Red Beard

Pros: visuals, superb performances all around

Cons: could be less long than it is

The Bottom Line: a superlative DVD production of a wide-screen masterpiece that runs 3 hours

Review: Criterion has produced a great DVD of "Akahige" (Red Beard), a masterpiece directed by Akira Kurosawa that would be more acclaimed if it were not one among so many Kurosawa masterpieces. Although set in Tokugawa shogunate times and featuring two members ...

Pros: Directing, Cinematography, the story, Mifune and the entire cast

Cons: None whatsoever

The Bottom Line: A wonderful tale of human suffering and redeeming human compassion. It would be the last "hero" flick for Kurosawa, and the last appearance of Mifune in one of them.

Review: Have you wanted to see a Japanese classic by Kurosawa, that does not include Samurai? Criterion released Akahige, (Red Beard) in July 2002. It is a heart warming story, with incredible performances. After watching it, laughing,...

Pros: Strong humanistic themes; intelligent script; excellent performances; good cinematography; skillful characterizations and character development

Cons: Long; overly episodic; so-so musical tract

The Bottom Line: Highly recommended. Better even than some of the better-known Kurosawa films.

Review: Here's a remarkable film from the great Akira Kurosawa that often gets overlooked among his more famous movies. Red Beard ("Akahige") (1965) may not be Kurosawa's best, but it's still better than most directors' best and among Kurosawa's finest ...

Pros: Deliberate, thought provoking and beautiful.

Cons: Not your typical Samuria drama from Kurasawa.

The Bottom Line: This delicate drama has more to do with the ways of the human heart than the ways of the samurai.  Superlative.

Review: Red Beard (Akahige) (1965) Directed by Kurosawa Akira"The pain and loneliness of death frighten me. But Dr. Niide looks at it differently. He looks into their hearts as well as their bodies."  Dr. Mori.This film ...

Pros: In the review...

Cons: -

The Bottom Line: I highly recommend this movie.

Review: For the last 1 year, I had been trying to lay my hands on a DVD of Akira Kurosawa’s 1965 masterpiece Red Beard (Akahige). I had heard a lot of great things about this movie and wanted to see what people meant when they said “It’s ...