Impressive in many aspects, but some flaws left me disappointed

Rating: 5/10 (9 December 2009)

Firstly, let me say that I didn't watch this movie for action or watching battle scenes. Visually mesmerizing, acting is powerful, story editing is exceptional, but Kagemusha bugged me because of its unsatisfying battle scenes owing to weird editing and vision which contradicts the big master Kurosawa. What I see is people for example critics don't accept this, a kind of pseudo intellectualism? I am respectful for Kurosawa, but I can't tell you lie. I didn't like this movie. It might sound intolerable to them, but the battle scenes ruined the movie for me, otherwise, it would have been one of the best Kurosawa movies like Ran. I have never become one of the people who see all Kurosawa movies as masterpiece, give 10 out of 10 to all of those. As for Kagemusha, we know that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas supported Kurosawa financially for this project. Kurosawa shows very long preparation scenes for the battle, we see the battlefield in detail, great visuals, he prepares us for the battle, we wait, wait, wait, but then nothing happens, to be more precise the war takes place, but we can't see it exactly. Artificial lights, fog, it is like a theater, great images, but we are left unsatisfied and somehow, this becomes frustrating as the film goes. Later, again warriors prepare for another battle, we prepare us for the big battle, we wait, wait, then the same thing happens. There is an introduction, no development, but conclusion. Especially the last war is unbelievable. I just can't get it. Why? However, his fans interpret this as Kurosawa preferred that way which is great! Sorry, but this must be pseudo intellectualism. And there is another odd fact, as said, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas supported him financially, but it looks like they didn't? A film critic wrote that Kagemusha gives us a lecture about how war scenes should be made. Well, it is funny, I think the exact opposite! Sorry, but clearly this is a conscious manipulation. Kagemusha is a must see and a great drama, but it is not impressive like some other Kurosawa movies.