Product Description: A samurai Magobei returns to face the clan he abandoned when he learns that they intend to instigate another massacre. Protecting the last survivor of that massacre a woman called 'Taken by the Gods' Magobei absorbs a truly phenomenal amount of punishment before taking down his brother-in-law the clan leader. System Requirements:Running Time: 124 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR UPC: 631595060881 Manufacturer No: TSDVD-0608
A Blind Eye to Injustice may Eat at One's Soul... "Standing By and Turning a Blind Eye to Evil is akin to committing the Sin Itself.." GOYOKIN (1969) is the second film by Hideo Gosha, the director also responsible for the Criterion released "Sword of the Beast" and "Three Outlaw Samurai". I'm rather surprised as to why Criterion hasn't picked this film up, but nonetheless, Media Blasters did manage to release this film in re-mastered form. Toshiro Mifune was supposedly picked to play the character of Samon, but dropped out at the last minute due to sickness. "Goyokin", while a lesser known film compared to "Hara-Kiri" and "Sword of Doom" is an excellent chambara film which also stars Tatsuya Nakadai as the main character. It is still an awesome tale of conflicting emotions about loyalty or the interpretations of, the guilt and atonement of the past's sins and feudal political greed.
Synopsis partly derived from the dvd back cover: The film is a tale of a haunted samurai named Magobei Wakizaka (Tatsuya Nakadai), who returns home to the site of the past massacre to seek atonement and redemption for his soul. The clan he abandoned intends to instigate another heartless massacre akin to an earlier reign of terror that caused Magobei to resign his position and leave the clan. The original massacre has become a legend that is attributed to an evil spirit. Protecting the last survivor of the massacre, a beautiful woman named Oriha (Ruriko Asaoka), Magobei absorbs a phenomenal amount of punishment as a way of atoning for the sins of his clan.
Gosha's film is a awesome spectacle of blood and swordplay that uses the Tohoku Locales as a backdrop of the film. The films exudes an atmospheric feeling as the crushing waters impact against the shoreline, the white snow stained with blood, with black crows looking to feed on the carcasses of the dead. The film looks very authentic and accurate to its timeline. The film's main premise is the blind loyalty to one's clan, and the hope for redemption by atoning for an indifference to an injustice. Goyokin has the same style and feel to the chambara classics by Kobayashi, and far superior to the works of Suzuki, because his films have better characterizations and better content with superior performers.
"GOYOKIN" has definitely hit a bull's-eye in casting Tatsuya Nakadai as the lead character. The film revolves around a tortured soul that is haunted by his past, and Nakadai is impressive as Magobei. His gestures, action and mannerisms have that intense feel that emphasizes a man looking inward to the depths of his own soul. It is also a fantastic move for director Gosha to cast Yoko Tsukasa as Shino, this actress has impressed me with her performance in "Samurai Rebellion" and although she did have limited screen time, she nonetheless grabs the audience as Magobei's wife. It was quite ironic as a retainer named Kunai ordered Magobei assassinated, because Kunai is lusting after his wife; this event is what triggered Magobei's resolve to atone for his mistake. Kinnosuke Nakamura plays a role originally intended for Toshiro Mifune, and the man does add a certain charisma to the film's proceedings.
The film also has a satisfying share of swordfights that will attract action lovers. The swordplay displayed are reminiscent of the "Shogun Assassin" films that are nicely choreographed and staged with a realistic feel. The film also has a climactic duel between Magobei and Tatewaki (Tetsuro Tamba), his main nemesis, with a maneuver that rivals the "quick draw" in Kurosawa's "Sanjuro" for sheer intensity that makes you say "that's cool". Blood splattered onto white snow adds a lot of visceral punch.
GOYOKIN is a film very worthy of anyone's time and while it may be inferior to the chambara films of Kurosawa and Kobayashi, the film is very satisfying in its own right. The film's meticulous execution in historical accuracy gives the film a very "real" feel that gives its audience an "authentic" experience. The film is very clever in staging its action sequences that will remind us the subtleties of the execution of swordplay, much like an Akira Kurosawa film would. The exciting execution of the film enhances the story and the characters enhance its content. Hideo Gosha "Goyokin" is a true part of great Japanese classics.
