I'd say that most people who enjoy samurai movies or do martial arts would at some point have heard the name Miyamoto Musashi; he is after all the most famous fencer in Japanese history and author of Go Rin No Sho (The Book The Five Rings) and founder of sword style Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu.

The story is broken in to three movies, first Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto, Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple and lastly Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island. Some people have had some negative comments about this movie and have tried to compare it to other Japanese classics, which in my opinion is a bit unfair but opinions are just that and have to be respected.

The scenes in these movies are really breathtaking and beautifully shot, and there are more than a handful of location scenes that would make a work of art they are that beautiful. Mifune plays the part of Musashi with gentle ease and frightening reality, from a loose cannon as a youngster to the enlightened warrior in his older days. The last movie in particular sees Mifune at, his supreme best.

In Samurai I Miyamoto Musashi: was Winner of the 1955 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and follows the life of Takezo (Toshirô Mifune) who latter through the help of Zen priest Takuan becomes Miyamoto Musashi and his battle to find meaning and purpose in his life. It begins with Takezo (Musashi) talking his friend Matahachi into joining him to go off and find fame on the battlefield, but unlike the orphaned Takezo, Matahachi has a family and a beautiful fiancé in Otsu (Kaoru Yachigusa) none the less the go of to fight in one of Japan's historical battles; The Battle of Sekigahara, but instead of finding fame on the battlefield they end up digging trenches while their army is being overrun by the enemy.

There are some great moments to Samurai I Miyamoto Musashi: and great acting by Mifune and the Zen priest Takuan and it really sets the scene for what is to come in Samurai II and Samurai III.

Samurai II Death at Ichijoji Temple: picks up with Musashi now wandering Japan to hone his sword, taking him to a number of sword schools where honor is not always adhered to and fair fights are a luxury. This film has a far higher mortality rate to Samurai I Miyamoto Musashi: and the destruction wielded by Musashi's sword can be engrossing. Samurai II does in turn lack the beauty and creativity of the first movie and you can clearly see that we are being shown Musashi's progress from warrior to samurai.
Samurai II has a heavy romantic feel to it and Mifune brings a quite often-sad portrayal to the great sword master Musashi, it is also where we are first introduced to the legendry figure Sasaki Kojiro (Koji Tsuruta) whose journey in life is to have the title of Japan's greatest fencer, and will prove to be the best fighter Musashi has ever faced.

The final act Samurai III Duel at Ganryu Island: Is sheer bliss to the eyes and ears, from the peaceful scores by Ikuma Dan's who through his music tells the viewer of Musashi's arrival as a enlightened warrior to the hypnotic cinematography and use of colour in scenes.

Mifune is pure genius as Miyamoto Musashi and his emotional portrayal of this historical figure has surely to be one of the greatest acting performances in filmmaking history, one scene in particular is when Musashi is interrupted by a gang of scraggy ruffians whilst eating, but rather than show his masterful skills with the sword he proceeds to pluck flies out of the air with his chopsticks and shocks the gang to silence.

The final scene where Musashi faces Kojiro is gold to watch and not just for the action but also for the meaning behind the duel and what affect this had on Musashi.

Historically it is impossible to be exact in what and how events actually took place, but taken, as it is this trilogy is fantastic and the acting is some of the best you will ever see along with its most splendid cinematography.

by Paul Swainson

http://www.misogi.com.au