MovieChat Forums > Kumonosu-jô (1961) Discussion > Am I really the only one, who considers ...

Am I really the only one, who considers this to be at the lower end?

posted 8 years ago by udippel
4 replies | jump to latest

There are movies rated higher, with many critical posts. Here it seems everyone is just taken in, so it seems.
To me, it barely is 7/10. I have seen better theater productions of Macbeth, and considered the moving branches as 'child-play' (I know, this offends some, but I'm honest).
Scenes repeated over and over, like the two warriors riding forth and back on the same spot for ages. Then they rest close to the castle, instead of riding on for another few minutes. Makes no sense to me. And the final scene also seems to stretch for ages, with arrows over arrows pouring in, not hitting the face, so that he can be seen dying for minutes. Neither the lady nor the witch could make me feel 'shocked'. They looked pretty 'average' to me, the lady was cold as ice, though.
Combined with the 'wooden' acting of east-Asian actors in traditional plays, I am glad I saw it, all through. But I feel no need for a repetition, sorry to say.

[–] HalBanksy 8 years ago

The lower end of what?

considered the moving branches as 'child-play'

Many find that moment successfully chilling.
It's perfectly shot, the trees look enormous moving through the mist
(while obviously they were really more like small bushes.)

the two warriors riding forth and back on the same spot for ages.

Kurosawa filmed horses like no other director before or since.
The two riders racing through the forest in a storm is visually stunning.

the final scene also seems to stretch for ages

It's an iconic moment in world cinema.
The point of the prolonged death is 'karma' for Washizu's betrayal.
It would have been anticlimactic to end with an instant strike to his head.
The technical brilliance behind the piercing arrows also deserves praise.

Combined with the 'wooden' acting of east-Asian actors

Sometimes true. But most view this as one of Mifune's better performances.

To answer your question. Obviously no.
Of the countless people to have watched this film in the past 60 years, I think it's a fair assumption that you're not the ONLY person to have some problems with it.

[–] Henry_Swizzlesticks_the_Second 8 years ago

Agreed. 5/10

Other Kirosawa are 9/10 (Seven Samurai; Ikiru)

[–] TravisLikesSmoothJazz 8 years ago

This movie has a chilling atmosphere throughout. It's like tightening the string on a guitar or a violin, you know it is going to snap, but not when. The repetetive scenes are dynamic because of Mifune's magnetic performance.

I love this movie.

I am an *beep* but my friends compensate for that.

[–] 8 years ago

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