Kagemusha The Shadow Warrior (1980) 2 x DVD9 Criterion Collection, download for free

Jan21

Kagemusha The Shadow Warrior (1980) 2 x DVD9 Criterion Collection

by movieworld on January 21st, 2016 at 03:26

Posted In: .Other movies, Asian, Drama, History, War

The plot of the film begins in 1572. After decades of endless civil war it seems that one of many feuding clans is finally going to get on top of everybody else and thus unite the nation. This clan is Takeda, led by Shingen (played by Tatsuya Nakadai), charismatic warlord known for his great military skill and reputation of invincibility. While besieging one of the remaining enemy strongholds Shingen is shot and mortally wounded. Fearing that the news would demoralise troops and give morale boost to rival clans led by Oda Nobunaga (played by Daisuke Ryu) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (played by Masayuki Yui), Shingen's generals decide to hide their master's demise from the public. Shingen's brother and part-time double Nobukado (played by Tsutomu Yamazaki) had already found a solution for this problem in the form of petty thief (played by Tatsuya Nakadai) who just happened to be physically identical to the deceased warlord. Thief becomes Kagemusha, full-time impersonator of Shingen and gets coached by the small circle of Shingen's closest and most trusted associates. At Kagemusha is reluctant to take this role and he, like many people around him, doubts his ability to impersonate the charismatic warlord. His presence infuriates Shingen's son Katsuyori (played by Kenichi Hagiwara), whose rise to power was postponed by the impersonation scheme. The war erupts again and Kagemusha is forced to put his impersonation abilities to the test. When his presence alone shifts the outcome of the important battle, Kagemusha is finally convinced that he actually be Shingen. He gradually wins the hearts and minds of his subjects in a way real Shingen never could, oblivious to the fact that he could jeopardise both himself and Takeda clan if he forgets who he really is.

2 x DVD9 | NTSC 16:9 | 03:00:23 | 7.90 Gb + 6.20 Gb + 3% rec
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Genre: Drama, History, War

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ken'ichi Hagiwara
Country: Japan, USA

Extras:
• Commentary by Kurosawa Scholar Stephen Prince, author of the Akira Kurosawa biography, The Warriors Camera: The Cinema Of Akira Kurosawa
• "Lucas, Coppola, and Kurosawa", new video interviews with executive producers Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas
• "Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create" documentary on the making of Kagemusha
• "Image: Kurosawa's Continuity", a new video piece that reconstructs Kagemusha through Kurosawa’s paintings and sketches
• Suntory Whiskey Commercials Featuring Kurosawa
• Storyboards Gallery
• Trailers