Rey Alvarez ***May contain some spoilers***I remember seeing this movie back in the 1980's in San Jose, Calif. I personally think this is a very well-made movie. However, some IMDb commentators wrote some negative comments about this movie. I understand and do not blame their lack of full appreciation of this movie. This is a very, very Japanese movie. The movie was based on a series of actual events which took place in the 1700's in Japan and is very familiar to most Japanese. Director Inagaki made this movie for Japanese audience who are familiar with these 18th century events. Moreover, the full meaning of this movie can be understood only by people who are familiar with the classical Japanese play "Kanadehon Chushingura." Inagaki's movie is an abridged version of "Kanadehon Chushingura." This play is an extremely long Kabuki drama written in the 18th century. It takes days to perform it from the beginning to the end. (No wonder this movie is four hours long.) Even in Japan, only the most experienced connoisseurs of Kabuki theater can understand all the subtle nuances in this gargantuan play. Fully appreciating "Kanadehon Chushingura" is comparable to a passionate fan of Richard Wagner's "Ring of Niebelungen" appreciating the subtlety of Wagner's use of various leitmotifs or Tolkien connoisseurs appreciating the complexity and richness of Tolkien's fantasy world in "Lord of the Ring." The creators of "Kanadehon" depicted hundred of characters in the play and wrote complex plots and subplots for them. The main plot of the play (47 masterless samurais assassinating an ex-shogunate official as an act of vengeance) was historically based but many of the other minor plots are purely fictional. The plots and subplots are typically Japanese--very sentimental and melodramatic. Many Japanese still consider this act of vengeance by the 47 samurais as an exemplary act of loyalty and self-sacrifice. It is very difficult for non-Japanese audience, who are not very familiar with the play or the historical events on which the play and movie was based, to fully appreciate the subtlety and aesthetics of this movie. (By the way, a character in a recent movie "Ronin" mentions this historical event. However, his statement is filled with historical inaccuracies.) If somebody is looking for thrilling sword plays, forget about this movie. The emotion of the characters and the sentimentalism, which build to the climatic sword fight at the end of the movie, are the crux of the movie. Sword fighting at the end of the movie is merely secondary in this movie. Even though this movie is excellently made, it may not be for everyone. It is definitely an acquired taste.

pmc77 I have actually seen this film several times because it was my college boyfriend's favorite movie and I was dragged to the local art house to see it 5 times. But I have to say I found something new in it each time. While I agree with the previous reviewer that it can be confusing, the story is legendary in Japan and the film makers didn't feel the need to explain elements the Japanese audience would be familiar with. I suggest a second viewing will make it more coherent. I have yet to see a more recent samurai/martial arts film match the suspense and beauty of the snow scene or the heartbreak at the end of the first half. It is a visually rich and rewarding movie experience.

Brian Jeremiah Fantastic telling of the classic Japanese tale of the 47 Ronin. Very good camera work and quality. Great costumes and scenery as well. I was spellbound throughout the entire movie which is very long by the way. In the review it was stated there was great samurai swordplay but there really was very minimal swordplay and it wasn't even all that good. This certainly is no complaint as I feel it was one of the finest classical Asian movies I have seen. It seems to a be a fair representation of samurai culture and has some very good lessons in Japanese traditions and cultural expectations. The main thing I liked about it was the setting up of the plot .. it wasn't just an action thriller type of flick ... it had numerous twists and turns with a lot of dialogue that always seemed to lead somewhere unexpected.

Ldixon-1 I consider this to be the greatest almost-unknown film of all time. I haven't seen it in 40 years, yet I can still remember scenes from it!It played in a theater in Berkeley CA for 1 or 2 years straight, around 1964, and I saw it twice at that theater.The story is based on a classic Japanese legend, so that there are many different movie versions - but as far as I've heard, this is the best.I have no idea where to find a vhs or dvd copy at this time... perhaps someone reading this knows.