ace-150 I can't believe that I've never seen this before, because it ranks with the finest in Japanese cinema. The ensemble cast of crazy, frequently snaggle-toothed actors is superb. These people steal scenes from Mifune Toshiro! That takes talent. Mifune is stellar as always, but the sassy pie-faced hooker, the oily existentialist assassin and the smarmy anxious deputy are amazing as well. Although the film is mostly played for comedy, the ending is as moving as anything that cinema has to offer. A film about very particular people in a claustrophobic little village suddenly becomes an epic metaphor for sweeping political and economic change in Japan. Oh, and I'll be singing that song for a month.The DVD is also stellar. The subtitles are color coded by character to keep you from getting confused, and you have a choice between full titles and stripped down ones. The liner notes even include a bibliography! Plus the animeigo website has additional liner notes for the film. That's love.

dinos_on_the_ark I must agree with another review of this movie in that it is one of the best Samurai Films in America. I consider myself now a long time veteran of Samurai movies, and I own more than thirty of this genre. Red Lion has a perfect blend of quick-witted comedy, physical comedy, heart-wrenching drama, and in your face action. I have not seen a samurai movie yet to have such great humor and yet leave room to tear up at the end. This movie is not just for lovers of Samurai films, it is for everyone. There is a lot of violence and I don't recommend it as a family movie but if you love film, DO NOT MISS THIS MOVIE. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be at the edge of your seat, and you will be cheering "It's Alright! It's Alright! Forget it!"

zetes Check out the previous comment for more complete information on the historical aspects of Red Lion - he obviously knows a lot about it, and I found it very useful to read that right after I finished watching the film.All I can say for sure about this film, though, is that I loved it. It's enormously entertaining! First off, it's hilarious. One doesn't generally think of Toshiro Mifune as a comic actor (although there are comic elements in his characters in Rashomon and The Seven Samurai), but he's quite funny here. It's not a humor that many Americans could appreciate, though. It's very Japanese. If you're a fan of anime or video games, the humor will be recognizable. Second, it's exciting. I love Okamoto's Sword of Doom, and the action sequences in Red Lion are equal. It's actually a little more action-oriented than that film, which is more suspense-oriented. And, third, it's dramatically effective. Gonzo (Toshiro Mifune) starts off the film as a comic character, but by the end he grows into a hero of great stature. The color cinematography of Red Lion is also very beautiful. 10/10.

rightoff70 Gonzo (Mifune Toshiro), a Robin Hood-like figure, shows up in his home town after several years' absence wearing a red wig like those worn by leaders of the imperial army. The son of a farmer, Gonzo has returned in supposed honor as a leader of the revolutionary imperial army, overthrowing the power of the Tokugawa shogunate and restoring power to the Emperor. Conflict and comedy result as Gonzo's military prowess and connection to the imperial army are called into question. Mifune carries the film in a role similar to his portrayal of Kikuchiyo in Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954).Those with little knowledge of the Meiji restoration might find some of the comedy difficult to grasp.I feel that there is an undercurrent of socialist revolution beneath the comedy in this film. The interplay between Gonzo and the local magistrate's samurai bodyguard, Hanzo, is the main vehicle for this agenda. Gonzo displays an unwavering faith that "the world is changing" and that the ruling elite will no longer be allowed to enslave the masses. Hanzo counters him with "the only thing that will change is the flower on the official crest."Okamoto's other films do not necessarily support this agenda, although Samurai Assassin (1965) and Sword of Doom (1966) both center on disillusioned ronin, like Hanzo, who participate in the fractious revolutionary activities leading up to the Meiji restoration out of interest for their personal advancement rather than idealistic belief in social progress.I found this a complex film, but one worth watching if you are interested in Japanese history or culture.