The Hidden Fortress
Writing for The Criterion Collection in 2001, Armond White said ""The Hidden Fortress" holds a place in cinema history comparable to John Ford's "Stagecoach": It lays out the plot and characters of an on-the-road epic of self-discovery and heroic action. In a now-familiar fashion, Rokurōta and Princess Yuki fight their way to allied territory, accompanied by a scheming, greedy comic duo who get surprised by their own good fortune. Kurosawa always balances valor and greed, seriousness and humor, while depicting the misfortunes of war."