Stunning!

Rating: 9/10 (9 September 2005)

This fantastic Kurosawa effort finds a lowly social outcast playing double to a great and beloved warlord. The director's scene composition is wonderful and his use of color is absolutely stunning. The opening scene of the warlord, his brother, and the double, or Kagamusha (Shadow Warrior) offers a clinic on compositional excellence and acting nuance. In this scene also lies embedded one of the films minor (and seemingly unavoidable) problems: a difficulty in telling the characters apart.
As can be seen from my high rating of the film, this review is not by any means a pan of the movie. However, I would like to examine the few fine points that prevented it from receiving that tenth star.
As stated above, there is a difficulty, at least for these American eyes, of telling who is who on screen, making the story hard to follow.
Further, it is never explained as to WHY Lord Shingen wants his death kept secret (and the double used) for three years. The three years is not long enough for his heir to reach maturity. Nor is it adequate to educate his passed-over son to be a wise regent.
In the end, it is not apparent as to why the Takeda engage in an ultimate battle with the most idiotic and suicidal attack plan possible.
On a minor note, the camera dwells too long on the death throes of cavalry horses.
All in all, a great feast for the eyes and test of the perception of the viewer. The story is at once empty and timeless, with a premise that holds promise for other treatments. Perhaps this is why I also love Moon Over Parador