Red Lion

For non-Japanese audiences, this is not an easy film to understand as it takes a decent knowledge of their history to understand what's happening. I will try to sum up the context for when the film begins. Although Japan was technically ruled by the Emperor, the office had long become a figurehead. So, while people loved and respected their emperors, the real running of the country was left to mob bosses, of sorts. And in the process, they exploited the people and kept the country in a feudal state. This is referred to as the Tokugawa Shogunate, as these shogun (bosses, really) ruled like emperors and the emperor lived in seclusion--in luxury but also like a virtual prisoner.

All this changed in the late 1850s when the US sent a fleet to ships to Japan to forcibly create relations with the west. You see, up until then, the Shogunate had banned virtually all contact with the outside world for two hundred years. Now, against their will, they were essentially forced to welcome the American forces...or else. The Shogunate hated this but the Emperor seized this as an opportunity to finally assert itself and take power. So, against the wishes of the various clans that ran the country, the Emperor negotiated to open up his country as well as asset control. While not an overnight change, through a series of wars and HUGE social upheaval, the country shifted to an Imperial rule--known as the Meiji period.

"Red Lion" is set about circa 1860 and begins with a new Imperial army being created to solidify power. The people are in favor of this--partly because the emperor always was the object of veneration and partly because the Shogunate had often times exploited the people for selfish reasons. And, while there was much fighting between various clans during this time, the Emperor's forces were essentially left untouched, as the Shogunate could not defy their god-like but until recently impotent leader.

In this new army is a loud and rather atypical guy (Toshirô Mifune). He is NOT one of the leaders but seems to be very willing to speak his mind to his superiors--a very non-Japanese sort of way of acting. And, when the army approaches his old home town, this brash guy suggests to the leader that Mifune be allowed to enter the place in the guise as the commander of the Imperial forces (by wearing the red headdress of the leader), as he knows the people and will get their support much quicker than the real guy. Plus, they can use their forces to enter and convert other nearby towns to their cause. While the plan makes some sense, you soon see that Mifune is, to put it bluntly, a bit inept. Can this bozo manage to complete his mission successfully--especially when the local bosses aren't about to just give up the power they've held for so long?! Well, you do have to admire the film for covering this time period in an unusual way. While I've seen plenty of Japanese films set during this struggle, almost all the others were heroic or tragic in style. This one is almost a comedy...blended with some small battle scenes. The hero, if you want to call him that, is brash but stutters and hardly instills confidence--hardly a role you might expect for Mifune, but a good one.

While I did enjoy this film, it has two basic problems. The first I have already mentioned--it's not a great film if you can't follow the plot because you don't know the history. Second, it seemed overlong--as after a while it seemed to lose some of its momentum. But, it's still essentially a good story and well worth seeing. Plus, the ending provides lots of exciting bloody action...if you're into that sort of thing.

By the way, the phrase the peasants chant at the end ""Ee ja nai ka"" was also the title of a movie about this time period and its impact on the poor. Roughly translated, it means "why not?".

I must agree with another review of this movie in that it is one of the best Samurai Films in America. I consider myself now a long time veteran of Samurai movies, and I own more than thirty of this genre. Red Lion has a perfect blend of quick-witted comedy, physical comedy, heart-wrenching drama, and in your face action. I have not seen a samurai movie yet to have such great humor and yet leave room to tear up at the end. This movie is not just for lovers of Samurai films, it is for everyone. There is a lot of violence and I don't recommend it as a family movie but if you love film, DO NOT MISS THIS MOVIE. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be at the edge of your seat, and you will be cheering "It's Alright! It's Alright! Forget it!"

Gonzo (Mifune Toshiro), a Robin Hood-like figure, shows up in his home town after several years' absence wearing a red wig like those worn by leaders of the imperial army. The son of a farmer, Gonzo has returned in supposed honor as a leader of the revolutionary imperial army, overthrowing the power of the Tokugawa shogunate and restoring power to the Emperor. Conflict and comedy result as Gonzo's military prowess and connection to the imperial army are called into question. Mifune carries the film in a role similar to his portrayal of Kikuchiyo in Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954).

Those with little knowledge of the Meiji restoration might find some of the comedy difficult to grasp.

I feel that there is an undercurrent of socialist revolution beneath the comedy in this film. The interplay between Gonzo and the local magistrate's samurai bodyguard, Hanzo, is the main vehicle for this agenda. Gonzo displays an unwavering faith that "the world is changing" and that the ruling elite will no longer be allowed to enslave the masses. Hanzo counters him with "the only thing that will change is the flower on the official crest."

Okamoto's other films do not necessarily support this agenda, although Samurai Assassin (1965) and Sword of Doom (1966) both center on disillusioned ronin, like Hanzo, who participate in the fractious revolutionary activities leading up to the Meiji restoration out of interest for their personal advancement rather than idealistic belief in social progress.

I found this a complex film, but one worth watching if you are interested in Japanese history or culture.

I can't believe that I've never seen this before, because it ranks with the finest in Japanese cinema. The ensemble cast of crazy, frequently snaggle-toothed actors is superb. These people steal scenes from Mifune Toshiro! That takes talent. Mifune is stellar as always, but the sassy pie-faced hooker, the oily existentialist assassin and the smarmy anxious deputy are amazing as well. Although the film is mostly played for comedy, the ending is as moving as anything that cinema has to offer. A film about very particular people in a claustrophobic little village suddenly becomes an epic metaphor for sweeping political and economic change in Japan. Oh, and I'll be singing that song for a month.

The DVD is also stellar. The subtitles are color coded by character to keep you from getting confused, and you have a choice between full titles and stripped down ones. The liner notes even include a bibliography! Plus the animeigo website has additional liner notes for the film. That's love.

Check out the previous comment for more complete information on the historical aspects of Red Lion - he obviously knows a lot about it, and I found it very useful to read that right after I finished watching the film.

All I can say for sure about this film, though, is that I loved it. It's enormously entertaining! First off, it's hilarious. One doesn't generally think of Toshiro Mifune as a comic actor (although there are comic elements in his characters in Rashomon and The Seven Samurai), but he's quite funny here. It's not a humor that many Americans could appreciate, though. It's very Japanese. If you're a fan of anime or video games, the humor will be recognizable. Second, it's exciting. I love Okamoto's Sword of Doom, and the action sequences in Red Lion are equal. It's actually a little more action-oriented than that film, which is more suspense-oriented. And, third, it's dramatically effective. Gonzo (Toshiro Mifune) starts off the film as a comic character, but by the end he grows into a hero of great stature. The color cinematography of Red Lion is also very beautiful. 10/10.