Fascinating Glimpse into Japanese History

Rating: 8/10 (13 July 2019)

I found this film to be an epic, and brilliant in scope and story. As an American with a small bit of contact with the Japanese, it is clear to me that there is much content and context of the movie that is not clearly understood. There are many scenes where an understanding of Japanese ways and culture is essential in order to follow the story. Only in the latter part of the film are there translations of *some* of the various banners and symbols which help to make what is happening understandable. The meaning of the sigils and terms (wind, forest, fire, mountain) aren't made clear until the movie is in its final scenes. I believe that more subtitles and a better ovetall explanation would make this movie a true classic. I wish I knew more about the subtleties of Japanese culture so that I could've gotten the full benefits of what Kurosawa was portraying. Overall the movie isn't hard to understand. I enjoyed it.