3 out of 5

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Thus far in my Kurosawa education, The Hidden Fortress has proven the most entertaining, if rather a simple film at heart. But simplicity is never a bad thing as long as you want to keep watching. Which, after a plodding beginning to put some pieces in place, you do. In Fortress we meet two bickering peasants who are trying to cross various borders to get to a safe haven and maybe make some gold. They keep running afoul of different delays in their journey, but the plot takes shape when they run into a mysterious man (Mifune, greatly stoic in this role) who carries with him much gold as well as a mute girl, located at the titular fortress in the mountains. He picks up on the peasants plans for crossing borders, and implying that they will be rewarded, wishes for them to all cross together. The viewer comes to learn that the girl and man are actually a princess and her general, trying to get back to home territory. The various schemes of the peasants to come out on top and the continual drive of the general to protect his princess carry us from one tense or exciting moment to the next, with Kurosawa leaving most of his depth behind for just telling a fun story. And it is fun. It also – for its reputed influence on George Lucas – carries a bit of annoyance, as the peasants, meant to be comedy relief, are somewhat annoying, and their constant foilings of things are lacking in sense to the point that you know its just to extend the runtime. The princess constant scowl – because shes totally serious yall – is also a bit grating. Thankfully most of this is covered by the afore-mentioned staging, and action, and every scene involving Mifune is entrancing. Various impressive camera work and lighting, as usual, with the expected transition wipes and traditional sounding tunes. Maybe not a thinkin mans classic, but this foreshadows a lot of good-ol Hollywood action that would come years later.