Kagemusha

Monumental.

"Kagemusha" is such a gratifying come-back picture for a justifiably revered filmmaker that one feels churlish harboring certain reservations.

At worst, the film is an empty vessel that places blind trust in affected stillness and symmetry. But Kagemusha quite often switches on a dime to more deep and meaningful textures.

Kagemusha, much like the similarly overblown but handsomely mounted Lawrence of Arabia, is an epic with a cipher in its point position.

From the symbolic opening to the haunting final battle, “Kagemusha” remains a triumph, a brushstroke on the canvas of cinema's finest.

An epic tale of smoke and mirrors set in a period rife with political intrigue.

Beyond the exquisite visual effects and battles, what is most interesting about the story is its protagonist: a double who turns into the shadow of the warrior Kagemusha. [Full Review in Spanish]

Excellent historical drama shows Kurosawa's broad range of gifts and skill.