High and Low

Pros: Mifuni, Tsuchiya, and Nakadai, the cinematography, musical score and directing

Cons: A little long, but worth it!

The Bottom Line: This movie is masterpiece from one of my favorite directors, Akira Kurosawa. It is a story set in "modern times" in Japan, a detective story, yet so much more!

Review: A modern thriller, this movie is yet another masterpiece of the late great Japanese Film Director, Akira Kurosawa. The story is Based on a pulp thriller “King’s Ransom” by Evan Hunter, who released it in Japan under the name of Ed McBain. The...

Pros: Masterful segmented script; superlative frame composition; good tension and excitement; strong performances

Cons: A couple of minor plot flaws

The Bottom Line: Another easy-to-recommend film from Kurosawa, still likely to please modern audiences.

Review: Although Akira Kurusawa is best known for his samurai films, he also made some fine crime films. If his epic films are his symphonies then the crime films are his chamber pieces. What they lack in grand panoramic vistas, they make up for with intimate ...

Pros: Kurosawa's Direction, Script, Tension, Look, Music, & Cast.

Cons: None.

The Bottom Line: High and Low is an Intriguing, Haunting Noir/Character Study Film from Akira Kurosawa & Co.

Review: ***Very Special Thanks to matt the movie watcher for Selecting This Film for This Month's Filmspotters Dictator Club***After the dual samurai features of Yojimbo and Sanjuro that both starred Toshiro Mifune in the lead ...

Pros: Camera use is above the best, great plot and story make you involved

Cons: Not longer! Meager extras on the DVD...

The Bottom Line: An example of film noir done right, Akira Kurosawa can do no bad. This is an excellent DVD and belongs in your collection.

Review: Akira Kurosawa is a film god. When I first saw "Seven Samurai", I said "Hey look, it's Akira Kurosawa and he makes good movies!" After seeing several others I say "Hey look it's Akira Kurosawa... BUY IT! BUY IT! He's a genius!"
That's basically what...

Pros: awesome widescreen camerawork, superb ensemble acting, profound issues dramatized

Cons: takes too long, lack of DVD extras

The Bottom Line: The bottom line is too deep to epitomize in 30 words.

Review: In addition to the films set in historical times such as "Seven Samurai," "Rashomon," and "Ran" for which he is best known, Akira Kurosawa directed a number of excellent movies set in post-WWII Japan (movies about any present day become historical ...