Highly Recommended! [4 Stars]
Note: The film is great but the subtitles in this dvd needs to be translated better. The translations carry the occasional American "slang" that annoyed me at times. Example: "Matte" in Japanese means "wait" but was translated to "hang on". "Angry" and "understand" has been translated to "pissed off" and "got it' respectively. "Kane no tamenara nanndemo suru" ("I'll do anything for gold") is translated to "I'll do anything for a buck." There is no "buck" during this period.
The mistranslations doesn't really ruin the dialogue but it does serve occasional annoyances.
Stunning film This is an underappreciated classic - while the editing is disjointed, the visuals are stunning. My quess is that the director was influenced by Hitchcock - the beginning scene where the bride returns to her village has a very Hitchcock feel. I saw the film maybe a dozen times before I could look at that scene all the way with my eyes open. There are several memorable scenes in this movie, including the one with the hero in front of a wall of fire and the final battle in the snow.
Excellent, Yet Little Known Samurai Classic! I first saw this great film in the early 1970s, at the now defunct Fox Theatre in Venice, California. I remembered that the film was somewhat butchered in its theatrical release, therefore, I am willing to take any translation transfer until a better one is released. I can understand the spotlight reviewers complaints, it bothers me too. The film centers around the character Wakizaka Magobei (Tatsuya Nakadai) as a samurai who returns to his clan which he has left for many years. And (Tatsuya Nakadai) portrays his character exceptionally well in this film. Wakizaka Magobei is guilt ridden from an incident [no spoilers] which occurred years before. He has returned to prevent a massacre from happening again.
Furthermore, Wakizaka Magobei is intent on preventing his clan from repeating this intended massacre which he feels great remorse for. This film is an excellent morality and loyalty tale involving the films main protagonist, (Tatsuya Nakadai). And the films psychological nuances are intelligently woven into this film. The cinematography is outstanding, with many beautifully captured and stunning visuals. Moreover, the films concluding duel is terrific. The film has an entertaining plot, great visuals and beautiful cinematography which makes this one of the better samurai films out there. This film is not to be missed, it belongs in your cinema collection, and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. [Stars: 5+]
Exceptional Classic - But Massacred By This DVD BY ALL MEANS, RENT THIS FILM!! But -- for the truly discriminating viewer of genuinely sophisticated "jidaigeki" films -- I strongly suggest you hope for a different DVD release to purchase, one with superior translation compared to this DVD by MEDIA-BLASTERS/TOKYO SHOCK.
"Goyokin" is a vastly subtle, yet utterly compelling, work. Superb direction, acting, writing, and cinematography do ample justice to this deceptively straightforward, yet culturally and thematically complex, drama. However, this version is under-served by translative butchery.
Devotees of this remarkable, yet sadly obscure, film have waited decades for a quality video print, and for years a DVD version. What a disheartening disappointment, then, this version. Its only saving grace is the print, which does retain the film's impressive cinematography.
But translator Julia Rose is grossly incompetent, her translation risibly juvenile and glib for such a mature work as "Goyokin." Her failure here desecrates the supremely sensitive achievement that is director Hideo Gosha's film.
Ms. Rose fails to grasp the most suggestive nuances of the Japanese people, their language, history, and culture. This film demands not only a command of all these elements, but a mastery of English prose to adeptly convey Japanese refinement to an English-speaking audience -- a depth of sophistication worthy of the film's artistry. (Accountability should also rest with the DVD's Translation Manager, Anna Yamamoto.)
Hopefully, fans of "Goyokin" will one day be rewarded with an alternative DVD version, one with a finesse of translation that is equal to the level of this classic work.
Fine and noteworthy films merit long life in a loyal and dedicated audience, who deserve to see films exactly as their creators envisioned in the final cut -- not as works butchered by the hands of post-production incompetents.
Correction To those who care: Nakamura Kinnosuke is the shogunate spy and Tetsuro Tamba is the brother-in-law. Hope it's in widescreen, even though not stated. One of my favs. Just adding my $0.02.
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