A BIG, worthwhile film

Rating: Null/10 (27 March 2007)

"Kagemusha" (1980): Directed by Akira Kurosawa. This is a SWEEPING Historical Epic about warlords of Japan in the 16th century. It has all the glamour and hugeness of a Hollywood production, but with goals of a more serious nature. A petty thief is found, just prior to execution, so identical in appearance to the Clan ruler, his life is "spared" in the name of "service" to them. Look-alikes were used as protection ("targets") and double-duty ("stand-ins") - as they have been ever since. Things go wrong, and many adjustments are suddenly necessary within the Clan, the family, and even the enemy camps. All the lessons are monumental, archetypal, Shakespearian, Greek. Perhaps occasionally long (at least for an American with little knowledge of ancient Japanese history), many of the scenes are powerful, beautiful, and horrific. I am NOT a fan of split-tinted filters for special sky effects, and at times the classic acting style of Japan is stylized beyond character credibility, but overall, this is a BIG film, and worth the 160 minute viewing.