The Hidden Fortress: The Perfect Adventure Film
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- Опубліковано 20 кві 2023
- The Hidden Fortress, The (Japan, 1958)
Director Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshiro Mifune
So The Hidden Fortress I describe as being the perfect adventure film. In fact it is the blueprint for what most adventure films have. A heroic strong lead character. In tgis case played by Toshiro Mifune. There's also a princess who you could say is a strong female, I know alot of newer movies like to include that name now. And the 2 side characters which act as comic relief and make our lead character appear more strong. But on this watch through I noticed something different. The two peasant characters of Tahei and Matakishi are really the protagonists. Which is different because usually the strong hero is the main protagonist that we follow, but in this case we see him after the 2 peasants.
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#Akirakurosawa - Фільми й анімація
I’m really glad Lucas didn’t include a scene where C3PO and R2D2 draw straws over who gets Leia while she’s asleep.
Lmao
Imagine that being shot and the editor says:
“not on my watch Mister”.
That Would’ve Been a Reference to Disney’s 1959 Classic, Sleeping Beauty.
It would’ve been paper straws anyway lol
Mifune's character inspired Obi-Wan Kenobi in STAR WARS, as said below Lucas wanted him to play the part, but he turned it down. Actually THE HIDDEN FORTRESS initially was even more of an influence on STAR WARS than the finished film of A NEW HOPE would let on. Lucas' first full draft of the STAR WARS script, where he basically tried to tell 4-6 as one film, paid even more homage to FORTRESS. Luke Skywalker is an old man in that version of the script and is closer to Mifune's General, the equivalent of Luke from A NEW HOPE is called "Anakin Starkiller". The heroes have to smuggle the Princess out of danger and there several scenes in the script where they repel attacks in the desert that could have come straight from FORTRESS. If you wish to read about these early versions of STAR WARS then I recommend the book "STAR WARS: THE ANNOTATED SCREENPLAYS" by Laurent Bouzereau. Also Dark Horse comics turned that early script into a massive graphic novel entitled "THE STAR WARS".
Fun fact, Lucas was worried people would recognize the similarity between HOPE and FORTRESS, and accuse him of plagiarism. To offset that he bought the remake rights to FORTRESS before A NEW HOPE was released. Twenty years later, FORTRESS served again as one of the basis for THE PHANTOM MENACE where the dynamic between Liam Neeson's Qui-Gon Jinn and Natalie Portman's Queen Padme Amidala echoed Makabe and Yuki.
Also there was an official loose remake of FORTRESS in 2008. Titled HIDDEN FORTRESS: THE LAST PRINCESS, it starred Hiroshi Abe in the Mifune role, while Masami Nagasawa played the Princess Yuki. Tahei and Matashichi were rechristened "Takezo and Shimpachi", they were played by Jun Matsumoto and Daisuke Miyagawa respectively. It's interesting to note the ties the remake had to the GODZILLA franchise. The two leads had appeared in separate entries in the Millennium Series (Abe in GODZILLA 2000, while Nagasawa played one of the twin fairies in both TOKYO SOS and FINAL WARS). Lastly the film was directed by Shinji Higuchi who directed the special effects in the 90's GAMERA films before moving into the director's chair for the ATTACK ON TITAN films, SHIN GODZILLA, and the recent smash SHIN ULTRMAN.
recently saw this movie for the first time and was absolutely riveted from first second to the last. thrilling, moving, entertaining and stunning to look at. couldn't ask any more from a film experience. perfect is the word.
Unlike other Kurosawas movies, I could relax watching this and not think too much on the meaning at the end about human psychology or other existential topic, just an adventure + samurai movie with a great story and acting along with my favourite actor Toshiro Mifune, also the duel really made my jaw drop, like I could imagine them gather skill during countless battles and the choreography was just beautiful
It’s often said you could pause any frame in Seven Samurai and you would have a frame worthy still. The Hidden Fortress has that same quality. It’s such a beautifully shot film with incredible cinematography.
I was impressed with Hidden Fortress from my first viewing in an independent/classic movie house, and it instantly become one of my favorite Kurosawa films. I made sure I bought a copy later.
Definitely one of Kurosawa's most underrated films.
fantastic movie. Watched it 20 years ago. I remember it as my favourite Kurosawa work. Time to rewatch his works now that I am older.
These movies are forever timeless!
It's one of Kurosawa's best classics, including an impressive list of his trusted actors. Mifune, Shimura, Chiaki, Fujiwara, and of course, the awesome Susumu Fujita. For me, the spear duel between Mifune and Fujita is cinema excellence. Thanks for the review.
I love this movie. I have the DVD and so I also watch it when I can. It grows on me every time and I agree with your take.
Excellent movie review on The Hidden Fortress directed by Akira Kurosawa this film is really entertaining to watch from start to finish.
I think I need to give this film another try. I watched 30 years ago after I heard that it was the inspiration for Star Wars . I wasn’t all that impressed with it and never gave it a second chance. Thanks for sharing this I definitely need to watch this again. 😉
Yes it's definitely worth a second chance!
This might actually be my favorite film of Kurosawa. I too held off on watching it for a long time but now it’s easily the film I’ve seen the most of his. It just makes me feel so good
@@HerEvilTwin it's so easy to watch and has endless rewatch ability.
title is so spot on
one of my favourite kurosawa films, i still remember a lot if amazing shots
Without this movie there is no star wars.
