cinema in the Best Artistic Tradition of the Medium. No Wasted Space, in Fact every Inch is Imbued with Purpose. The Director is not Fond of Closeups and that is a Lesson that Modern Directors have Never Learned.The Story is a Blend of Adventure and Whimsy with Slapstick and Samurai Energizing this Slightly Longish Tale. Toshiro Mifune is again Welcomed but it is Misa Uehara as Princess Yuki that Beautifies the Screen with a Sexy Princess that Commands the Viewer's Attention as She is a Stunning Actress with an Accent on Beauty but not to the Detriment of a Dogged Determination that is not Intimidated by Her Male Counterparts.Overall this is a Typical Visual Treat from a Master of Image that set out to make a Lighter Affair in Contrast to His Previous Work and it Works Magnificently.

Here we have another great samurai epic from masterful Akira Kurosawa. This film is one of the many fantastic samurai films Kurosawa created in his hay-day. This one falls in line with the long stretch of these great films, and stands as just another great piece of art from Kurosawa. The one thing that does allow it to stand apart is it's being told from the perspective of two of the lesser characters. The story follows two thieves who, in the midst of a territory war, are searching for hidden gold. They meet up with a samurai general of one of the warring clans. They team up with this samurai (played by the always magnificent Toshiro Mifune) as he attempts to get his princess out of the dangerous territory and escort her to safety. However, the best part of this plot is that it is credited as being one of the major influences for George Lucas' Star Wars (1977). The two peasant thieves the plot follows are the basis for the characters of C-3PO and R2-D2. In fact, these two characters had a major influence on character archetypes and practically set the archetype for the goofy pair of friends we see time after time.The Hidden Fortress, overall, has a much lighter tone than some of Kurosawa's other films set in the same setting. While most of his films have that element of subtle dark humor, The Hidden Fortress could be considered a true comedy at times, mainly due to the shenanigans of the two oddball protagonists. But at it's core, The Hidden Fortress is a true action adventure film that has plenty of fun doing what it's doing. It has its darker moments, but it stays above the dark water for the majority of the film. It's plenty entertaining and the story never dwindles or drags. The two peasants are incredibly entertaining, and while they are more caricatures than anything else, they add so much to the film and are really what drive this film's lighter heart.This film might be lighter, but Kurosawa obviously doesn't skimp on the artistry for a second. He heavily employs the use of very long takes for this film, which has a great effect in unexpected places. Kurosawa artistically blends comic relief and more serious action in such a great way that it is easy to get lost in the film when looking at it as a whole. There is no shortage of immaculate action sequences that are as stylistically brilliant as they are awesome and entertaining to watch. There is one particular duel involving spears that stands out in my mind as a near perfect blend of being ridiculously cool, as well as beautiful to witness unfold. It's hard not to be at least mildly entertained by this exciting film.The Hidden Fortress doesn't quite reach to the same level of epic grandeur that some of Kurosawa's other samurai films do, but it fits right in with his collection of great films. No two Kurosawa films are quite the same so it is hard to say that any of his films don't stand out among the rest but if I had to choose one I'd say it was The Hidden Fortress. The highest point of this film would definitely be it's influence on not only Star Wars but the character archetype the two peasant friends fill. The Hidden Fortress is simply just another great film from an amazing director.