Fûrin kazan

It should be noted that this DVD was about 20 minutes shorter than the time listed on IMDb. I assume that a bit of it was trimmed for the American and Canadian DVD release. While this is regrettable, the DVD producers fortunately decided not to dub the film but presented it with subtitles--something far preferable to most cinemaniacs.

As for the film, it's a historical drama about Shingen Takeda's attempt to conquer medieval Japan. In particular, it focuses on his right hand man, Kansuke Yamamoto (Toshirô Mifune), who doggedly pushed his master (Takeda) to be very cunning and amoral in his pursuit of power. Yamamoto was a great strategist and he and Takeda were of one mind during most of the film. Only later in the film does Takeda try his own plan.

Along the way, a headstrong princess is captured. While Yamamoto was always loyal, it seemed as if unresolved sexual tension existed between him and the princess. Yamamoto's fanatical loyalty to her and her son were evidence of his attraction to her--particularly when he could have sided with Takeda's wife.

While there is some of the film concerns life behind the scenes, much of it had to do with one battle after another as well as showing details of the battle plans in the later battles. All this makes the film great for military strategists and people who love war films, but it also makes the film a bit stale--taking away some of the heart of the film. Frankly, after a while I found myself really respecting the film for its attention to detail but also feeling disconnected as a result of all the battles. I also think that if you are very, very well-versed with medieval Japanese history this all might be a bit more interesting. I have more knowledge than 99% of the Americans that might watch this film since I have been a history teacher, but some of the subtleties of the film still eluded me. Because of this, it's important to watch the included "program notes" BEFORE you see the film. I did, however, like the arrow in the eye near the end.

Overall, a very well made but standard war picture. If you love war films (and I don't), you'll enjoy this one. If not, then it might be a bit of a chore to watch--especially since it's about three hours long.

Lots of attention to historical detail, like the horned kabuto worn by Yamamoto Kansuke. Climactic battle (4th Kawanakajima)between the Takeda and Uesugi well worth seeing. Story told from the viewpoints of Kansuke and his overlord, Takeda Shingen. I liked this a lot more than the 1990 "Heaven and Hell," which retold the story of the rivalry between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, but from Kenshin's viewpoint. For example, the later movie seemed less accurate and more artsy (each side's soldiers all wore the same standard-color sashimono)in its depiction of the same battle.

A large scale production based on history, this film resembles the later samurai dramas produced for Japanese TV in that a reasonable familiarity with Japanese history would help with the overall understanding of the project.

Mifune plays Kansuke Yamamoto, a ronin with a strong dream of uniting a large part of Japan under one banner. He manages to get hired by a vassal of powerful clan leader Shingen Takeda by betraying a fellow ronin and killing him. Kanasuke quickly rises to the position of main adviser to Takeda as he manipulates Takeda's plans for conquest. The battles go well and along the way Kansuke captures a princess who becomes Takeda's concubine and bears Takeda a son. Kansuke shows a paternal concern for the child and vows to give him a vast realm to lord over.

Inagaki, who was at the tail end of a very long directorial career, creates a detailed recreation of the times especially the armies of the various warring clans. The direction is assured and while old fashioned at times he engages in some very interesting directorial techniques. The photography is very good and the composition of some of the scenes is excellent. All the actors are great although Mifune gets overly theatrical occasionally.

There are hundreds of banners in the film and Kansuke seems to be obsessed with his clan's banner. If this is of historical significance, the film doesn't explain it. The massive battle scenes are vaguely similar to the scenes in Kurosawa's Ran made a number of years later. There's lots of horses and people running to and fro. The actual combat scenes are good but not special.

A very long film at 2 hours and 45 minutes, it managed to hold my interest due to the talent involved but it is an effort to get through. There are a couple of talky scenes and the ending, while possibly accurate, isn't the best. It's as if the film lost it's steam with ten minutes to go. Also the opening set piece with Kansuke betraying the other ronin sets up a dark character that is never really explored again. He's a haunted man obsessed with his dream of unifying Japan but the cold-hearted murderer we are first shown never comes back.

