Review of Yojimbo (1961) by Curtis R — 25 Aug 2010

This is the film that inspired all the remakes over the last fifty years. "Often imitated but never duplicated." as the saying goes. Akira Kurosawa really shows his brilliance as a director by taking the worn out American Western, picking it up, dusting it off, bringing it East and creating the masterpiece that this film has become.

Toshiro Mifune is brilliant as masterless samurai drifter Sanjuro who wanders into a town torn apart by a bitter feud. Wonderfully arrogant and sure of himself he hires himself and his sword out to the highest bidder, playing both sides against the middle building up to the classic showdown with the pistol wielding villain Unosuke played brilliantly by Tatsuya Nakadai.