Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Helloturia I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

masercot Like most Japanese film enthusiasts, I looked forward to this film with great antici...pation. When I finally saw it, it wasn't what I thought it would be and I wasn't disappointed.Toshiro Mifune doesn't have to try to be charismatic...he just shows up. Even in this film, whenever Mifune was off-screen, I was anticipating his return in the back of my mind. Blood Pass didn't have much of the usual slaughter associated with the actor; but, that made the movie a bit more realistic.Shintaro Katsu is a chameleon. I've seen the man as Zatoichi and as Hanzo the Razor and he impresses me with ability to live a part. As doctor/head-thug, he didn't get much screen time, but he didn't disappoint when he was on screen.The rest of the cast was standard and a little dull...But, the plot was very interesting: Go to Blood Pass and wait for something to happen. There is a tension throughout the movie because you (and Yojimbo) have no idea what he is waiting for or why. As the movie progresses, you have no idea as to the alignment of Yojimbo until he plays his hand...even then, it isn't what you expect.Was this as good as Zatoichi? No. As good as Kurasawa-directed Mifune movies? Definitely not. But, an excellent movie and worth a watch.

arngest I agree with much of the criticisms other reviewers have mentioned, in particular that Mifune's character seems more of a disinterested spectator throughout most of the film that he probably should have been, and that the ending was on the weak side. Despite that, I thought the slow revelation of the story was intriguing. You knew SOMETHING was going on beneath the surface, and the mystery kept me watching even through the slowest moments. The layered backstabbing and betrayal behind the whole heist was a bit confusing, and the last scene was ridiculous - an afterthought that was unworthy of the rest of the film (what the heck was Crow doing wandering around in a field, anyway?). Also unsatisfying was Yojimbo's inability to admit to his feelings for Okuni - I wanted to see some character growth result from the whole experience. Still, I will take the advice of the previous reviewer who suggested the film requires more than a single viewing to appreciate it.

massaster760 Treachery, betrayal, romance, and double crossings abound at a small inn at a remote pass in Inagaki Hiroshi's Incident at Blood Pass, a wonderfully constructed and suspenseful chambara classic.Toshiro Mifune reprises his role as a wandering ronin named Yojimbo, sent on a mission to a remote mountain pass named Sanshuu Pass. His instructions are simple he is, "to go to Sanshuu pass where (he) will wait until something happens." Once there, Mifune takes up a short residence at a local inn run by Oyuki and her grandfather. One of the residents at the inn is a doctor named Gentatsu (Katsu Shintaro, in a role that's a considerable departure from his Zatoichi character) who helps the innkeepers with their daily chores. Shortly after Yojimbo arrives, an officer barges in with a prisoner named Tatsu, this event throws into action a series of events which results in more plot twists and turns than a hot bowl of Soba noodles. Mifune and Katsu are excellent as always. Katsu's performance of Gentatsu is deliciously corrupt and ambiguously evil. Mifune is a little more reserved and serious than in Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo(Blood Pass and ZMY, are the only two films that feature both Katsu and Mifune) but is great and plays the role of a ronin like only he can. The ensemble cast is good as well from the grandfather down to Okuni (a woman Mifune saves from an abusive husband earlier on in the film). I particularly liked Kinnosuke Nakamura's power tripping dispatch officer Hiyomi who was as great as he was irritating.Blood Pass also features some beautiful cinematography and a rousing score. There are some beautifully filmed shots of snow capped mountains and foggy forests with a buoyant orchestral score. The film also features percussion music ala a young group of villagers who are in a drum band who frequent the inn. Although Incident at Blood Pass is a samurai film, it's not stuffed with chambara action. Most of the fun of Blood Pass comes from a hostage situation which occurs at the inn about an hour into the film. These segments are suspenseful and well directed, and are just as enjoyable as the free for all swordplay that fills the last ten minutes of the film. Incident is a great film but not without it's faults. The first 40 minutes are paced so slow that it borders on tedium. Katsu's Gentetsu disappears from the film for about a half an hour and is sorely missed. Lastly, the final scene of the film (Don't worry I won't give it away) seems as if it was thrown in at the last second.Bottom Line- Incident at Blood Pass has it's faults but it's strengths clearly outweigh its negatives. Highly recommended for fans of the genre but still a great film by any standards.

deng43 firstly, i did enjoy this film and would recommend it. that said i find it to be a peculiar blend. it reminds me of a spaghetti western in many ways. this isn't necessarily bad, just odd. since leone's westerns owe something to the samurai genre maybe we just see some reverse leakage. we don't get the very long peering-into-the-sweating-pores close ups, and the unusual music isn't up to morricone's standards, though it is headed that way, but there is a bridge somewhere in here that the genres have met upon more than once. a further point is that i simply find samurai films done in color to be on the edge of lurid; my own limitation i suppose. lurid can be fun.the other oddness is that i felt part of the time as if i were watching a samurai adaptation of Agatha Christie's poirot working out the personal machinations of another sundry lot bent on the quotidian as some crime or other worked its way toward the surface of the social pool. this, too, is fine, as we seem to like the tried and true plot devices that have satisfied us previously.as i said, i did enjoy the film; it is fun, and i don't want to put anyone off. it will get watched again at this house.