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YOJIMBO / SANJURO: TWO SAMURAI FILMS BY AKIRA KUROSAWA 4K UHD/BLU-RAY

4.8 out of 5 stars 953 ratings

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Jan. 7 2025
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Thanks to perhaps the most indelible character in Akira Kurosawas oeuvre, Yojimbo surpassed even Seven Samurai in popularity when it was released. The masterless samurai Sanjuro, who slyly manipulates two warring clans to his own advantage in a small, dusty village, was so entertainingly embodied by the brilliant Toshiro Mifune that it was only a matter of time before he returned in a sequel. Made just one year later, Sanjuro matches Yojimbos storytelling dexterity yet adds a layer of world-weary pragmatism that brings the two films to a thrilling and unforgettable conclusion. 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES ? 4K digital restorations, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks ? Two 4K UHD discs of the films and two Blu-rays with the films and special features ? Optional DTS-HD Master Audio Perspecta 3.0 soundtracks, preserving the original simulated stereo effects ? Audio commentaries by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince ? Documentaries on the making of Yojimbo and Sanjuro, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create ? Teasers and trailers ? Stills galleries of behind-the-scenes photos ? PLUS: Essays by film writers Alexander Sesonske and Michael Sragow and comments from Kurosawa and members of his casts and crews YOJIMBO The incomparable Toshiro Mifune stars in Akira Kurosawas visually stunning and darkly comic Yojimbo. To rid a terror-stricken village of corruption, wily masterless samurai Sanjuro turns a range war between two evil clans to his own advantage. Remade twice, by Sergio Leone and Walter Hill, this exhilarating genre-twister remains one of the most influential and entertaining films of all time. SANJURO Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Akira Kurosawas tightly paced, beautifully composed Sanjuro. In this sly companion piece to Yojimbo, jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clans evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a proper samurai on its ear. Less brazen in tone than its predecessor but equally entertaining, this classic characters return is a masterpiece in its own right.

Product details

  • Language ‏ : ‎ Japanese
  • Parcel Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.78 x 13.97 x 3.81 cm; 399.16 g
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Akira Kurosawa
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 3 hours and 25 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ Jan. 7 2025
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Toshiro Mifune
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Criterion Collection
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DK7BDW8K
  • Country of origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 4
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 953 ratings

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
953 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the films excellent and brilliant. They appreciate the picture quality, saying the footage mostly looks very sharp and the treatment of the image and characters contribute to preserving the essence of the film. Customers also say it's a must-watch for Kurosawa fans and love Toshiro Mifune.

12 customers mention "Quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the quality of the movie. They mention it's an excellent item and timeless classics of Japanese cinema.

"Incredible 4k transfers for some amazing films. A must-buy for any Kurosawa fans." Read more

"A really beautiful packaging of two great movies. A bit pricey, but worth it in my opinion...." Read more

"Amazing movies! I haven't seen all of Kurosawa's movies, but I have seen a few and those two are my favorites...." Read more

"Delivered on time and came as ordered. Excellent quality and a must for Kurosawa fans." Read more

4 customers mention "Picture quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the picture quality of the movie. They mention the footage mostly looks very sharp and the sound has less tinny quality. They also say the movie looks amazing on Blu-ray.

"...I can say with conviction that both sound and picture-wise these releases are noticeably better...." Read more

"...A bit pricey, but worth it in my opinion. The footage mostly looks very sharp, and the sound has less of that tinny quality you might expect from..." Read more

"Classics. Looks amazing on blu ray" Read more

3 customers mention "Kurosawa classic"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie to be a truer Kurosawa classic. They say it's an excellent quality and a must for Kurosawa fans. They also love Toshiro Mifune.

"Delivered on time and came as ordered. Excellent quality and a must for Kurosawa fans." Read more

"Expensive but good quality, love Toshiro Mifune." Read more

"This is a definitive film collection, and Yojimbo to me is the truer Kurosawa classic, and is something that I pined to get my hands on...." Read more

Top reviews from Canada

  • Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    For reference I owned the previous Criterion releases of Yojimbo and Sanjuro and I can say with conviction that both sound and picture-wise these releases are noticeably better. The film has been touched up in post to take away some of the damage done over time but you don't need to worry about some absurd George Lucas-level liberties being taken, the only changes made are ones that improve quality of the viewing experience.

