Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Tacticalin An absolute waste of money

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Beulah Bram A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Andres Salama Akira Kurosawa's last film, from 1993, didn't attract a lot of attention when first released, perhaps because the Japanese master was already a bit out of fashion among the critics and the public in the 1990s, but this is among his best movies. Kurosawa was 83 when he directed this (he would die five years later) so in many ways this is a film about old age and about dying, but is far from somber or depressing – it's hard to think of a more elegiac film about death (it is also, of course, a film about life).The movie's protagonist is Hyakken Uchida (1889-1971), who was a real Japanese professor of German Literature, but in many ways he is in the movie an alter ego of Kurosawa, an aging master facing old age and death. Uchida is kind hearted sometimes to the point of naiveté. Plotwise, not much really happens in this slow but rewarding film – we see Uchida the day of his retirement, facing the destruction of his home during World War II, celebrating with his former students each year in a party, finally facing illness and old age. Perhaps the biggest incident in the movie is when Uchida loses his cat. But if the plot seems slight, the movie stands out as a beautiful piece of humanist filmmaking. The quietly beautiful photography and mise en scene certainly helps.

David Hier A fitting conclusion to Mr Kurosawa's career. Full of quiet melancholy and contemplation this film is, in my opinion, quite aware that it is the director's last. It deals solemnly with death, love, admiration and loyalty. Madadayo meaning not yet, tells the story of a retired German grammar teacher whose small group of devoted students grows exponentially every year along with the parties and gatherings in honour of him. The silence in the film allows the relationships between the characters to become gripping and though there is little action the audience begins to care about the teacher as much as the students. The film also contains just the correct amount of humour to counteract the more melancholic, contemplative elements of the story. My only main criticism is that the segment dealing with the lost cat is perhaps just slightly too long. While contributing greatly to the pathos in the film I believe if this part of the film were shortened by a little balance would be restored between pathos and merriment.

pchow2ca I am a big fan of Mr.Kurosawa because his movie is really a brain teaser. I had only watched this movie one time and had to admit that I have not totally understand this movie yet. Since it took me more than ten years to enjoy his previous movie, Rhapsody in August(if interested, please read my review on this one); I am prepare to watch this movie again and again because I think that is what Mr. Kurosawa want. From the surface, I could tell that part of the movie was for him to thank his audiences for their support this year. They supported him even they don't understand him(student who could sleep with his eye open,)with his not so funny jokes, and his not so good movies due to lack of budget(horse and deer meat stow.). There are many scenes in the story that Kurosawa expresses his views and lessons of life (like the one he told to the kids who served the birthday cakes.). I am prepare to take my time to explore this movie in detail. As he metaphored at the end, perhaps life is a game of hide and seek which a boy always looking for a better spot to hide, neverless, he will be and want to be find. The question that I have was what is it one is trying to hide from in Mr. Kurosawa's point of view? Is it God or one's true self?

Moorsoldat I've watched this movie more often then any other Kurosawa movie. I think most of his movies I've watched only once were movies whose impact on me will last a lifetime, thats why I don't need to watch 'Stray Dog' or 'Red Beard' too often, though they are my favorite. But this one is a movie I can watch on the evening, an easy-watchable and yet very touching and intensive movie, with moments to laugh and touching moments too. I realy like this movie for its sympathic characters - though it plays partly in fascism war-torn Japan. Maybe its the point of why I like these character especially - it shows that despite their fascistic affiliation the characters didn't have to be evil - or at least not all.It has also a few good jokes which you can only understand when you understand japanese - the main character is a distinguished author and german-teacher. He delivers a brilliant character-study.Recommendable for everybody interested in japanese culture, especially postwar - and all Kurosawa-fans of course.