Lo and behold, Akira Kurosawa! His 1943 debut shows promise, and this man has a thing for the use for weather and screen wipes. After spending 5 years as a second unit director, work began on this production trying to appeal to the Government requirements of a Wartime film. It has since been remade five times, and Japanese censors cut 17 minutes from it that has never been recovered.
Based on the life of Shiro Saigo (Who one of the earliest disciples of Judo). Sanshiro is a hot headed young man, who travels to the city in order to learn Jujitsu, only to discover a new form of self defence: Judo. Among the path there is love and rivals that would make your typical high school teen movie blush.
Though there is nothing wrong with the movie, I personally wouldn't rush yourself to see it. Whilst it has moments and methods Kurosawa would be particularly know for, it somewhat remains a relic given the censorship he faced from the times. One scene in particular that lasts when reminiscing is our hero chucking himself into a lake in order to prove himself. But I would only recommend this film to certain enthusiasts of Mr. Kurosawa's work, and even then I would rather sit you through one of his more famed masterpieces. If you really want to see Kurosawa put through obscure limitations then check out "Drunken Angel" (1948), where he managed to cleverly work around some U.S Government censorship.
Final Verdict: A harmless story that proved popular among audiences enough for a sequel. Big things have small beginnings. 7/10.
Based on the life of Shiro Saigo (Who one of the earliest disciples of Judo). Sanshiro is a hot headed young man, who travels to the city in order to learn Jujitsu, only to discover a new form of self defence: Judo. Among the path there is love and rivals that would make your typical high school teen movie blush.
Though there is nothing wrong with the movie, I personally wouldn't rush yourself to see it. Whilst it has moments and methods Kurosawa would be particularly know for, it somewhat remains a relic given the censorship he faced from the times. One scene in particular that lasts when reminiscing is our hero chucking himself into a lake in order to prove himself. But I would only recommend this film to certain enthusiasts of Mr. Kurosawa's work, and even then I would rather sit you through one of his more famed masterpieces. If you really want to see Kurosawa put through obscure limitations then check out "Drunken Angel" (1948), where he managed to cleverly work around some U.S Government censorship.
Final Verdict: A harmless story that proved popular among audiences enough for a sequel. Big things have small beginnings. 7/10.