Very true.
A key to understand the true power of this movie is to figure out which is the hidden fortress that he is talking about. For me this is one of his best movies.
Yooooo one my favorite films of all time. It not only changed cinema but also changed my life. I also think that the lady's performance is underrated. Everyone talking about toshiro and the peasants and whilst they are so good I also think the female actor does an amazing job and has a strong, fiery aura. I don't know her name but I think she had a short acting journey 😢 Btw I hope you get more views and subs brother.
Misa Uehara and she was great in this as the fiery princess. Unfortunately she hasn't really done anything besides this role.
Excelent review as always.
Fun Fact: George Lucas originally offered the role of Obi Wan to Mifune, but Mifune turned him down. (at the time Sci Fi movies were considered low budget B movies that were cheaply made.)
Woah! That is a fun fact! Mifune was also almost Mr Miyagi
Yes, I wish Mifune took the role. The lightsaber duels would have been incredible. I always thought Alec Guinness looked clumsy wielding a lightsaber. Plus, it would have introduced Mifune to a new generation of fans. Pity it wasn't meant to be.
I just watched the movie a couple of days ago. And Indeed It’s pretty good
What took you so long to review this epic and fun romp of a film? The spear duel between Generals Makabe (Toshiro Mifune) and Tadokoro (Susumu Fujita) is the stuff of legends.
I agree! For now on I'm going to cover the classics first!
Well said. I couldn't agree more.
best movie of all times, seven samurai, and seppuku also good
Fantastic review my friend! Love this movie. ❤
Thank you! I love this movie too!
Good review
Thank you!
It´s the perfect adventure film, but it´s also the best adventure film, for my money.
I've always heard that hidden fortress was basically Star wars before Star wars, but I'm also getting major Indiana Jones vibes. Maybe not from a narrative perspective, but from an action adventure perspective.
I'm sure it was influential, considering both Luxas and Spielberg were big fans of Kurosawa.
Elite movie
Years ago when I was a teenager, someone was trying to explain to me that Star Wars was influenced by Japanese Samurai movies or something like that
Atleast people knew that back then. I didn't find out til recently.
You cant tell me that the ugly from the good the bad and the ugly isnt based on the peasants
Good catch! I can see that!
Only seen it once!
Did not live up to my expectation with the fortress part. The title made me assume there would be a great siege battle. Didn't get that. Got something better.
A clever movie with character development.
The movie that influenced Star Wars.
The usually erotic pose of Princess Leia sleeping in the Death Star's prison cell obviously is taken directly from the sleeping princess in The Hidden Fortress.
I really enjoy your content. As a long-term Japan resident I can definitely relate to much of it. You really engage with the material. Fascinating.
Thank you I appreciate that!
Sorry for this random question, but this seems like the place to ask. There was a dramatic samurai movie coming out in (I think) 2021, a lot of older actors, high production value. I can't remember how to find it because I don't speak Japanese, and when I google I get mostly Netflix and anime junk lists. Does anyone know what I could be thinking of?
Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai - ua-cam.com/video/Z1g7nLeRm8E/v-deo.html
@@gemonizam2469 ty, that looks like it
@G I did a review on it and it's excellent
ua-cam.com/video/Z1g7nLeRm8E/v-deo.html
@@user-tm8jt2py3d there's also The Return (2020) that stars an older Tatsuya Nakadai
ua-cam.com/video/yLJyDQ9MdoI/v-deo.html
You can tell There was Godzilla Actor there
Song name on the intro please?
film music of akira kurosawa the complete edition box-set no. 2 bonus track
What's it all about "deeper characters"? Why? What are you missing? You wanna see him crying? He is an awesome strong dude. I want to argue, that today, we do not see this stuff anymore, but we all want to be such a strong dude. You wanna see him weak? Then the princess would've walked right over him and he'd lost all credibility. We need to be men like Mifune in this movie.
Mifune is a true warrior and man!
What's the song at the beginning?
film music of akira kurosawa the complete edition box-set no. 2 bonus track
@@bushidoblues9302 hey man thanks for taking your time to read these comments and replying back, I really love your channel and I'd love see it grow bigger.
@@sidepunch thank you!!
I know it's way overdone but I would appreciate a tierlist. I just got into samurai movies so I'm not sure where to start and what to avoid.
I made a guide for just that exact thing! Check out my beginner's guide to samurai film video
ua-cam.com/video/7PTwJQZSaxI/v-deo.html
But I'll also do a tier list
“Not remade into a western film” STAR WARS?????!!!!!!!!
A new hope isn't considered a remake of the Hidden Fortress but some could argue.
I just watched this today. Loved it. Very fun...but Misa Uehara is one of the worst actresses I've ever seen. She has such a great character here and she did nothing with it. She has no range or expression. I was sure she must have been kurosawa's mistress. The actress from ugetsu would have done great with that role.
Many of the actors don't look like any Asian person I've ever seen. If the movie weren't shot in Japan, I'd guess the actors were Portuguese or something with slanty eyebrows and eye makeup to give an Oriental look. Wonder if they just cast a certain type of actor for this type of movie.
The black and white probably gives you that effect. Most of the actors are reused in the director's other films.