    Additionally they feature new translations which may put some people off. One of my favourite lines in the first film was translated differently this time around and in my view it doesn't have the same impact. That said, overall, I think they're certainly better and arguing about which version of which line is better is merely personal preference.

    If you like Akira Kurosawa films, or just samurai films in general, these are certainly two of his best. If you already own these films and are on the fence as to whether or not the improvements are noticeable I can assure you they are.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on May 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Incredible 4k transfers for some amazing films. A must-buy for any Kurosawa fans.
  • Reviewed in Canada on October 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A really beautiful packaging of two great movies. A bit pricey, but worth it in my opinion. The footage mostly looks very sharp, and the sound has less of that tinny quality you might expect from older film. As for the extras - there is a lot. I still haven't got to watching it all.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on December 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Amazing movies! I haven't seen all of Kurosawa's movies, but I have seen a few and those two are my favorites. The quality is also very good, I love Criterion for this!
  • Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Delivered on time and came as ordered. Excellent quality and a must for Kurosawa fans.
  • Reviewed in Canada on March 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    L'oeuvre d'Akira Kurosawa a influenc le travail de plus d'un cinaste dont Sergio leone. La fa?on d'aborder le synopsis, le traitement de l'image et des personnages, tout contribue conserver l'intrt du spectateur. Le fait que le film soit en japonais sous-titr en anglais n'est pas un empchement ; la magie du 7ime Art opre et tient le spectateur en haleine. Deux films voir et possder dans sa dvdthque. Le tout couronn d'un service impeccable de la part du vendeur. N'hsitez pas vous procurer ces deux films sans tarder.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on September 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely Brilliant.

    Two great movies by legendary Akira Kurosawao. The movies are timeless classics and will be remembered in history as one of the best.

    The crietrion restoration is flawless. I was personally surprised at the quality of the 2K restore but I guess it also shows the versatility of 35mm films. A great set for the collectors.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on July 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    good story

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Alejandra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente producto de coleccin
    Reviewed in Mexico on October 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    En s las pelculas son excelentes, pero me encanta cuando traen elementos extra. Cada pelcula trae un libro que relata la historia del proceso de filmacin entre otras curiosidades. Sera bueno que hubiera una versin en espa?ol, quiero invitar a mis amigos a ver las pelculas pero no hablan nada de ingls.
    Report
  • Topazmine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Genius in Black & White
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 10, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Brought this for my other half as a gift, as the director is an all time favourite of his.

    Spent a lot of time researching which of the many variations of release of these movies to buy, and this was justified by the quality of the transfer, and being able to see the scenes as the director intended (not with bits of the edges chopped off as in some of the earlier releases).

    The visuals were superb and, never having seen these films before, I found myself completely wrapped up in the stories. The comic touches that lighten the heavy moments are deftly dealt. It's easy to see why his reputation is so well deserved.

    Highly recommended not just for fans, but for those new to his work.
  • fullchang
    5.0 out of 5 stars ʤˤϺäӤ뤫
    Reviewed in Japan on July 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    ʯΥ饤ƥꥪ󥯥ƥǻˤˤʤ_Ǥɥȥ饹ȤǿȸФޤˤĤƤϺäӤ뤫Ǥձٳն٤򤤻ʮ֤ä˼㤷Ƥޤ
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  • Kaya Savas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Criterion Follows Their Amazing Seven Samurai Release With These Two Kurosawa Essentials
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    MOVIES:

    Introduction:

    When you talk about an Akira Kurosawa film there is very little to say because his films speak way more than what any reviewer can write. Any filmmaker or film enthusiast can tell you that Kurosawa is one of the greatest directors to have ever made films. Not only is he able to tell grand and epic stories but he is able to keep his characters intimate with the audience. He is probably the single most influential director to have ever lived. Now the good folks over at Criterion have blessed us with remastered editions of Yojimbo and Sanjuro, two classic samurai masterpieces by the great director. Criterion wowed us last year with their remastered release of Seven Samurai, which was my favorite DVD of the year. This release, while not as extensive as the Seven Samurai three disc set, is still something to jump over. Since Sergio Leone is my favorite director you can assume that Akira Kurosawa is close behind in my taste in film, especially these two films. The two films can be purchased separately, but I highly recommend buying this box set as it will not only save you money but save you shame when you tell people that you own one but not the other.

    Yojimbo:

    The thing that surprises me the most about Yojimbo was that it was a film that was inspired by American westerns yet was even a bigger inspiration for the genre after it was made. The story is about a masterless samurai who wanders into an old town looking for food and shelter, maybe a job if he can find one. He notices that the entire town is deserted and the first thing he sees is a small dog happily trotting down the dirt street with a severed human hand in its mouth. That image right there sets the entire tone for this fun adventure film with a slight comedic side to it. The masterless samurai who is known as Sanjuro then realizes that the town is in the middle of a gang war with two feuding sides. He takes refuge with an old shopkeeper and decides to use this feud to his advantage. He plays both sides and manipulates each of the gangs in hopes of ridding the town of both groups and making a little profit during the process.

    Even though the film was made in 1961 it's still as accessible today as any other film would be. Kurosawa was ahead of his time when it came to pacing films and structuring them. His characters were also so boldly developed that they became unforgettable. His visual style is probably the most unique of any director. The reason why Sergio Leone is my favorite director is because of his appreciation for cinematography and Akira Kurosawa had the same appreciation. While Leone may have been inspired by Kurosawa it was Leone who pushed the limits of the widescreen frame in terms of composition. Kurosawa was never as extreme as Leone was, but his films were nonetheless interesting to watch due to the brilliant cinematography. The final showdown at the end of the film is breathtaking all due to what is captured within the frame. Truly impossible to describe, it must be seen.

    When you talk about iconic actors you always come across Toshiro Mifune who embodied the role of the masterless samurai to perfection. Just the mannerisms he uses in the film are entertaining to watch. He'll scratch his beard leisurely in the tensest situations, or even roll his shoulders around as he walks about. While Clint Eastwood without a doubt created his own icon in the Leone westerns, it is without a doubt heavily inspired by Toshiro Mifune.

    Sanjuro:

    With the immediate success of Yojimbo in Japanese cinema it was inevitable that a sequel was wanted by the studio. When Akira Kurosawa was approached to do a sequel he assured them that he didn't want to do any old sequel, and he didn't. Sanjuro has no relation to the previous film except for the main character. The first scene of the film finds a group of nine samurai in a small abandoned house waiting to be contacted and all the while discussing the state of their clan. Of course our "hero" is sleeping in the closet and ends up hearing their situation. Sanjuro emerges from the closet and tells them they are about to be betrayed and since they are blind to the world he decides to help them weed out the evil and corrupt members of their clan. Sanjuro is slower paced than Yojimbo, and I suppose there are less swordfights. However, just because there are less swordfights in the film does not mean the film has less action. Kurosawa cranked up the intensity of the battling and it makes the scenes all the more exciting. The film also keeps up with the comical side that we saw in Yojimbo. In the end it all dials down to one final samurai duel that will leave you breathless.

    Kurosawa paced this film a little differently than Yojimbo. We are almost thrown right into the action with no detailed introductions to our characters. We already know our main hero well, so there is no need to introduce him again. The nine young warriors almost act as one character so just explaining their situation was enough. Sanjuro teaches these young warriors the way of honor and to be weary of their surroundings. It's truly a magnificent film. By the end of the film you will know exactly where Tarantino got his inspiration for Kill Bill and for the style of blood used in the film.