Recommended for samurai films buffs, Mifune fans and people who like long historical dramas. If you are looking for a classic chambara with a simple story and strong quirky characters, this probably isn't the best.

For the whopping 2 hours and 45 minutes it lasts, Samurai Banners really has little to recommend it. Long movies are fine if that's how much it takes to communicate what you have to say, but there's a good 45 minutes here that could have been clipped and it would still be the same movie.

Furin Kazan (as is the original title) was the name of the war banners used by one of the greatest warlords of 16th century Japan, Takeda Shingen, lord of the Takeda clan. The name is derived from Sun Tzu's famous book "Art of War", meaning "Swift as the Wind, Silent as a Forest, Fierce as Fire and Immovable as a Mountain". The movie recalls the early years of Takeda leading up to the defining battle of Kawannakajima. If the name is familiar, that's because it's the same character depicted by Tatsuya Nakadai in Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha (there in his later years). Indeed, coming near the end of a prolific career, in many ways this is Hiroshi Inagaki's Kagemusha.

Where SB falters is that it spends far too much time in namesdropping and planning battles than it does in actually showing them. Lots of build-up but little as far as spectacle goes. A mixture of politics, war strategy, romance and drama, this jidai-geki desperately calls for something to spice things up. The battle scenes are few and far between and really not very well choreographed. The final battle scene is particularly anti-climactic, more so after the massive built-up that leads to it. There's nice use of colours in banners and some beautiful exterior shots but much like Kagemusha, it feels like a dress rehearsal for a better movie. The extras seem to be going through the motions instead of giving it their all. Unlike Kagemusha though, this one doesn't have the deep character drama to go with it.

Fortunately for us and perhaps the only thing that holds things together, is the typically fantastic Toshiro Mifune giving another solid performance. Playing Takeda Shingen's right hand, an ambitious man with dreams of a big, unified Japan under Takeda's banner, he's consistently great. Of course he doesn't do anything he hasn't done better under Kurosawa's direction, but he's always a pleasure to watch.

After watching Samurai Banners, I was struck with one piece of dialog which sums up the film quite nicely, "In this age of war, survival requires complex conspiracies, secret dealings, and assassinations. They're inevitable." These two lines help describe the atmosphere of 16th century Japan, in which Samurai Banners is set. A Japan divided by warring factions and lords, where treachery and war are the only way of life.

Yamamoto Kansuke (Mifune) is a ronin, who through chance of fate finds himself protecting Lord Takeda's vassal from another Ronin (in a very bloody exchange). Kansuke then moves to the province of Kai, where Lord Takeda awards him a troop of 100 soldiers. Once established Kansuke moves his way up to be Lord Takeda's top military adviser. With Kansuke's help the province of Kai stretches it's grasp to the other provinces through a series of, "complex conspiracies, secret dealings, and assassinations." Samurai Banners is an intricately researched samurai epic. The outfits are incredible, especially Mifune's fearsome black samurai armor which boasts the most incredible helmet I've ever seen. The outfits of the Red Guard are also very impressive and help add to the allure of the film. The set's also match the intensity of the outfits and this film highly succeeds in painting an accurate picture of 16th century Japan.

Mifune is as bad-ass as ever (Of course!) but this time around he sports (besides the crazy armor) a ugly scar, a noticeable limp, and a awesome moustache. In Samurai Banners he plays the "terrifying" Kansuke, a man who is both feared and revered by his troops. In typical Mifune fashion, his one soft spot is for a woman named Pricess Yu. Both the Lord's concubine and an unrequited love interest for Kansuke.

The film itself stays true to the tradition of 60's chambara; a mix of action, romance, war tactics, and character development, which together, helps round out another solid entry for both Mifune and Director Inagaki Hiroshi. The film substitutes most of the battles for the strategies and goings on of the Lord's and his advisor's, although the film has its share of action don't go into this expecting an action packed Chambara flick.

Bottom Line- Good historical war epic with a focus on the people involved more-so than the actual battles. Mifune is a bad as ever!