Sanjuro marks my sixth foray in the filmography of Akira Kurosawa and each time I view a movie by this guy, it really is an awesome experience. Kurosawa just shows so much skill as a filmmaker, with such great command of his craft, it's just a joy to spend a few hours immersed in something he created.
Sanjuro is yet another great example of the kind of high-quality cinema Kurosawa so frequently dabbled in. This feature serves as a sequel to an earlier Kurosawa work
Yojimbo, with
Sanjuro, like its predecessor,
featuring Toshiruo Mifune in a lead role as a heavily experienced samurai. Those expecting simply a retread of
Yojimbo, though, will be elated to know there's plenty going on here in
Sanjuro to give it its own identity.
