Kagemusha - Criterion Collection
starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu, Hideji Otaki
directed by: Akira Kurosawa
directed by: Akira Kurosawa
List Price: $39.95
Prices subject to change.
Price: $25.49
You Save: $14.46 (36%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Description:
When a powerful warlord in medieval japan dies a poor thief recruited to impersonate him finds difficultyStudio: Image EntertainmentRelease Date: 03/29/2005Run time: 180 minutesDirector: Akira Kurosawa
Amazon.com essential video:
The 1970s were difficult years for the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Following the box-office failure of his 1970 film Dodes'ka-den and an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Kurosawa was unable to find financial backing in Japan, and he made his acclaimed 1975 film Dersu Uzala in Siberia with Russian financing. With only partial Japanese backing for his epic project Kagemusha, the 70-year-old master then found American support from George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, who served as coexecutive producers (through 20th Century Fox) for this magnificent 1980 production--to that date the most expensive film in Japanese history. Set in the late 16th century, Kagemusha centers on the Takeda clan, one of three warlord clans battling for control of Japan at the end of the feudal period. When Lord Shingen (Tatsuya Nakadai), head of the Takeda clan, is mortally wounded in battle and near death, he orders that his death be kept secret and that his "kagemusha"--or "shadow warrior"--take his place for a period of three years to prevent clan disruption and enemy takeover. The identical double is a petty thief (also played by Nakadai) spared from execution due to his uncanny resemblance to Lord Shingen--but his true identity cannot prevent the tides of fate from rising over the Takeda clan in a climactic scene of battlefield devastation. Through stunning visuals and meticulous attention to every physical and stylistic detail, Kurosawa made a film that restored his status as Japan's greatest filmmaker, and the success of Kagemusha enabled the director to make his 1985 masterpiece, Ran. --Jeff Shannon
When a powerful warlord in medieval japan dies a poor thief recruited to impersonate him finds difficultyStudio: Image EntertainmentRelease Date: 03/29/2005Run time: 180 minutesDirector: Akira Kurosawa
Amazon.com essential video:
The 1970s were difficult years for the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Following the box-office failure of his 1970 film Dodes'ka-den and an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Kurosawa was unable to find financial backing in Japan, and he made his acclaimed 1975 film Dersu Uzala in Siberia with Russian financing. With only partial Japanese backing for his epic project Kagemusha, the 70-year-old master then found American support from George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, who served as coexecutive producers (through 20th Century Fox) for this magnificent 1980 production--to that date the most expensive film in Japanese history. Set in the late 16th century, Kagemusha centers on the Takeda clan, one of three warlord clans battling for control of Japan at the end of the feudal period. When Lord Shingen (Tatsuya Nakadai), head of the Takeda clan, is mortally wounded in battle and near death, he orders that his death be kept secret and that his "kagemusha"--or "shadow warrior"--take his place for a period of three years to prevent clan disruption and enemy takeover. The identical double is a petty thief (also played by Nakadai) spared from execution due to his uncanny resemblance to Lord Shingen--but his true identity cannot prevent the tides of fate from rising over the Takeda clan in a climactic scene of battlefield devastation. Through stunning visuals and meticulous attention to every physical and stylistic detail, Kurosawa made a film that restored his status as Japan's greatest filmmaker, and the success of Kagemusha enabled the director to make his 1985 masterpiece, Ran. --Jeff Shannon
Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category:
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Action & Adventure » General
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Art House & International » General
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Art House & International » By Country » Japan » General AAS
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Art House & International » By Genre » Action & Adventure
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Art House & International » By Genre » Drama
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Amazing and Visually Stunning Picture
I had to watch Kagemusha twice to really appreciate it.The first time I was more obsessed with my computer and missed key parts, the second time I enjoyed it thoroughly.The use of color and photography is amazing and considering how low the budget was, Kurosawa did a very nice job.The story of a Japanese lord who dies and the clan who pushed a thief who resembles the lord to take his place.Of course, he can only live as long as the clan finds him useful.Great movie.
Rating: 
- A different side of Kurosawa.
