There are moments in this film that are up there alongside the best Japanese films have to offer, with wonderfully evocative black & white shots of parasols in the snow and well-staged fight scenes. The cast are all fine, and Mifune especially is as great as ever, but there is far too much narration slathered over an overcomplicated plot, which slows down the story and makes connecting to and caring about the events harder than it need be. Still a handsome example of Japanese cinema at its peak.
Review of Samurai Assassin
Samurai Assassin
(I) (1965)
Convoluted Plot and Too Much Talk Drag Down An Otherwise Well-Made Film
21 August 2021