Rashomon

Pros: Cinematography, story, acting

Cons: Subtitles, dark subject matter

The Bottom Line: Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon asks whether we can ever truly know the truth and remains a highly regarded film to this day.

Review: Rashomon (1950) Akira Kurosawa is probably the most well-known Japanese film director outside of Japan. Active from the 1940s through the 1980s, he did his best work during the 50s and 60s, with Rashomon arguably his best work. ...

Pros: Miyagawa's cinematography, Kurosawa's direction, ensemble cast, Criterion extras

Cons: the cliché of an imitation of Ravel's "Bolero" throughout the film

The Bottom Line: Cinema at its finest

Review: "Rashômon," the 1950 adaptation of two stories by Akutagawa Ryunosuke (1892-1927) was the first Japanese film that I ever saw--two decades after putting Japan on the world cinema map at the 1951 Venice Film Festival, where it won not only the Golden ...

Pros: An absolute classic.

Cons: None at all.

The Bottom Line: One of the finest examples of classic Japanese cinema. Rashomon is essential viewing for anyone interested in film.

Review: The common misconception about Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 film Rashomon is that it’s a film concerned about ultimate truth and just how fleeting the truth can really be. Kurosawa does certainly make that part of the theme in Rashomon, but to see it so ...

Pros: Mifune, Shimura, Machiko, Kurosawa's direction, Cinematography

Cons: Bolero

The Bottom Line: This classic Japanese movie is one that everyone must see, at least once. It is an Akira Kurosawa classic!

Review: Rashomon was a ground breaking film for Akira Kurosawa, and is even today one of the more interesting films you could view. Recently (March 2002) released in DVD in the Criterion Collection, it would make a terrific addition to any serious classic movie...

Pros: Great cinematography, direction, character portrayals and storytelling

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Essential Viewing: Rashomon is a cinematic classic with benchmark storytelling and camera work.

Review: Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa sent us some great movies in the middle of the 20th Century (Seven Samurai, Ikiru, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, Ran). But it was Rashômon in 1950 which was recognized as his breakthrough, winning the Golden Lion Award ...

Pros: cinematography, acting, direction.

Cons: Disk is terrible

The Bottom Line: Cynical and thought provoking film, on a bad disk.

Review: Compared to the other Kurosawa films that I've seen Rashomon is a surprisingly cynical movie. It's a story that features 4 people who each witnessed the same event, and yet each character gives a very different account of what happened. Throughout ...

Pros: Kurosawa's Direction, Script, Theatricality, Cinematography, Editing, Music, & Cast.

Cons: None Though Might Disturb Some Viewers.

The Bottom Line: Rashomon is an Eerie, Provocative Masterpiece from Akira Kurosawa & Co.

Review: One of the premier and beloved directors of Japanese cinema, there was no one bigger than Akira Kurosawa. While many of his films were in the genre of the samurai movies, Kurosawa often creates unconventional stories and morals into the stories. Even ...

Pros: Excellent in almost every aspect

Cons: A few minor niggles

The Bottom Line: Rashomon is a superb example of classic cinema, and if you aren't put off by subtitles and black and white, you really should be seeing it.

Review: Contrary to what my list of movie reviews on this site, and the general feeling about me and films by all who know me, I actually do watch 'proper' films amongst my spades of straight to video martial arts nonsense and horror garbage. Indeed, I can't ...

Pros: Everything

Cons: Nothing

The Bottom Line: Don't miss it!

Review: The year was 1951. The jury at the Venice International Film Festival sat down to watch an entry from Japan. The movie was called Rashomon, directed by a not-so-prominent director called Akira Kurosawa. 88 minutes later, when the movie ended, they were ...

Pros: Story, cinematography, acting, just about everything

Cons: The frame story is slightly unnecessary, Mifune gets a little goofy.

The Bottom Line: If your curious about the nature of observation or just enjoy a good, old Japanese flick, Rashomon is entertainment suited for everyone.

Review: When we watch a film, when we are a part of the audience, we take the role of the observer. We see what is presented to us and we make a judgment. In some films, the story is straightforward. We don’t have to work for understanding, it’s all laid out ...