Kagemusha

Name: Kagemusha
Genre: Drama, History, War
Released: October 10, 1980
Duration: 180 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Daisuke Ryû, Hideji Ôtaki, Hideo Murota, Jinpachi Nezu, Kaori Momoi

1980

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	Your Score
6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Toho Company | Release Date: October 10, 1980 | PG

Starring: Daisuke Ryû, Hideji Ôtaki, Hideo Murota, Jinpachi Nezu, Kaori Momoi, Ken'ichi Hagiwara, Masayuki Yui, Mitsuko Baisho, Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki

Summary: A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Genre(s): Drama, History, War

Rating: PG

Runtime: 180 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Simple, bold, and colorful on the surface, but very thoughtful. Read full review

100

G. Allen Johnson

It is filled with lavish battle scenes and sharply scripted intrigue, and is among Kurosawa's greatest triumphs. [17 Apr 2005]

100

Scott Tobias

Though the story's Shakespearean underpinnings give Kagemusha the weight of classic tragedy–in this case, the tragedy of a man rendered helpless by larger historical forces–the film astonishes mostly as pure spectacle. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Kurosawa, at 70, shows himself young indeed in the impressive handling of this historical drama laced with shrewd insights into the almost Shakespearean intrigues of power. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

An often overlooked fine entry in the Kurasawa canon, this shows a good many western 'epics' how it's done. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The massive battle scenes rank with the director's best, using brilliant color, contrasting light, and the enormous cast to great advantage. Kurosawa also alternates compelling scenes of near hypnotic stillness with scenes of rousing action. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

For all Kurosawa's splendidly colourful recreation of 16th century Japan, and though Nakadai's performance is impressive enough, it's all ultimately rather empty and tedious; it could easily have been cut by almost an hour, while the grating Morricone-like score only serves to underline the fact that the director fails to achieve the emotional force of his finest work. Read full review

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User Reviews

Broyax

Oct 12, 2022

Oh ben mince alors, la grosse bouse de 2h40 que voilà…! alors 2h40 peut-être… mais qui semblent durer 4h40 ou 5h40. Environ. Il faut dire que la mise en scène statique et psycho-rigide d’un autre âge (révolu) n’arrange rien, bien au contraire. Seuls les costumes impressionnent un minimum (etOh ben mince alors, la grosse bouse de 2h40 que voilà…! alors 2h40 peut-être… mais qui semblent durer 4h40 ou 5h40. Environ. Il faut dire que la mise en scène statique et psycho-rigide d’un autre âge (révolu) n’arrange rien, bien au contraire. Seuls les costumes impressionnent un minimum (et les armures surtout) ainsi que quelques figurants (quand même).

On remarque ça de loin en loin, alors qu’on avance à marche forcée avec l’avance rapide. Mais même comme ça… on fatigue vite. Les paupières se font lourdes et la somnolence vous envahit… Très peu d’action dans cette chienlit de toute façon… surtout des bavardages de types constipés qui attendent de monter sur le trône et/ou de virer celui qui l’occupe déjà.

A noter que l’on s’est fendu d’une VF intégrale pour cette grosse bouse… une VF excellente certes mais franchement, c’est de la confiture à un cochon de film de merde ! quel gâchis et quel temps perdu ! car ce film long comme un jour sans pain et à dormir debout est également nul à chier debout !… Expand

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