a review of 三匹之侍

Throughout the first act of this movie, I was somewhat concerned that it was going to end up being nonsense or a total ripoff of Kurosawa, but it unfolded into an enjoyable experience. I enjoyed the overall theme of the story casting doubt on the honor and justice of the feudal system. I personally saw similarities between the actions of the magistrate and what a modern day American may see from upper management in a corporate environment, with all of the false promises and backstabbing. Perhaps I'm simply projecting, but that was a way for me to emotionally connect to the story. I particularly liked the fight scenes. The one in the brothel was brilliantly done. I loved how Gosha played with the lighting and shadows and used the building's architecture to help frame the action (you see him do this even in nonfighting scenes throughout the movie as well). The part where everything on the screen goes black except Kikyo's eyes was striking and got a smile out of me. The way that the camera tilts back and forth with the action can be jarring, but was playful, risky, and interesting.