    VIDEO: The highlights of these brand new sets are definitely the new high definition transfers, absolutely flawless in every sense of the word. The image could not get any better. Grain and dirt are practically non existent and no signs of any digital flaws. The image itself is not faded and textures come through crisp and clear. I never knew black and white could look so good. Both films are presented in their full 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratios.

    AUDIO: Sound is almost as perfect as the picture. We have included the original mono track in Japanese as well as a little bonus. Criterion knows that more and more homes are getting bigger and badder surround systems, but mono tracks on such a big screen may feel uninvolving for today's audience. So, we have an optional 3.0 Dolby track that was created to preserve the original Perspecta simulated stereo effects.

    Perspecta was a technology that embedded three separate audio tones into a mono track. It was a cheap alternative at the time since projectors did not need a new sound head. So the DVD is basically using 3 speakers to simulate this early technology that was used during the films' theatrical distribution. Bravo Criterion. Bravo. I'd also like to applaud the effort to provide newly translated and more accurate subtitles for both films.

    SPECIAL FEATURES:

    Yojimbo's Special Features:

    Commentary by Film Historian and Kurosawa Scholar Stephen Prince:

    The audio commentary is chock full of important facts and great analysis behind certain techniques used in the film. A must listen for film students and film enthusiasts because I bet anywhere else you'd pay lots of money to hear a professional speak at a seminar or a class to get information like this.

    The Making of Yojimbo:

    A 45-minute in depth documentary that goes behind the scenes of Yojimbo. There are plenty of interviews with crew members. They speak so much about Kurosawa that by the end you may feel like he was interviewed too. Lots of info such as using a telephoto lens for most of the film to get the look that Kurosawa wanted. Plenty of fun stories from crew members, an especially interesting one from the focus puller.

    Theatrical Trailer & Teaser:

    The original theatrical and teaser are included. They are nothing like what we know now as the theatrical trailer. It's fun little extra.

    Stills Gallery:

    Lots of pictures from the set of Yojimbo.

    Booklet:

    Includes an essay written by critic Alexander Sesonske and some notes from Kurosawa and his cast and crew.

    Sanjuro's Special Features:

    Commentary by Film Historian and Kurosawa Scholar Stephen Prince:

    The audio commentary is chock full of important facts and great analysis behind certain techniques used in the film. A must listen for film students and film enthusiasts because I bet anywhere else you'd pay lots of money to hear a professional speak at a seminar or a class to get information like this.

    The Making of Sanjuro:

    A 35-minute in depth documentary that goes behind the scenes of Sanjuro. There are plenty of interviews with crew members. They speak so much about Kurosawa that by the end you may feel like he was interviewed too. Lots of info such as using a telephoto lens for most of the film to get the look that Kurosawa wanted. Plenty of fun stories from crew members, especially one story about painting flowers for the highly demanding Kurosawa.

    Theatrical Trailer & Teaser:

    The original theatrical and teaser are included. They are nothing like what we know now as the theatrical trailer. It's fun little extra.

    Stills Gallery:

    Lots of pictures from the set of Sanjuro.

    Booklet:

    Includes an essay written by critic Michael Sragow and some notes from Kurosawa and his cast and crew.

    BOTTOM LINE: As a filmmaker and a film critic, I am simply floored by this set. I love Kurosawa's work, but these films especially since they went on to inspire my favorite director. Sergio Leone remade Yojimbo as A Fistful Of Dollars and added a whole new element to the story to make is just as great as the original. Leone used elements of Sanjuro for For A Few Dollars More and then he created his personal masterpiece with The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Walter Hill remade Yojimbo with Bruce Willis taking the lead role in Last Man Standing. So, you can see that Kurosawa is simply one of the best filmmakers to have ever lived. Criterion continues to raise the bar in terms of home video distribution of important classic and contemporary films. This set is a must buy.
  • Jaime
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gasfire
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Kurosawas most watchable movies? Not that the others arent. I think that people who havent really tapped into his work think of him as being kinda haughty and whatnot but I think his movies are very easy to turn on and watch. Anyway, both really good. Ending of Sanjuro did a lot for Kill Bill and anime.