Akira Kurosawa is one of the few directors whose films I can enjoy re-watching at intervals of,say, a few months. Having never taken courses in film appreciation or history, my encounters with Kurosawa's films came in a haphazard manner, depending on what was available(usually not much)in the foreign film section at the rental store. Throne of Blood, Stray Dog, Seven Samurai, High and Low, and The Idiotwere some of my first exposure to both Kurosawa and international films. The very favorable impressions ... Read More
Rating: - He made 30 films this has to be one of his top 3
Kagemusha...originally I planned to 4 stars due to several problems I had with this film. But after watching maybe 10 minutes worth of commentary by a Kurosawa specialist on the disc's special features and then brushing up on my Japanese medieval period history documented in this film, I came away satisfied enough to give it 5 stars. Its very rare a movie of this magnitude be less 4 stars, due to the sheer technical difficulties of production. Occasionally you get cheese like "Gods and Generals" but I digress... ... Read More
Rating: - An epic film of Japanese history
Those costumes are awesome and the number of extras is like an American film from the late 50's or the early 60's. This movie is my third Akira Kurosawa film : he is a classic director. We find that the (matchlock) muskets that are probably Dutch in origin are important in 1575 in Japan.
The theme is about a double who is like a "ghost" or shadow warrior, taking the place of a dead great warlord for three years.
For his blood and guts style that one expects, this movie is very "clean"
and as a result ... Read More
Rating: - Good
Watching Akira Kurosawa's three hour long epic color film (his third) from 1980, Kagumusha (The Shadow Warrior) reminded me of the historical plays of William Shakespeare. While more famed for adapting the dramas of Shakespeare (Ran from King Lear, The Bad Sleep Well from Hamlet, The Hidden Fortress from Macbeth), Kurosawa's long film reminds me more of the detailed histories, where a single character is less important than the whole milieu (as well as being a more epic version of the old The Prince And The Pauper fable). ... Read More
- Amazing and Visually Stunning PictureI had to watch Kagemusha twice to really appreciate it.The first time I was more obsessed with my computer and missed key parts, the second time I enjoyed it thoroughly.The use of color and photography is amazing and considering how low the budget was, Kurosawa did a very nice job.The story of a Japanese lord who dies and the clan who pushed a thief who resembles the lord to take his place.Of course, he can only live as long as the clan finds him useful.Great movie.
- A different side of Kurosawa.Akira Kurosawa is one of the few directors whose films I can enjoy re-watching at intervals of,say, a few months. Having never taken courses in film appreciation or history, my encounters with Kurosawa's films came in a haphazard manner, depending on what was available(usually not much)in the foreign film section at the rental store. Throne of Blood, Stray Dog, Seven Samurai, High and Low, and The Idiotwere some of my first exposure to both Kurosawa and international films. The very favorable impressions ... Read More
- He made 30 films this has to be one of his top 3Kagemusha...originally I planned to 4 stars due to several problems I had with this film. But after watching maybe 10 minutes worth of commentary by a Kurosawa specialist on the disc's special features and then brushing up on my Japanese medieval period history documented in this film, I came away satisfied enough to give it 5 stars. Its very rare a movie of this magnitude be less 4 stars, due to the sheer technical difficulties of production. Occasionally you get cheese like "Gods and Generals" but I digress... ... Read More
- An epic film of Japanese historyThose costumes are awesome and the number of extras is like an American film from the late 50's or the early 60's. This movie is my third Akira Kurosawa film : he is a classic director. We find that the (matchlock) muskets that are probably Dutch in origin are important in 1575 in Japan.
The theme is about a double who is like a "ghost" or shadow warrior, taking the place of a dead great warlord for three years.
For his blood and guts style that one expects, this movie is very "clean"
and as a result ... Read More
- GoodWatching Akira Kurosawa's three hour long epic color film (his third) from 1980, Kagumusha (The Shadow Warrior) reminded me of the historical plays of William Shakespeare. While more famed for adapting the dramas of Shakespeare (Ran from King Lear, The Bad Sleep Well from Hamlet, The Hidden Fortress from Macbeth), Kurosawa's long film reminds me more of the detailed histories, where a single character is less important than the whole milieu (as well as being a more epic version of the old The Prince And The Pauper fable). ... Read More
